Quandrix Pledgemage MTG Card

Quandrix Pledgemage - Strixhaven: School of Mages

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Merfolk Druid
Abilities	Magecraft
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	219
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Caroline Gariba

Key Takeaways

It excels in decks designed around instant and sorcery spells, contributing to an increasing threat presence.
Despite its mana specificity and higher cost, the Pledgemage’s potential for permanent strength gain is significant.
Controlling its spell triggers through counterspells or removal is key to neutralizing the Quandrix Pledgemage.

Text of card

Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Quandrix Pledgemage.

"The first step toward transcending physical limitations is discarding assumptions about what is possible."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Quandrix Pledgemage has the inherent ability to expand hand options through its synergy with instant and sorcery spells. Each time you cast either spell type, the power of the Pledgemage beefs up, effectively leading you to potentially overpower opponents without losing card count in hand.

Resource Acceleration: As part of a simic deck, the Quandrix Pledgemage assists in ramping up the resources. Its colors (green and blue) are intrinsically linked with mana growth, allowing players to cast more significant spells sooner and maintain a sustained lead in the resource race.

Instant Speed: By rewarding you each time an instant is played, the Quandrix Pledgemage encourages a strategic gameplay style. You can utilize your instants on an opponent’s turn not just for immediate effects but also to bolster your mage’s strength, transforming it into an even more daunting threat on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players may find the Quandrix Pledgemage less appealing if they are not comfortable with spells or abilities that require discarding as part of their play strategy. Since this card relies on the magecraft ability, which benefits from casting or copying an instant or sorcery spell, the potential to have an insufficient hand size could hinder its effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: Mana flexibility can be crucial in deck building, and the Quandrix Pledgemage comes with a set mana cost that requires both blue and green mana. For players who are not running a Simic (green-blue) deck, fitting the Pledgemage into the mana base can be challenging, limiting the card to specific deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is not low, Quandrix Pledgemage may compete for the same slot as other impactful three-mana creatures or spells that provide immediate value or have a more powerful impact on the game state. Its effectiveness must be weighed against other options within its mana range to ensure optimal deck performance.

Reasons to Include Quandrix Pledgemage in Your Collection

Versatility: Quandrix Pledgemage is a card that seamlessly meshes with different deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on casting spells. Its scaling power and toughness with each spell cast allow for dynamic gameplay and adaptability.

Combo Potential: This mage thrives in decks built around spell sling. With the ability to grow with spell casting, it opens the door to numerous synergies and enables infinite combos with cards that untap creatures or allow for additional casts.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where spells are the linchpin of many strategies, Quandrix Pledgemage stands out. As decks focus on instant and sorcery cards, this card becomes increasingly potent, making it a competent contender in both casual circles and more competitive scenes.

How to beat

The Quandrix Pledgemage is a formidable multicolored creature in Magic: The Gathering, often a key component in magecraft-centric decks. Its power lies in how it thrives each time you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, gaining a counter that boosts its strength and durability on the battlefield. To overcome this card, it is essential to employ a strategy that limits these triggers.

Counterspells are one effective method, as they can disrupt the spells pivotal to fueling the Pledgemage’s growth. Targeted removal is another solution, ideally enacted before the Pledgemage accumulates too many counters. Cards that prevent your opponent from casting multiple spells in a turn or that impose additional costs for casting instant and sorcery spells can also hinder the Pledgemage’s ability to thrive.

Therefore, a prompt and precise approach, focusing on control and removal, is your best tactic against Quandrix Pledgemage. By cutting off the synergy it seeks and keeping the board clear, you increase your chances of maintaining dominance in the game.

Cards like Quandrix Pledgemage

The Quandrix Pledgemage marks its identity in the MTG universe by being a creature card that thrives on spellcasting. Comparable to the Zuran Spellcaster, which also benefits from casting instant or sorcery spells, the Quandrix Pledgemage offers the bonus of gaining a +1/+1 counter each time you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, enhancing its power and toughness.

Another relative in this family is the Wee Dragonauts. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Wee Dragonauts gets a temporary boost to its power until end of turn, offering a similar yet fleeting advantage. However, it lacks the enduring growth presented by the Quandrix Pledgemage’s counters. Nivix Cyclops also shares this temporary power surge trait with its triggered ability, yet it’s not as durable nor scalable as the Pledgemage’s incremental strength.

In essence, when evaluating creature cards that synergize with instant and sorcery spell casting, Quandrix Pledgemage distinguishes itself with the potential for permanent growth, providing cumulative value that can escalate with each spell cast within the game, solidifying its place within creature-based MTG strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Quandrix Pledgemage MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Quandrix Pledgemage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Quandrix Pledgemage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2021-04-16	Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.
2021-04-16	For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card.
2021-04-16	If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger.
2021-04-16	If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect.
2021-04-16	Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger.