Sage of Fables MTG Card


Draw extra cards and accelerate resources by using Sage of Fables with Wizard creatures and +1/+1 counters. Offers flexible, instant speed card drawing capabilities, aligning with adaptable gameplay and strategies. Balance pros like combo potential with cons like specific mana cost to maximize your deck’s efficiency.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Each other Wizard creature you control comes into play with an additional +1/+1 counter on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from a creature you control: Draw a card.

"There is no secret that cannot be sold."


Cards like Sage of Fables

Sage of Fables is an impactful creature in the plane of Magic: The Gathering, sharing traits with other cards that bolster your army. The card’s ability to perpetually strengthen other Wizards by granting +1/+1 counters mirrors the effects seen in cards like Metallic Mimic. While Mimic can provide an immediate boost to creatures of a chosen type as they enter the battlefield, Sage of Fables allows for the drawing of a card at the cost of removing a +1/+1 counter, adding a layer of versatility to your gameplay.

Applying a more targeted comparison, Master Biomancer stands out with its similarity but differing function. This creature not only enhances your creatures as they enter, imbuing them with additional +1/+1 counters, it also permanently affects their base stats. Although it doesn’t offer the card advantage that Sage of Fables provides, Master Biomancer can be a game-changer with its own unique approach to creature augmentation.

In the universe of creature support cards in Magic: The Gathering, Sage of Fables presents a valuable combination of continuous buffing potential and strategic card advantage. This makes it a significant asset, especially in decks that rely heavily on synergistic Wizard play.

Metallic Mimic - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Metallic Mimic - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sage of Fables enables you to get extra value from your creatures. Each time you play a Wizard, you potentially draw an additional card by paying just two mana. This ongoing benefit can snowball, giving you the upper hand by always having more options at your disposal. This is particularly impactful in decks that are abundant with Wizards or where creatures enter the battlefield frequently.

Resource Acceleration: This card isn’t just about drawing more cards; it’s also a tool for resource acceleration. With its ability to put +1/+1 counters on each Wizard that comes into play, it fuels the synergy with other cards that benefit from counters. This can lead to accelerated gameplay, as it makes your creatures larger threats sooner than usual, potentially swinging the game in your favor quickly.

Instant Speed: While Sage of Fables itself is not an instant, it grants instant speed interaction by virtue of its ability to remove counters whenever you need to draw a card. This flexibility allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions or dig for an answer during their turn, thereby using your mana efficiently and keeping your options open until the most advantageous moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As much as Sage of Fables strengthens your other Wizards, it requires you to pay one of your precious cards each time you want to use its ability. In a game where card advantage can be pivotal, the need to toss a card might not always align with your strategy, particularly when your hand is running low.

Specific Mana Cost: The Sage of Fables comes with a specific mana cost that could hinder deck flexibility. Requiring both blue and generic mana, the card demands a committed spot in decks running blue, potentially limiting its universe to mono-blue or two-color decks that include blue rather than a wider array of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including blue, the Sage of Fables might seem steep for a 2/2 creature. While the potential for card draw is present, this card competes with other three-mana spells that may offer immediate impact or higher power and toughness ratios right off the bat, thus making it a less efficient choice in some fast-paced or highly optimized decks.


Reasons to Include Sage of Fables in Your Collection

Versatility: Sage of Fables is a valuable addition due to its ability to seamlessly integrate with a variety of decks that utilize +1/+1 counters. Being a creature that directly supports and enhances other creatures, it can elevate the performance of your board in decks ranging from aggressive to midrange.

Combo Potential: This card offers significant combo potential with its ability to immediately draw upon placing +1/+1 counters on creatures you control. Pair it with creatures that enter the battlefield with counters or have persist for an engine that can sustain card advantage and presence on the board.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where counter-based strategies prevail or in metas where incremental advantage is key, Sage of Fables can be incredibly effective. Its utility in both aggressive and long-haul games makes it a card that adapts well to shifts in the meta, ensuring its lasting relevance in your collection.


How to beat

Sage of Fables is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, standing out with its ability to support +1/+1 counter strategies and offering a draw mechanism for wizards. To successfully strategize against this card, you’ll need to neutralize its ongoing utility and prevent your opponent from leveraging the counters and card advantage it provides. Removing it quickly is key, via direct removal spells or board wipes to avoid the accumulation of counters on various creatures.

Furthermore, it is also possible to hedge against Sage of Fables by debuffing creatures or utilizing cards like Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker to disable its draw ability. This ensures the Sage won’t be as resourceful for drawing extra cards. Disrupting your opponent’s wizard synergy by removing their creatures or countering significant spells crucial to their game plan can also be an effective tactic. Understanding that the card’s strength lies in the versatility and card advantage it offers will help in crafting a well-rounded approach to dismantle the strategy built around it.

In summary, a combination of creature removal, ability disruption, and strategy disruption are the tactics to employ when facing Sage of Fables, leaving your opponent without their key piece and reducing the efficiency of their synergistic plays.


BurnMana Recommendations

Discovering the optimal use of Sage of Fables can shift the tides in your favor in the vast realm of MTG. Valuing the intricacies of card advantage and resource acceleration, this unique card can be a powerhouse in your blue-centric decks. It’s important to consider its abilities and limitations to maximize its potential. By fine-tuning your deck with cards that complement Sage of Fables, you can create a formidable strategy that keeps you one step ahead. Navigate through the ebb and flow of the game with confidence and foresight. Join us at BurnMana to enhance your gameplay and ensure your deck isn’t just powerful, but legendary. Dive deeper into the art of deck building with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sage of Fables MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander, 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 Sage of Fables and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sage of Fables Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-02-01MorningtideMOR 472003NormalBlackShelly Wan
22023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1692015NormalBlackJulia Metzger

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sage of Fables has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sage of Fables card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-04-01 If Sage of Fables enters the battlefield at the same time as another Wizard (due to Living End, for example), that creature doesn't get a +1/+1 counter.
2008-04-01 If a Wizard would normally enter the battlefield with a certain number of +1/+1 counters on it, it enters the battlefield with that many +1/+1 counters plus one on it instead. If a Wizard would normally enter the battlefield with no +1/+1 counters on it, it enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter on it instead.
2008-04-01 The creature gets the counter if it would enter the battlefield under your control. It doesn't matter who owns the creature or what zone it enters the battlefield from (such as your opponent's graveyard, for example).
2008-04-01 The effects from more than one Sage of Fables are cumulative. That is, if you have two Sage of Fables on the battlefield, Wizard creatures you control enter the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on them.