The Provider MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Hero |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods Hero's Path |
| Set code | THP2 |
| Number | 4e |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chuck Lukacs |
Text of card
Exile The Provider: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. You gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
Cards like The Provider
The Provider adds a unique twist to the pantheon of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. When placed side by side with cards like Cloud of Faeries, which also untaps lands upon entering the battlefield, The Provider edges ahead with its ability to generate two life points. This subtle difference can shift the balance in games, turning The Provider into a strategic tool for both mana fixing and life gain.
Another card worth mentioning is Peregrine Drake. While not providing life points, it untaps up to five lands, granting a significant leap in mana advantage for its controller. Although The Provider does not untap as many lands, its life-giving feature and lower mana cost make it a versatile choice for decks looking to maintain momentum. On the flip side, there’s Arbor Elf, a creature that can untap forests. This ability, paired with cards that turn lands into multiple biomes, potentially provides more mana than The Provider but lacks the direct health benefit.
In essence, The Provider has its own niche, combining life gain with mana untapping in a cost-effective manner, making it a solid option for players who value incremental advantages throughout the duel.
Cards similar to The Provider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Provider enhances your hand by allowing you to manipulate the top card of your library, potentially netting you an additional option each turn.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers a unique twist on resource acceleration, giving you access to additional land plays or even special abilities that can amplify your mana pool far quicker than your opponent.
Instant Speed: With the capability to act at instant speed, The Provider gives you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves by providing strategic benefits exactly when you need them — during either player’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Provider necessitates that you discard another card to utilize its ability, which may deplete your hand and reduce your strategic options, particularly if your hand size is dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of mana types to cast. This can make it challenging to fit into multicolored decks that might struggle to generate the right colors at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end, The Provider might come into play later than desired, especially when facing decks that aim to win quickly. There may be more cost-effective choices available when considering overall mana curve efficiency and gameplay tempo.
Reasons to Include The Provider in Your Collection
Versatility: The Provider is an exceptional addition to any collection due to its flexible role in numerous deck archetypes. It can seamlessly integrate into strategies that value card advantage or require specific mana fixing.
Combo Potential: With The Provider, players unlock significant combo potential. It can activate synergies or support complex sequences that pivot around life gain, mana acceleration, or creature casting, escalating your plays to new heights.
Meta-Relevance: Given that The Provider can adjust to various metagame environments, its inclusion in a collection can be particularly advantageous. Whether you’re tackling aggro, control, or combo matchups, this card’s adaptability makes it a formidable choice in an ever-evolving MTG landscape.
How to Beat The Provider
The Provider is a unique card that often requires a strategic approach to overcome. When facing an opponent’s The Provider, tactics like instant-speed removal spells can make a huge difference. By disrupting the timing of The Provider’s abilities, especially its chapter abilities if it’s a saga, you can mitigate the advantage it gives your opponent.
Resource denial strategies, such as land destruction or counterspells, can also be effective against The Provider by limiting the opponent’s ability to utilize its benefits. This can be particularly significant if The Provider relies on specific mana conditions to activate its abilities. Moreover, graveyard hate cards can nullify The Provider’s impact if it operates by retrieving cards from the graveyard or depends on certain cards being there.
Additionally, beating The Provider may involve a more aggressive game plan, racing against the value it provides over time. Swift creature plays and direct damage can pressure an opponent, potentially diminishing the relative advantage of The Provider before it can significantly affect the game state. Understanding the intricate mechanics of The Provider and anticipating its influence on a match is key to devising an effective strategy to counter it.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase The Provider MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods Hero's Path, 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 The Provider and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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