Selkie Hedge-Mage MTG Card
2006-01-02 - Number 20
2008-07-25 - Number 158
2002-06-24 - Number 32549
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Selkie Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Forests, you may gain 3 life. When Selkie Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Islands, you may return target tapped creature to its owner's hand.
Cards like Selkie Hedge-Mage
Selkie Hedge-Mage is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that brings a mixture of control and life-gain to the table. In essence, it evokes memories of cards such as Coiling Oracle for its ability to manipulate both your hand and the field. However, the Selkie Hedge-Mage differs by focusing on two specific land types for triggering its abilities and notably works well within a multicolor deck that includes both islands and forests.
When examining cards with a similar impact, Reclamation Sage emerges as a renowned counterpart. Like the Selkie Hedge-Mage, it can deal with artifacts or enchantments on entry, albeit without the land-type condition. Meanwhile, Kitchen Finks also shares the creature type with the Hedge-Mage and offers life-gain, but instead, it does so through its persist ability rather than being dependent on land types.
By comparing the functionalities and requirements of these creatures, the Selkie Hedge-Mage stands out in decks where its conditions are easily met. It’s a testament to the strategic depth and varying approaches available in Magic: The Gathering for players who appreciate nuanced board control and life management.
Cards similar to Selkie Hedge-Mage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Selkie Hedge-Mage offers a versatile ability that enables you to return a target creature to its owner’s hand when you control an Island, essentially providing a bounce effect that can disrupt your opponent’s board while maintaining your card quantity.
Resource Acceleration: Similarly, when controlling a Forest, Selkie Hedge-Mage empowers you to heal by regaining life, potentially swinging the life race in your favor and keeping you in the game longer against aggressive strategies.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Selkie Hedge-Mage’s abilities have a comparable impact by creating tempo and life gain opportunities whenever you fulfill its land-based conditions, doing so at the speed of creature spells, which allows strategic planning during your main phases.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Selkie Hedge-Mage requires both a green and a blue creature card to be in your graveyard to utilize its full potential. This discard stipulation can pose a challenge, especially in early game scenarios where your graveyard is not yet populated with ample targets, potentially leaving its abilities underutilized.
Specific Mana Cost: The requirement for one green and one blue mana can be restrictive and demands a deck that’s fine-tuned to accommodate such mana needs. This might not align with decks that run on a more varied or mono-color mana base, hence limiting the card’s versatility in broader deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana cost of three, including a hybrid mana of green and blue, Selkie Hedge-Mage’s cost can be seen as steep for the benefit it provides. When compared to other creatures or spells within the same mana range, the Mage might not be as cost-effective, particularly in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is crucial for maintaining tempo.
Reasons to Include Selkie Hedge-Mage in Your Collection
Versatility: Selkie Hedge-Mage offers flexible utility in a variety of deck builds. Its dual abilities allow it to serve multiple roles, from reclaiming lost life points to clearing the way by returning an opponent’s creature to their hand.
Combo Potential: This card’s triggered abilities can synergize with decks that emphasize returning creatures to play or hands, which might generate additional value each time the Hedge-Mage is played.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that fluctuates with control and tempo decks, Selkie Hedge-Mage can adapt to the current competitive environment, serving as a tool for recovering from opponent’s threats or disrupting their board presence.
How to beat
Selkie Hedge-Mage is an intriguing creature card with multi-faceted utility in MTG. Best known for its ability to control and regain momentum, it can present a challenge if not tackled correctly. It excels in environments where it can fully utilize its two aspects – returning a target tapped creature to its owner’s hand and, if it meets the island and forest condition, allowing its controller to regain valuable life. To effectively counter this, focusing on land disruption and graveyard management can be crucial.
A strategy to overcome Selkie Hedge-Mage includes utilizing land removal spells to limit the player’s access to either forests or islands, making it harder to fulfill the conditions for its abilities. Cards like Blood Moon can transform nonbasic lands, making this synergy more difficult to achieve. Additionally, graveyard removal tools like Tormod’s Crypt can prevent the reanimation or recursion of the Hedge-Mage, providing longer term disruption against strategies that may rely on this card’s reusability.
Ultimately, by diminishing the card’s synergy potential and applying consistent pressure on the opponent’s resources, you can effectively mitigate the impact of Selkie Hedge-Mage and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Selkie Hedge-Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Selkie Hedge-Mage and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Selkie Hedge-Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2008-07-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32549 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brandon Kitkouski | ||
| 2 | 2006-01-02 | DCI Promos | PDCI | 20 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brandon Kitkouski | |
| 3 | 2008-07-25 | Eventide | EVE | 158 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Larry MacDougall |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Selkie Hedge-Mage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Selkie Hedge-Mage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | Both abilities are optional; you choose whether to use them when they resolve. If an ability has a target, you must choose a target even if you don’t plan to use the ability. |
| 2008-08-01 | Both abilities trigger at the same time. You can put them on the stack in any order. |
| 2008-08-01 | Each of the triggered abilities has an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” That means (1) the ability won’t trigger at all unless you control two or more lands of the appropriate land type when the Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, and (2) the ability will do nothing if you don’t control two or more lands of the appropriate land type by the time it resolves. |
| 2008-08-01 | Each of the triggered abilities look at your lands individually. This means that if you only control two dual-lands of the appropriate types, both of the abilities will trigger. |