Voidmage Apprentice MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
Abilities | Morph |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Voidmage Apprentice is turned face up, counter target spell.
Cards like Voidmage Apprentice
Voidmage Apprentice joins the ranks of modal counterspells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarity to cards such as Mana Leak, which for a low cost can negate an opponent’s spell unless they pay additional mana. However, Voidmage Apprentice also brings a body to the battlefield, offering more than just a simple spell interruption.
Another comparable option is Spellstutter Sprite, which, like Voidmage Apprentice, counters a spell upon entering the battlefield and has the added benefit of flying. While both provide creature presence and counter abilities, Spellstutter Sprite shines in a deck with numerous faeries where its counter potential increases.
Lastly, we have Glen Elendra Archmage with a persist ability, allowing it to counter an opponent’s noncreature spell twice. Although it has a higher mana cost compared to Voidmage Apprentice, the durability and repeated utility Glen Elendra Archmage provides often outweigh this downside.
In assessing these cards, Voidmage Apprentice proves its worth with its dual utility as both a creature and a countermeasure, aligning well with other standout cards in the counterspell landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Voidmage Apprentice by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Voidmage Apprentice comes with a modal ability that not only counters an unwelcome spell but also replaces itself by drawing another card upon its morph reveal. This creates an opportunity to gain an edge over your opponent by maintaining hand superiority.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Voidmage Apprentice itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, its low casting cost and flexibility in timing can lead to strategic plays that conserve resources elsewhere. It effectively contributes to your overall mana efficiency, allowing for a better allocation of your mana pool throughout the game.
Instant Speed: The true strength of Voidmage Apprentice lies in its ability to operate at instant speed when unmorphed. This offers a veil of unpredictability, enabling players to surprise opponents and disrupt their strategies at crucial moments without prior commitment of the card to the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Voidmage Apprentice demands that you have another card to exile with its morph ability. This can be onerous when your hand is already thin, forcing you to lose potentially valuable resources to enable this play.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires both blue mana and generic mana. This specificity may constrain its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce blue mana, potentially reducing its flexibility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined total cost of five mana to cast and later flip, Voidmage Apprentice can be a sizable investment relative to other counterspell options available. In a game where tempo can be critical, the mana spent on Voidmage Apprentice could potentially be allocated to more immediate impact plays.
Reasons to Include Voidmage Apprentice in Your Collection
Versatility: Voidmage Apprentice fits into many blue-based control and combo decks. This creature card can counter key spells from your opponent when it matters the most, providing a flexible response to various threats on the board.
Combo Potential: When used alongside cards that enable creature recasting or bouncing effects, Voidmage Apprentice can become a recurring force on the battlefield. This allows for repeated use of its counter ability, disrupting your opponent’s plays multiple times throughout the game.
Meta-Relevance: With the constant evolution of the MTG meta, having counter spells in your arsenal is crucial. Voidmage Apprentice holds its ground well against decks that rely on noncreature spells, making it a worthwhile addition to collections targeting current and anticipated metagames.
How to Beat
Voidmage Apprentice presents players with a unique tactical hurdle in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature with the ability to counter target spell as part of a morph cost, it can disrupt an opponent’s strategy. Unlike typical counter spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, which are transparent threats from the hand, Voidmage Apprentice can be deceiving, morphed face down and transformed at a critical moment to negate an opponent’s play.
To navigate this obstacle, it’s advisable to bait out the morph ability with less critical spells before committing your significant ones to the stack. Additionally, employing instant speed removal can effectively handle the Apprentice before it has a chance to unveil its power. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push can swiftly remove the threat at a low cost. Moreover, always be conscious of the open mana your opponent has, as this can indicate the potential for Voidmage Apprentice’s revealing, and plan your turns accordingly. A careful and patient approach can nullify the Apprentice’s advantage.
Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the Apprentice’s morph counter ability is key. By forcing your opponent to act prematurely or by removing the Apprentice before it can morph, players can maintain control over the game and mitigate the surprise factor that Voidmage Apprentice brings to the battlefield.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering the subtle nuances of MTG takes both skill and knowledge, especially when incorporating unique cards like Voidmage Apprentice into your deck. It’s essential to recognize the potential of cards that can alter the flow of a match with their covert abilities. As you continue to refine your deck and strategy, consider the versatility and meta relevance of such cards. We encourage you to delve deeper into the strategies and deck-building philosophies that can transform your gameplay. Immerse yourself in our comprehensive guides and discussions where we lay down the wisdom of seasoned players to help you stay ahead in every duel. Embrace the journey to becoming a formidable opponent, and let the Voidmage Apprentice elevate your game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Voidmage Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, 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 Voidmage Apprentice 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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Printings
The Voidmage Apprentice Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2003-02-03 | Legions | LGN | 54 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jim Nelson | |
2 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 4 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Nelson | |
3 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jim Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Voidmage Apprentice has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Voidmage Apprentice card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | The trigger occurs when you use the Morph ability to turn the card face up, or when an effect turns it face up. It will not trigger on being revealed or on leaving the battlefield. |
2013-04-15 | If a spell with split second is on the stack, you can still respond by turning this creature face up and targeting that spell with the trigger. This is because split second only stops players from casting spells or activating abilities, while turning a creature face up is a special action. |