Simic Fluxmage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Wizard |
| Abilities | Evolve |
| Released | 2013-02-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Gatecrash |
| Set code | GTC |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 49 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Karl Kopinski |
Text of card
Evolve (Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.) , : Move a +1/+1 counter from Simic Fluxmage onto target creature.
Cards like Simic Fluxmage
Simic Fluxmage strikes intrigue in the vast arena of Magic: The Gathering evolve creatures. Notably, it shares a family resemblance with fellow evolve creature Cloudfin Raptor, both enabling counters to be distributed across your creatures, fostering their growth. However, Simic Fluxmage offers a nuanced twist with its ability to move a +1/+1 counter from itself to another creature. This unique feature opens up strategic flexibility not seen in Cloudfin Raptor’s straightforward approach.
Another evolution compatriot, Renegade Krasis, exudes a different strength. Whenever it evolves, it not only increases its own power but also beefs up every other creature you control with a +1/+1 counter. While Simic Fluxmage excels in pinpoint precision of counter manipulation, Renegade Krasis affects the battlefield as a whole, creating a potential for a more significant impact in a single evolve trigger.
To wrap it up, Simic Fluxmage stands out in the Magic: The Gathering landscape, offering a specialized yet potent capability of controlling the power distribution among creatures. Its tactical depth for counter management ensures that it holds its ground when compared to similar evolution-centric creatures.
Cards similar to Simic Fluxmage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Simic Fluxmage comes with the potential to manipulate +1/+1 counters across your creatures, offering a way to thrive in battles and gain card efficiency by making your smaller creatures into larger threats over time.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly producing mana, Simic Fluxmage can fast-track your game plan by evolving creatures at instant speed, fostering quicker growth and board presence without the need for additional cards.
Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt during your opponent’s turn or after they’ve committed to a play, helping you maximize surprise and tactical advantage on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Simic Fluxmage requires you to consistently have creatures to target with its ability. This can be a downside in decks that aren’t creature-heavy or if you’re facing removal-heavy opponents, depleting your board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific combination of green and blue mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks that don’t focus on the Simic guild’s color pairing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana value — one generic, one green, and one blue — to get Simic Fluxmage onto the battlefield, some may find the set-up cost steep especially since there are alternative cards in the Simic category that could provide similar or better utility at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Simic Fluxmage slots easily into a variety of deck types that value adaptability and creature evolution. With its ability to transfer +1/+1 counters, it gives players the flexibility to shift power dynamically among creatures on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card harbors great combo potential, playing well with mechanics that care about +1/+1 counters. Synergize it with evolve creatures or proliferate effects to maximize your board presence and take control of the game.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where incremental advantage and creature-based strategies are prevalent, Simic Fluxmage maintains relevance. Its capacity to manipulate counters can turn the tide of battle, making it a nuanced addition that can outpace more static strategies.
How to beat Simic Fluxmage
Simic Fluxmage is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that allows you to evolve creatures with its ability to transfer +1/+1 counters. This can lead to a situation where your opponent has a board of increasingly large threats. To overcome Simic Fluxmage, consider removal spells that can target it before the counters start moving. Direct damage spells or those allowing you to choose a creature to destroy are efficient ways to handle it before your opponent can utilize its ability to full effect.
Control strategies are also effective. Counter spells can prevent Simic Fluxmage from hitting the board in the first place, while bounce spells reset the counters dispersed on other creatures. It’s also worth noting that Simic Fluxmage hinges on having +1/+1 counters available, so utilizing a strategy that removes these counters or prevents them from being placed can be an Achilles’ heel for decks relying on Simic Fluxmage.
Ultimately, recognizing the potential for exponential growth that Simic Fluxmage represents is key. By prioritizing its removal or neutering its functionality, you can maintain the upper hand against decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Simic Fluxmage MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Simic Fluxmage and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Simic Fluxmage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Simic Fluxmage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-01-24 | If the creature is an illegal target when Simic Fluxmage’s ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No counters will be removed from Simic Fluxmage. |
| 2013-01-24 | To move a counter from one creature to another, the counter is removed from the first creature and placed on the second. Any abilities that care about a counter being placed on the second creature will apply. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a creature enters the battlefield with +1/+1 counters on it, consider those counters when determining if evolve will trigger. For example, a 1/1 creature that enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it will cause the evolve ability of a 2/2 creature to trigger. |
| 2013-04-15 | If evolve triggers, the stat comparison will happen again when the ability tries to resolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, the ability will do nothing. If the creature that entered the battlefield leaves the battlefield before evolve tries to resolve, use its last known power and toughness to compare the stats. |
| 2013-04-15 | If multiple creatures enter the battlefield at the same time, evolve may trigger multiple times, although the stat comparison will take place each time one of those abilities tries to resolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and two 3/3 creatures enter the battlefield, evolve will trigger twice. The first ability will resolve and put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. When the second ability tries to resolve, neither the power nor the toughness of the new creature is greater than that of the creature with evolve, so that ability does nothing. |
| 2013-04-15 | When comparing the stats as the evolve ability resolves, it’s possible that the stat that’s greater changes from power to toughness or vice versa. If this happens, the ability will still resolve and you’ll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and a 1/3 creature enters the battlefield under your control, it toughness is greater so evolve will trigger. In response, the 1/3 creature gets +2/-2. When the evolve trigger tries to resolve, its power is greater. You’ll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. |
| 2013-04-15 | When comparing the stats of the two creatures for evolve, you always compare power to power and toughness to toughness. |
| 2013-04-15 | Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, check its power and toughness against the power and toughness of the creature with evolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, evolve won’t trigger at all. |