Raven Guild Initiate MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Morph
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Power	1
Toughness	4
Number	46
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Raven Guild Initiate provides card advantage through ability duplication and adds surprise with its morph mechanic.
Despite its utility, it demands a discard and has a specific mana cost, potentially limiting flexibility.
This card is a multifaceted addition, with combo potential and the ability to alter the game’s tempo.

Text of card

Morph— Return a Bird you control to its owner's hand. (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

The Raven Guild soars on winds of unease.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Raven Guild Initiate can offer significant value in a long game by allowing for the potential duplication of desirable abilities, effectively doubling your opportunities to impact the board state or respond to opponents’ actions.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct ramp card, the Initiate’s morph cost offers a degree of flexibility. By facilitating a cheaper alternative to the full casting cost, it can leave additional mana open to deploy other spells or abilities quicker than usual.

Instant Speed: Inherent to the morph mechanic is the element of surprise. You can turn the Raven Guild Initiate face up at instant speed, making it a versatile play that can be timed strategically to disrupt or respond promptly to an opponent’s turn, thereby maximizing the potential of your resources and game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Raven Guild Initiate demands a card to be discarded from your hand, a move that could compromise your hand advantage, particularly when you’re already dealing with a depleted resource pool.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting requirement includes blue mana, which can potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that run blue or have a mana base that can support blue spells effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the requirement of three mana to bring Raven Guild Initiate to the field, it may be considered inefficient when evaluated against other options that provide a similar level of impact for a lesser investment, thereby potentially slowing down your game tempo in fast-paced matches.

Reasons to Include Raven Guild Initiate in Your Collection

Versatility: Raven Guild Initiate can be a solid addition to decks that utilize spells with shuffle effects. Its ability to morph adds a layer of mystery, keeping opponents guessing.

Combo Potential: Given its ability to protect itself from spells or abilities once unmorphed, it combos well with cards that target multiple creatures, as it can save itself from seemingly unfavorable board wipes.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames fluctuate, a card like Raven Guild Initiate that can offer defense against targeted removal could become increasingly important, having a place in sideboards or even main decks depending on the prevalence of control strategies.

How to beat

Raven Guild Initiate presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature, synonymous with utility and versatility, can morph, shrouding its true nature and strategy from your opponent. Handling this card requires a tactical approach, focusing on preemptive strikes and maintaining control over the game state.

One effective strategy is to prioritize removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of whether they’re face up or face down. Cards such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat offer a straightforward solution. Board clear spells like Wrath of God can also sweep away Raven Guild Initiate before its morph abilities can complicate the match. Additionally, spells that prevent creatures from blocking or calling for sacrifices circumvent the morph mechanic altogether and leave your opponent’s strategy vulnerable.

Overall, swiftly managing creatures like Raven Guild Initiate is crucial. Wise use of your removal suite and a solid understanding of when to apply pressure can dismantle the potential issues posed by this card. Such tactics will fortify your position in the game, ensuring the mysterious Raven Guild Initiate doesn’t upend the battlefield in your opponent’s favor.

Cards like Raven Guild Initiate

Raven Guild Initiate is an intriguing creature card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, and when examining its attributes, comparisons to other cards are inevitable. One such card is Mistmeadow Witch, which shares the ability to dodge enemy spells by temporarily leaving the battlefield. However, Raven Guild Initiate brings a slightly different game plan to the table as it only targets itself and can protect itself from single-target spells and abilities.

Moreover, the Initiate aligns with the likes of Aven Fogbringer in terms of flying capability, giving them both an evasive edge in battle. Nevertheless, Aven Fogbringer has a land bounce ability, which is more offensively tactical unlike the self-aimed protection strategy of the Initiate.

Lastly, considering creatures that protect your hand, Standard Bearer comes to mind. It’s an interesting comparison, where the Bearer forces opponents to redirect targeted spells or abilities from other creatures to itself, contrary to the Initiate’s self-preserving nature. Both offer defensive strategies, but activate in clearly distinct scenarios in the realm of MTG.

Overall, Raven Guild Initiate holds its own in MTG, offering a unique blend of protection and evasion that can be vital in games where safeguarding key creatures is paramount.

Cards similar to Raven Guild Initiate by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions

Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Raven Guild Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Raven Guild Initiate and other MTG cards: