Volo, Itinerant Scholar MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 103s
2022-06-10 - Number 103
2022-06-10 - Number 491
2022-06-10 - Number 388
2022-06-10 - Number 48
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Choose a background |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Volo enters the battlefield, create Volo's Journal, a legendary colorless artifact token with hexproof and "Whenever you cast a creature spell, note one of its creature types that hasn't been noted for this artifact." , : Draw a card for each creature type noted for target permanent you control named Volo's Journal. Choose a Background
Cards like Volo, Itinerant Scholar
Volo, Itinerant Scholar carves a distinct niche in the pantheon of MTG’s creature-based strategy enhancers. Echoing the thematic semblance of Tamiyo, Field Researcher, Volo offers a multiplicative approach by allowing extra utilization of creature spells, provided they each have different types. Tamiyo also harnesses the power of creatures, albeit through a different scope — focusing on tapping creatures for card draw and control.
Delving into other kinships, Volo shares conceptual ground with the likes of Yarok, the Desecrated. Both amplify the effects of certain spells or abilities — Yarok by doubling triggered abilities from permanents. The additional casting benefit that Volo provides for diversified creature decks sets a parallel yet unique approach to Yarok’s value multiplication.
Hence, while there are similarities in mechanic exploitation amongst these cards, Volo, Itinerant Scholar stands out by enabling players to play an expanded creature game, fundamentally changing how one might construct their deck and play out their turns. Each card offers a unique enhancement to gameplay, yet it’s the novel approach to creature strategies that places Volo in his own category of deck-building potential.
Cards similar to Volo, Itinerant Scholar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Volo, Itinerant Scholar is designed to boost your hand by letting you look at the top two cards of your library at any time. This unique ability gives players the chance to strategize and maximize potential draws, ensuring a steady stream of resources and keeping you ahead of your opponent with a fuller hand.
Resource Acceleration: Linking perfectly with its card advantage capability, Volo facilitates a stronger position on the board by potentially allowing you to put land cards from this action onto the battlefield. This can accelerate your resource availability, opening up opportunities for earlier plays of key spell cards. It’s a robust mechanism that helps maintain tempo and can lead to powerful turns.
Instant Speed: Volo, Itinerant Scholar can be untapped at instant speed, which means you can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield more responsively. This element of surprise can give you an edge, as you can choose the most opportune moment to gain that card advantage or secure the essential land drop, keeping your opponents on their toes while you optimize your plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The mechanic employed by Volo, Itinerant Scholar demands that a player discards a card, potentially causing card disadvantage, especially if you are playing a strategy reliant on maintaining a full grip of options.
Specific Mana Cost: The spell requires both blue and white mana, which might not seamlessly fit into every player’s mana base, thus restricting its integration to decks that can accommodate the color requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you break down the mana cost of Volo, Itinerant Scholar, its demand for four mana might be steep when evaluating other cards in those colors with similar or more impactful abilities for lesser mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Volo, Itinerant Scholar adds flexibility to your gaming strategy. It’s a card that can seamlessly adapt to various deck types, giving you the ability to manipulate and replay spells that have a significant impact during the later stages of the game.
Combo Potential: With the right deck setup, Volo can unlock a world of combinations, allowing you to cast instants or sorceries from your graveyard for a game-changing reprise. Its ability to bring spells back from the graveyard works well with strategies that focus on spell reuse and manipulation.
Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape continuously evolves, Volo, Itinerant Scholar proves to be an asset in environments that value the cunning replay of spells. Its potential for card advantage and tactical play adaptation makes it a worthy addition to collections aiming to stay current and competitive.
How to beat
Volo, Itinerant Scholar can present a significant challenge on the battlefield, but like any strategy in Magic: The Gathering, there are effective countermeasures. The key is understanding that Volo’s ability to copy creatures hinges on not sharing a creature type with others you control. Thus, one approach is to limit the variety of creature types on your opponent’s side or your own if Volo’s mirror ability is a concern.
Removal spells are a solid strategy to address Volo directly. Sudden spot removals before Volo’s trigger can greatly inhibit your opponent’s game plan. Consider Red spells such as “Shock” or Black’s “Heartless Act” which can dispose of Volo efficiently before the copying effect becomes overwhelming. In addition, strategies that involve board wipes can reset the playing field, negating the advantage gained by Volo’s ability to duplicate creatures.
Ultimately, overcoming Volo, Itinerant Scholar demands a proactive approach. Be ready with removal or employ a deck that neutralizes the diversity Volo thrives on. Board control and timely spell casting will be your best allies in ensuring Volo’s scholarly pursuits don’t lead to your defeat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Volo, Itinerant Scholar // Volo, Itinerant Scholar MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series and Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos, 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 Volo, Itinerant Scholar // Volo, Itinerant Scholar and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Volo, Itinerant Scholar // Volo, Itinerant Scholar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series | ACLB | 48 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos | PCLB | 103s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andreas Zafiratos | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andreas Zafiratos | |
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 491 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andreas Zafiratos | |
| 5 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 388 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Mara Andersen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Volo, Itinerant Scholar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Volo, Itinerant Scholar card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-06-10 | An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders. |
| 2022-06-10 | Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library. |
| 2022-06-10 | Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate. |
| 2022-06-10 | If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens. |
| 2022-06-10 | If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander. |
| 2022-06-10 | Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway). |
| 2022-06-10 | You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors. |