Tolarian Emissary MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Flying,Kicker |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 81 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Text of card
Kicker o1o W (You may pay an additional o1o W as you play this spell.) Flying When Tolarian Emissary comes into play, if you paid the kicker cost, destroy target enchantment.
Cards like Tolarian Emissary
Tolarian Emissary joins the roster of utility creatures in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. The emissary shares flight with various other creatures, providing an evasive mechanism to deal damage or block opposing flying threats. What distinguishes it is its kicker ability, allowing it to destroy enchantments, offering flexibility in how it’s played. In contrast, cards like Monk Idealist only return enchantments from the graveyard to your hand without the potential to deal damage.
When compared to Keening Apparition, the ability to eliminate enchantments is present, yet Tolarian Emissary offers an airborne advantage over the Apparition’s ground-based presence. Similarly, Reclamation Sage provides enchantment and artifact removal upon entry to the battlefield, but once again, the Emissary’s flying ability gives it a distinct edge in terms of board influence and versatility within the game.
Ultimately, while Tolarian Emissary may not be the most potent creature in terms of raw stats, its combination of flying and the optional enchantment destruction ability makes it a valuable and adaptable card for players looking for strategic depth in their decks.
Cards similar to Tolarian Emissary by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tolarian Emissary’s ability to manipulate the battlefield by bouncing permanents can indirectly lead to card advantage. Being able to delay opponents or reuse your own enter-the-battlefield effects is a subtle way to stay ahead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: While Tolarian Emissary itself does not produce additional resources directly, the strategic removal of an opponent’s mana sources or utility lands can act as a form of resource acceleration by setting them back and maintaining your own tempo.
Instant Speed: Tolarian Emissary’s kicker ability can be played at instant speed, which allows for flexible play allowing you to adapt to the unfolding game state and maximize the efficiency of your mana usage each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tolarian Emissary asks you to part with another card from your hand to activate its kicker ability. This potentially reduces your grip on the game, leaving you more vulnerable to your opponent’s strategy, especially if your hand is already running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: The Emissary demands both generic and blue mana to cast. This makes it less adaptable, confining it to decks that heavily favor or can accommodate blue mana sources, thereby limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three mana of any type plus one blue, the Emissary’s requirement is steep when stacked against other cards with similar or more impactful effects. The necessity to invest four mana can set back your game tempo, especially when more mana-efficient alternatives might be available to fulfill the same role.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tolarian Emissary is a flexible card, easily slotting into various blue-based decks. It offers both utility in manipulating the board and can assist in setting up your plays ahead of time.
Combo Potential: With its ability to potentially untap all lands, Tolarian Emissary synergizes well with big mana strategies, enabling explosive turns when combined with cards that care about the number of lands you control or tap for effects.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where land-based strategies are prevalent, Tolarian Emissary gains value. It can disrupt opponents’ tempo while accelerating your own game plan, making it a tactically sound pull against certain deck archetypes.
How to beat Tolarian Emissary
Navigating the gameplay around Tolarian Emissary can be quite the task when facing this versatile card on the battlefield. Crafted to manipulate the board, Tolarian Emissary can unsettle your opponent’s land-base and disrupt their strategies effectively. Yet, with strategic moves, it’s possible to mitigate the impact of this card.
Removal spells are key. When up against a creature like Tolarian Emissary, swift elimination is essential. A well-timed Path to Exile or Fatal Push can make short work of the Emissary before its kicker ability causes mayhem. It’s also critical to be cautious with land management—too many nonbasic lands might pose a risk if the Emissary kicks its power into high gear.
Lastly, countering the spell outright can save you from future troubles. Having counter spells at the ready, like Counterspell or Mana Leak, can ensure Tolarian Emissary never sets foot on the board. Proactive defense, paired with instant-speed responses, can ensure that Tolarian Emissary doesn’t hinder your game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tolarian Emissary MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Tolarian Emissary 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tolarian Emissary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |