Saruman, the White Hand MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Avatar Wizard
Abilities Amass
Power 2
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Significant card advantage and resource acceleration make Saruman a formidable addition to spell-centric decks.
  2. Instant speed versatility allows for dynamic play and effective countering of opponent tactics.
  3. High mana cost and specific white mana requirements may limit deck construction flexibility.

Text of card

Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, amass Orcs X, where X is that spell's mana value. Goblins and Orcs you control have ward .

Over all his works a dark smoke hung and wrapped itself about the sides of Orthanc.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Casting Saruman the White Hand can significantly bolster your hand by allowing you to access multiple spells in a single turn. This is achieved through its unique mechanics that let you shop for exactly the spells you need, ensuring that your plays are as efficient and impactful as possible.

Resource Acceleration: Saruman the White Hand may offer mechanisms to untap lands or provide additional resources, thereby speeding up your mana availability. This acceleration can be crucial, especially in the mid to late game, giving you the upper hand by allowing the deployment of high-cost spells sooner than usual or by overwhelming your opponent with multiple threats in a single turn.

Instant Speed: An ability to act at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn or at the end of their turn, preserving the element of surprise. This can be a game-changer in many situations, as it keeps your opponent guessing and forces them to consider potential unseen counterplays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Saruman the White Hand in your hand could mean you’re faced with tough decisions, as you may need to discard other valuable cards from your hand to unleash its powerful effects. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re already struggling with card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Having a card with a specific mana requirement can be limiting for deck construction. Saruman the White Hand necessitates a precise combination of white mana, which could complicate your mana base or clash with your deck’s overarching strategy if you play multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost to cast Saruman the White Hand is on the steeper end of the spectrum. In MTG, where tempo can be the difference between victory and defeat, investing a large amount of mana to play a single card may not always align with your game plan. Lower-cost alternatives could provide similar benefits without slowing down your deck’s pace.


Reasons to Include Saruman the White Hand in Your Collection

Versatility: Saruman the White Hand is a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those that are spell-focused or control-oriented, thanks to its ability to manipulate the flow of the game.

Combo Potential: This card boasts significant synergy with other cards, allowing players to construct powerful combinations that can completely turn the tide of a match or lock down opponents, enhancing strategic depth.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting nature of the MTG meta, Saruman the White Hand’s utility in countering popular strategies makes it a formidable asset in competitive play, keeping your deck adaptable and resilient against a range of opponents.


How to beat

Saruman the White Hand is a potent force in MTG, often pivotal in decks that aim to control the game’s flow. To effectively counter this card, understanding its strengths is crucial. Saruman the White Hand can disrupt opponent strategies with its powerful spell-casting ability. As such, a key tactic is to focus on swiftly building a versatile board presence. Aggressive creatures and spells that can remove Saruman the White Hand from play without triggering any on-cast effects are especially useful in this scenario.

Another strategy to consider when facing Saruman the White Hand is to employ cards that limit your opponent’s ability to search their library or cast multiple spells each turn. This puts a hamper on the card’s utility and can buy you valuable time. Moreover, playing around Saruman the White Hand involves anticipating and countering the spells that might be cast with its help. Be tactical about the spells you play and when you play them, and consider using instant-speed interactions to disrupt your opponent’s plans.

Ultimately, beating Saruman the White Hand in MTG requires a balance of offensive pressure and strategic foresight. Prioritizing resource management and keeping up a steady threat will help ensure that this powerful card doesn’t take over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players understand the delicate balance of power and strategy needed to excel in the game. Saruman the White Hand is a card that embodies this balance with its ability to shape the battlefield to your will. From bolstering your hand to accelerating your resources and offering instant speed interventions, this card can be a formidable addition to spell-centric and control decks. Despite its potent capabilities, understanding how to counterplay against it is just as crucial for a well-rounded strategy. Clued up on its pros and cons, are you ready to weave Saruman the White Hand into your collection, or will you master the art of defeating it? Dive deeper with us to harness the full potential of your deck and outmaneuver your opponents in the vast realm of MTG.


Cards like Saruman, the White Hand

Saruman the White Hand, as a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, invites comparisons with other spellcasters and wizards in the game. Saruman, as an influential wizard from the Lord of the Rings series, has similar counterparts, such as Ertai, the Corrupted. Ertai offers a form of control over the game by countering other spells, but unlike Saruman, he doesn’t directly manipulate your opponent’s hand.

Gandalf the Grey is another figure worthy of comparison. Gandalf may not exert the same level of direct influence over an opponent’s plans as Saruman but compensates with versatility and the ability to enhance a player’s own strategy by drawing cards. Additionally, the Royal Scions stand out with their ability to both provide card advantage and buff creatures, albeit lacking Saruman’s interference with an opponent’s hand.

To cap off, Saruman the White Hand stands out in Magic: The Gathering for his thematic fit and hand disruption capabilities. While there are characters with similar spellcasting abilities, Saruman’s particular way of bending the opponent’s will to his own sets him apart in the lore-rich tapestry of the game.

Ertai, the Corrupted - MTG Card versions
Gandalf the Grey - MTG Card versions
Ertai, the Corrupted - MTG Card versions
Gandalf the Grey - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Saruman, the White Hand MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth 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 Saruman, the White Hand and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Saruman, the White Hand Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Leonardo Borazio.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 912015NormalBlackLeonardo Borazio
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 82015NormalBlackLeonardo Borazio
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 4772015NormalBlackLeonardo Borazio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Saruman, the White Hand has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 A creature that is both a Goblin and an Orc still only gets one instance of ward from Saruman, the White Hand's last ability.
2023-06-16 Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.
2023-06-16 Amass abilities are now written as "amass
-ubtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
2023-06-16 If Saruman, the White Hand is a Goblin or an Orc, it will have ward .
2023-06-16 If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.
2023-06-16 In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Orcs, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.
2023-06-16 Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs.
2023-06-16 To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.