Runed Servitor MTG Card

Grants card draw upon death, benefiting both players and promoting strategic gameplay. Integrates with artifact and sacrifice strategies for resource acceleration. May inadvertently offer opponents valuable resources, making timing crucial.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Runed Servitor is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, each player draws a card.

Scholars had puzzled for centuries over the ruins at Tal Terig. Its secrets had always lived within one rune-carved head.

Cards like Runed Servitor

Runed Servitor has long been a curious inclusion in the world of artifact creatures across the Magic universe. With characteristics reminiscent of creatures such as Myr Sire, the Servitor offers a peculiar benefit upon its destruction, allowing both players to draw a card. Unlike Myr Sire, which leaves behind a 1/1 Myr token upon death, Runed Servitor provides immediate card draw, which can be pivotal in tight situations where board state and hand advantage are key.

It’s intriguing to compare Runed Servitor to the likes of Ichor Wellspring, another artifact that allows its controller to draw a card when it enters the battlefield and when it goes to the graveyard. While Ichor Wellspring is not a creature and thus can’t contribute to attacks or defenses, it still serves a similar purpose of fueling card advantage. Moreover, the Servitor’s symmetrical draw effect is akin to effects found on cards like Jace’s Archivist, albeit the archivist extends this to all players’ full hands in a more repeatable manner.

Considering the trade-offs and synergies with other artifact-friendly cards, Runed Servitor is a modest yet potentially strategic piece in various decks that value artifacts, card draw, and graveyard interactions within the Magic the Gathering landscape.

Myr Sire - MTG Card versions
Ichor Wellspring - MTG Card versions
Jace's Archivist - MTG Card versions
Myr Sire - MTG Card versions
Ichor Wellspring - MTG Card versions
Jace's Archivist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Runed Servitor offers mutual card draw when it dies, potentially providing you with a new resource while depleting none of your own actions for the turn.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, the Runed Servitor can be a cog in decks focused on sacrifice strategies, turning it into a valuable resource by pairing with cards that capitalize on creature deaths.

Instant Speed: Though the Runed Servitor itself is not an instant, it interacts favorably with instant speed removal or sacrifice effects, enabling you to time its death and the subsequent card draw to disrupt or benefit from your opponent’s strategy during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Runed Servitor doesn’t require an upfront discard to play, its ability can feel like a disadvantage as it gives your opponent a card upon death, which could inadvertently provide them with valuable ammo just when they need it.

Specific Mana Cost: The artifact creature comes with a clear mana cost that needs both colorless and specific mana, often requiring a deck to have a reliable mana base to consistently cast it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Paying two mana for a 2/2 creature might not be the optimal play when you consider other creatures or spells available at the same cost. This cost is particularly steep considering it can benefit the opponent just as much as the player when it dies.

Reasons to Include Runed Servitor in Your Collection

Versatility: Runed Servitor offers utility across various deck archetypes, seamlessly integrating into strategies that capitalize on artifact synergy or those requiring a reliable two-drop creature.

Combo Potential: The death-trigger of Runed Servitor, promising card draw to both players, has potential in decks designed to manipulate draws or benefit from reciprocal effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where card advantage is key, Runed Servitor’s ability to offer draw upon death can bolster your card access in games, keeping pace with opponents and maintaining hand advantage.

How to beat

Runed Servitor offers a unique dynamic in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. It’s a versatile artifact creature that, upon its destruction, allows both you and your opponent to draw a card. While it can be an asset, it can also be a double-edged sword if not handled wisely. The key to overcoming a Runed Servitor lies in timing and controlling the card advantage.

To effectively navigate around this card’s ability, players may choose to employ removal spells when they have a stronger hand, thereby mitigating the potential benefit to the opponent. Creature-based strategies can also consider holding back on attacks or blocks that would cause the Servitor to be destroyed, thus controlling when the card draw occurs. Additionally, integrating graveyard retrieval mechanics allows you to glean value from the Servitor repeatedly, ultimately turning it into an engine for your own card draw advantage.

Understanding the ebb and flow of advantage in Magic: The Gathering can be pivotal. With Runed Servitor, it’s about recognizing the opportune moment to shift the balance in your favor and ensuring your deck is equipped to capitalize on those moments when they arise.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Runed Servitor MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Conspiracy, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Runed Servitor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Runed Servitor Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 2242003NormalBlackMike Bierek
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 2032003NormalBlackMike Bierek
32015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 2262015NormalBlackMike Bierek
42015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2382015NormalBlackMike Bierek
52015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 662015NormalBlackMike Bierek
62016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 2162015NormalBlackMike Bierek
72017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 2262015NormalBlackMike Bierek
82020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4812015NormalBlackMike Bierek
92022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 7942015NormalBlackMike Bierek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Runed Servitor has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal