Thalia, Guardian of Thraben MTG Card
2012-02-03 - Number 24
2018-03-16 - Number 36
2020-03-12 - Number 4
2021-11-19 - Number 38
2021-11-19 - Number 318
2021-11-19 - Number 331
2022-01-28 - Number 305
2023-04-21 - Number 72
2023-04-21 - Number 137z
2023-04-21 - Number 7
2023-04-21 - Number 137
2002-06-24 - Number 55699
2019-12-02 - Number 39
2019-12-02 - Number 40
2019-12-02 - Number 38
2019-12-02 - Number 37
2021-11-19 - Number 18
2023-04-21 - Number 67
| Card sets | Released in 18 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
First strike Noncreature spells cost more to cast.
"Thraben is our home and I will not see it fall to this unhallowed horde."
Cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben stands out in the realm of tax effect creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Much like her, Glowrider imposes an additional mana cost for spells that opponents cast. However, Thalia’s legendary status and lower casting cost give her an edge in competitive play. Glowrider isn’t as frequently utilized given that it doesn’t provide the same level of efficiency as Thalia does.
Then there’s Vryn Wingmare, another creature that shares Thalia’s taxing ability. The Wingmare has the advantage of flying, offering a different strategic angle. Despite this aerial prowess, Thalia’s lower mana value and the impact she has on the battlefield right from the second turn can be game-defining. These nuances are crucial when decks are crafted to harness these taxing effects.
When evaluating the unique aspects and overall utility in the wide array of MTG white cards, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben certainly holds a respected position. Her early game presence combined with her disruptive ability against noncreature spells cements her as a staple in formats where maintaining tempo is key.
Cards similar to Thalia, Guardian of Thraben by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Maverick | Legacy | Maverick | Legacy League 2024-05-06 |
 | Orzhov Stoneblade | Legacy | Orzhov Stoneblade | Legacy League 2024-05-04 |
 | Mono-White Initiative | Vintage | Mono-White Initiative | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-05-03 |
 | Boros Convoke | Pioneer | Boros Convoke | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-05 |
 | Mono-White Humans | Pioneer | Mono-White Humans | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-03 |
 | Selesnya Aggro | Vintage | Mono-White Aggro | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-05-04 |
| Orzhov Humans | Pioneer | Orzhov Humans | Pioneer League 2024-05-03 |
| W | Legacy | Legacy League 2024-05-03 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though Thalia, Guardian of Thraben does not directly let you draw additional cards, her influence can generate indirect card advantage. By hampering your opponents’ cheap spells and making their noncreature spells cost more, you effectively cause them to fall behind in resource allocation, allowing you to pull ahead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Thalia doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense of producing mana. However, her tax on your opponents’ spells offers a form of tempo gain, as it can slow down opposing decks that rely heavily on noncreature spells, allowing you to develop your board quicker by comparison and use your mana more efficiently to advance your game state.
Instant Speed: Although Thalia, Guardian of Thraben herself is not an instant, she forces a playstyle adjustment that favors holding up mana for instant speed interactions. Her presence encourages a more reactive game, where successfully navigating and utilizing instant speed interaction becomes key, effectively increasing their value and impact during the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As Thalia, Guardian of Thraben enters the battlefield, there isn’t a discard requirement directly associated with her. This makes her relatively straightforward to play without compromising your hand. Keep in mind, maintaining a balanced hand is critical, especially when deploying creatures that don’t demand a discard.
Specific Mana Cost: Thalia’s deployment needs one white mana plus one generic mana, which might restrict her presence to decks heavily relying on white mana or those that can efficiently produce multiple mana colors. This specific mana requirement can be a slight hurdle for decks that don’t naturally support white mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a two-mana cost might not seem steep, within ultra-efficient or aggressive strategies, every mana point counts. In such decks, even comparatively low mana costs can be considered a drawback when aiming to execute a swift and streamlined game plan. However, Thalia remains a powerful and commonly utilized card offering significant tactical advantages.
Reasons to Include Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in Your Collection
Versatility: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is a classic card that fits seamlessly into white aggro decks, hatebears strategies, and even some human tribal builds. With her ability to slow down opposing noncreature spells, she’s a perfect fit for decks aiming to maintain tempo and pressure opponents from the early game stages.
Combo Potential: While not a combo piece in the traditional sense, Thalia’s ability to increase the cost of spells opponents cast makes her an essential tool for disrupting combos. This gives players a crucial window to advance their board state unimpeded or to set up their own game-winning plays.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where spell-heavy or control decks are prevalent, Thalia shines as a countermeasure. Her impact on the early game can be a deciding factor, altering the pace to your advantage and making her a valuable asset in any collection that aims to stay competitive over time.
How to Beat Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben shines in her role of disrupting non-creature spell strategies, making the card a formidable presence in the Magic: The Gathering arena. However, overcoming her is not an insurmountable task. Prioritizing the removal of Thalia early on is key. Utilize low-cost removal spells before she can affect your tempo, as her tax on non-creature spells increases their cost.
Efficient spells like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can take Thalia off the board without having to invest additional mana, circumventing her taxing effect. It’s also useful to include creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects that can deal damage or force a sacrifice, ensuring they’re still valuable even if Thalia is increasing the cost of your other spells.
Another approach involves adjusting your game plan to emphasize land drops and ramping up your creature-based strategies. By relying less on non-creature spells, you reduce the impact that Thalia’s ability has on your deck, letting you maintain pacing without being hindered by additional costs. By focusing on these strategies, you can turn the tables on Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, ensuring your deck remains effective against this taxing adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thalia, Guardian of Thraben MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dark Ascension, 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 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Thalia, Guardian of Thraben Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 10 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 55699 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Argyle | ||
| 2 | 2012-02-03 | Dark Ascension | DKA | 24 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss | |
| 3 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 36 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss | |
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johannes Voss | ||
| 5 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 40 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johannes Voss | ||
| 6 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | ||
| 7 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 37 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | ||
| 8 | 2020-03-12 | Historic Anthology 2 | HA2 | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss | |
| 9 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 10 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 318 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cabrol | |
| 11 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 18 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 12 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 331 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 13 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 305 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 14 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss | |
| 15 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 67 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 16 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 137z | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Alvarado | |
| 17 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Alvarado | |
| 18 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Alvarado |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thalia, Guardian of Thraben has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thalia, Guardian of Thraben card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-03-16 | Thalia's ability affects each spell that's not a creature spell, including your own. |
| 2018-03-16 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was. |