Maraxus MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	1997-05-01
Set symbol
Set name	Vanguard Series
Set code	PVAN
Number	104
Frame	1993
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Key Takeaways

Maraxus excels in card advantage by strengthening with each artifact, elevating board presence.
Resource acceleration benefits Maraxus, as mana artifacts indirectly boost its power.
Surprising opponents is key, as Maraxus’s strategy thrives on instant-speed interaction.

Text of card

Your creatures get +1/+0.

Too chaotic for even the other warlords of Keld, Maraxus has devoted himself to serving as a hired killer for the sinister Volrath. A man fond of his work, he's more than willing to put in those extra hours needed to perfect his craft.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Maraxus of Keld shines in the department of card advantage, not in the traditional sense of drawing cards but through its ability to remain a persistent threat that requires an answer. Every artifact your deck plays strengthen its power, ensuring each card played bolsters your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Maraxus doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure tokens, it greatly benefits from artifact-based resource acceleration. Every artifact that ramps your mana inherently beefs up Maraxus, turning your mana rocks into power boosts that make him an ever-growing force to be reckoned with.

Instant Speed: Maraxus itself may not be an instant, but it invites a strategy that maximizes at instant speed. With artifacts that can be activated or cast during an opponent’s turn, you can swell Maraxus’s power unexpectedly, discouraging attacks and setting up surprise knockouts the moment your turn comes back around.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Maraxus, one must be prepared to deal with the necessity of discarding cards, which might not always align with your game plan, especially if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Maraxus requires a combination of red and generic mana to come into play, potentially making it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that are not heavily red-focused.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of six mana needed to cast Maraxus, its presence on the battlefield comes later in the game, which may be too slow compared to other aggressive options available for the same or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include Maraxus Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Maraxus of Keld shines in various deck builds, especially those focusing on Voltron strategies where individual creature strength is paramount. Its power scales with the number of artifacts you control, meaning it adapts smoothly to changing board states.

Combo Potential: This card becomes increasingly powerful in synergy with artifact-heavy decks, making it an excellent addition for players looking to create explosive turns where artifact count directly impacts your win condition.

Meta-Relevance: Maraxus can hold its own in many meta environments, standing tall against a swath of creature-based strategies that dominate the field. Its ability to grow in power makes it a persistent threat on the battlefield.

How to Beat

Maraxus of Keld is a noteworthy figure within the landscape of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. As a legendary creature, Maraxus’s power and toughness each equal the number of untapped artifacts, creatures, and lands you control. This unique characteristic makes him a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Adequately contesting this card requires strategy and precision.

An effective approach to overcoming Maraxus is to limit the number of untapped permanents your opponent controls. Cards with the ability to tap opponent’s artifacts, creatures, or lands can drastically reduce Maraxus’s power. Moreover, employing removal spells before your opponent reaches six mana—the casting cost of Maraxus—can thwart their plan to summon him. Board wipes can also reset the game state, effectively neutralizing the threat that Maraxus poses. Ensnaring him in a Pacifism or similar enchantment can render him harmless without needing to deal with his potentially high power.

Overall, successfully navigating a match against Maraxus involves careful play, disruption of your opponent’s board, and timing your removals. An understanding of these strategies not only aids in triumph over Maraxus but also enhances general gameplay against cards with similar dynamics.

Cards like Maraxus

Maraxus of Keld is a unique figure in Magic: The Gathering, embodying raw power fluctuating with the number of artifacts you control. It bears a resemblance to Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith, wherein both heroes excel when synergizing with artifacts. Yet Maraxus stands out due to its ability to potentially become more formidable as the game advances, unlike Toggo, who focuses on creating artifact tokens.

Comparing further, we have Valkyrion the Magnetic, a creature whose strength is also dependent on other artifacts in play. Valkyrion, however, offers the versatility of splitting into two separate creatures if needed, posing a different kind of threat. Maraxus does not offer this adaptability but compensates with the potential for overwhelming singular power.

Analyzing these variables, Maraxus certainly has its place in decks that favor a strong, single creature strategy with an artifact theme, making it a noteworthy candidate among its peers in Magic: The Gathering’s expansive universe of cards.

Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Maraxus by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Maraxus MTG card by a specific set like Vanguard Series, 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 Maraxus and other MTG cards: