Silvergill Douser MTG Card


With the ability to draw, Silvergill Douser maintains hand advantage and favorable board states in Merfolk decks. Its low mana cost and instant speed manipulation make it a resourceful and flexible control tool in battle. The requirement to reveal a Merfolk can be restrictive, but it adds value to tribe-focused strategies.
Silvergill Douser - Lorwyn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Released2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameLorwyn
Set codeLRW
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number87
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDaren Bader

Text of card

: Target creature gets -X/-0 until end of turn, where X is the number of Merfolk and/or Faeries you control.

The Silvergill school monitors traffic on the Lanes, ensuring that the riffraff don't interfere with travelers.


Cards like Silvergill Douser

In the deep tracts of MTG’s strategic play, Silvergill Douser stands as a valued creature among Merfolk decks. Its ability to weaken opponent’s creatures by -X/-0 where X is the number of Merfolk you control resembles the utility of cards like Merfolk Thaumaturgist. While Thaumaturgist can switch a creature’s power and toughness, Silvergill Douser focuses on dampening power, giving it a different kind of tactical edge, especially in tribal synergy.

Harbinger of the Tides also finds resonance with Silvergill Douser, offering a way to manipulate the battlefield by returning tapped creatures to an opponent’s hand. Unlike Douser, whose strength lies in continuous weakening of enemies, Harbinger provides a more direct and immediate solution. Yet, it doesn’t have the ongoing deterrent effect that Silvergill Douser brings to the table. Tidal Warrior is another card that shares the Merfolk connection by allowing you to turn lands into Islands, potentially disrupting your opponent’s color balance but lacking the engagement in combat strategy that Silvergill Douser offers.

Comparing these options underscores Silvergill Douser’s role: it’s not just about fielding creatures, it’s about the subtle control over the red zone, making it a staple in Merfolk decks that aim to maintain board dominance during skirmishes.

Merfolk Thaumaturgist - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Tides - MTG Card versions
Tidal Warrior - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Thaumaturgist - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Tides - MTG Card versions
Tidal Warrior - MTG Card versions

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Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
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Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Silvergill Douser. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Blue MerfolkMono-Blue Merfolk LegacyMerfolkCircuito Legacy Catarinense | Temporada 2024 | Etapa 1

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When deploying Silvergill Douser onto the battlefield, the ability to potentially draw a card by revealing a Merfolk from your hand can keep your options open and expand your game strategy. This not only integrates seamlessly with Merfolk tribal decks but also keeps your hand filled to maintain presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Silvergill Douser fits perfectly in a deck strategy aimed at streamlining resource management. Its low casting cost complements a swift battlefield entry, thereby pacing your mana expenditure efficiently. This, in turn, can accelerate your resource allocation, granting you the advantage to cast other influential spells earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: The ability to tap Silvergill Douser at instant speed to give a creature -X/-0 until end of turn, where X is the number of Merfolk you control, is a versatile form of board control. It can be used both offensively to weaken defending creatures, making them easier to destroy in combat, or defensively to reduce incoming damage from attackers, all while keeping your mana open for other critical plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Silvergill Douser doesn’t directly force you to discard, but it does require presenting a Merfolk card to play it without paying its higher alternative cost. This can be restrictive when your hand doesn’t align with this condition, effectively reducing your options.

Specific Mana Cost: While its initial mana cost is low, it is explicitly locked to a blue mana. This requirement can be a limitation in multicolor decks that may run the risk of not having the necessary blue source when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The need to reveal a Merfolk or pay {3}{U} can be a significant mana investment, especially in the early game. Other creatures in the Merfolk tribe, or creatures with similar effects, might be cast without such prerequisites, leading to more flexible and potentially faster gameplay.


Reasons to Include Silvergill Douser in Your Collection

Versatility: Silvergill Douser is highly adaptable, easily finding its place in Merfolk decks or other blue-based tribal strategies. It’s also a solid choice for decks that benefit from tapping or untapping creatures as part of their strategy.

Combo Potential: Working beautifully with other cards that care about the number of Merfolk you control, Silvergill Douser can be part of intricate combos, decreasing the power of opposing creatures to ensure your sea creatures get through enemy lines.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where creature-based decks are prevalent, the ability to weaken opponent’s creatures on the fly can turn the tide of battle, making Silvergill Douser relevant and a potentially game-changing addition to your deck.


How to beat

Silvergill Douser is a card that’s often found in Merfolk decks in Magic: The Gathering. This creature plays a unique role in controlling the board by making creatures less formidable during combat. The key to overcoming Silvergill Douser lies in limiting its effectiveness by diminishing the Merfolk synergy. Removal spells that can bypass its lower cost, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are perfect for this task. Without the tribe to support it, Silvergill Douser loses its power.

Another strategy is to keep the creature tapped and unable to use its ability or to include cards that nullify activated abilities. Cards like Cursed Totem or Suppression Field can impair Silvergill Douser’s utility. Moreover, spells that target multiple creatures, like Pyroclasm or Anger of the Gods, can clear out Silvergill Douser along with its Merfolk cohorts in one fell swoop. A careful approach to managing the tribal synergies and a focus on rendering the card’s ability useless can help you maintain the upper hand against decks leveraging Silvergill Douser’s power.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silvergill Douser MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Silvergill Douser and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silvergill Douser has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2007-10-01 A permanent that’s both a Merfolk and a Faerie is counted only once when determining X.
2007-10-01 The value of X is determined when Silvergill Douser’s ability resolves. It won’t change later, even if the number of Merfolk and/or Faeries you control changes.