Vodalian Tide Mage MTG Card

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Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Merfolk Wizard
Abilities	Conjure
Released	2022-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Alchemy: Dominaria
Set code	YDMU
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	29
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Brian Valeza

Key Takeaways

Vodalian Tide Mage offers direct card advantage and can accelerate mana, impacting early game dynamics significantly.
Its instant speed actions grant reactive control, but specific mana requirements may limit deck versatility.
Despite a higher mana cost, its potential in meta-relevant decks and combos justify its consideration in deck building.

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Vodalian Tide Mage. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Simic Tempo	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024
	Bant Tempo	Gladiator		Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vodalian Tide Mage MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Dominaria, 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 Vodalian Tide Mage and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Whenever one or more other nontoken creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, choose one of those creatures. Conjure a duplicate of the chosen creature into your hand.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vodalian Tide Mage shines in its potential to offer card advantage. By allowing you to draw cards under specific conditions, it gives you the power to maintain a robust hand throughout the game, tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be a game-changer when it comes to resource acceleration. If it permits the untapping of lands or generating token resources, you stand to rapidly escalate your mana availability, fueling bigger plays much earlier than your opponent may expect.

Instant Speed: Perhaps one of its most strategic features is the ability to act at instant speed. This versatility means you can adapt on the fly to the changing battlefield, making crucial plays during your opponent’s turn and keeping them guessing about your next move.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the gameplay of MTG, managing your hand is crucial. Vodalian Tide Mage requires a discarding action which could be a setback if your hand is already depleted. This demand can strip you of vital late-game resources or potential answers to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored to fit into blue mana-based decks, Vodalian Tide Mage comes with the need for two blue mana. This requirement can hinder its inclusion in multi-color decks, particularly those that don’t prioritize blue mana sources or have a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the advancing card pool, players often look for optimized mana investments. Vodalian Tide Mage’s mana cost leans on the higher side when you compare it to other creatures with similar abilities or impact on the game. This can affect the card’s playability, as efficiency is key in building a successful deck.

Reasons to Include Vodalian Tide Mage in Your Collection

Versatility: The adaptability of Vodalian Tide Mage is a key strength, allowing it to be included in various MTG deck archetypes such as control or tempo. With its ability to influence the flow of the game, this card can be a tactical addition to your deck-building arsenal.

Combo Potential: For those keen on intricate card interactions, Vodalian Tide Mage proves to be an asset. This card’s capabilities can synergize with other cards that benefit from tapping and untapping mechanics, creating opportunities for powerful combos and play sequences.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving MTG meta, having a card like Vodalian Tide Mage can be beneficial, particularly if the environment favors strategies where controlling creatures’ abilities is crucial. Its presence on the board can influence opponents’ tactics, making it a worthy consideration for competitive play.

How to beat

The Vodalian Tide Mage presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with its ability to disrupt creature based strategies. Its utility lies in tapping or untapping creatures, making it a versatile tool in both offensive and defensive situations. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to remove it from the board swiftly. Targeted removal spells that can bypass any counterspell shields are your best bet. Consider instant-speed options that can catch your opponent off guard during their turn, minimizing the Mage’s impact.

Moreover, leveraging creature abilities that don’t rely on attacking or tapping can nullify the Tide Mage’s influence. Cards that can provide hexproof or shroud to your creatures are also valuable, as they shield them from being targeted. Lastly, an effective strategy may include putting pressure on your opponent’s mana resources. This can limit their ability to utilize the Mage’s ability multiple times in a turn, making the battlefield less daunting and putting the tide back in your favor.

When facing the Vodalian Tide Mage, the key is to be adaptable and proactive. By undermining its control over the flow of combat, you can preserve your board state and continue to advance your game plan undeterred.

Cards like Vodalian Tide Mage

The Vodalian Tide Mage brings its own tide of strategic potential for blue-based decks in Magic: The Gathering. In the realm of tapping and untapping permanents, this card swims alongside the likes of Merfolk Thaumaturgist and Tideforce Elemental. The Vodalian Tide Mage holds its ground with the ability to tap another target permanent, akin to the Thaumaturgist, yet it does not come with the conversion ability to switch power and toughness.

Furthermore, Tideforce Elemental offers a similar effect but with the added versatility of targeting any permanent, not just creatures. It also has an additional cost to reuse its ability in a single turn, while the Tide Mage requires a fresh summoning or another untap mechanism for multiple uses in one round. Compared to these two, the Vodalian Tide Mage is positioned as a more straightforward option without the recurring mana investment, although it lacks the raw control offered by the Elemental.

The balance between these creatures makes Vodalian Tide Mage a solid choice for players looking to maintain control over the board without investing heavily in the mechanic, emphasizing its role in Magic: The Gathering as a utility player within blue decks that focus on noncombat strategies to gain the upper hand.