Wandering Mage MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 111
2009-09-07 - Number 186
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric Wizard |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
o W: Pay 1 life to prevent up to 2 damage to any creature. Effects that prevent or redirect damage cannot be used to counter this loss of life. o U: Prevent 1 damage to any Cleric or Wizard. o B: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature you control to prevent up to 2 damage to any player.
Cards like Wandering Mage
The Wandering Mage stands out in the arsenal of clever and resourceful characters within Magic: The Gathering. This renowned character can often be compared to other influential utility creatures like Mother of Runes, which also offers protection for creatures but without the lifeloss and mana gain quirks. Both cards allow for tactical plays, ensuring precious creatures survive to see another turn, but Wandering Mage adds an extra layer of strategy by impacting life totals and mana pools.
Another card to consider is Mangara of Corondor, which also champions the cause of creature control, albeit in a different manner. While it removes any target threat permanently through exile, it does so at the cost of sacrificing itself, unlike Wandering Mage, which continues to influence the battlefield with its repeatable abilities. Similarly, Auramancer’s Guildmage presents a dual ability to control both creatures and enchantments, providing a wider range of defensive capabilities, yet it lacks the direct life manipulation that Wandering Mage promotes.
To conclude, Wandering Mage may very well carve its own niche within the MTG utility creature space, blending protection, resource management, and life total tactics into a singular, potent force on the playmat.
Cards similar to Wandering Mage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Wandering Mage offers a significant edge by granting access to additional draw options. This benefit can be pivotal for players looking to sustain momentum and outpace their opponent by having more choices available with each turn.
Resource Acceleration: With abilities that generate extra mana, the Wandering Mage serves as a catalyst for deploying more threats earlier or executing pivotal spells that could alter the course of the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: The quick nature of the Wandering Mage’s abilities adds a layer of tactical depth to gameplay. Players can adapt on the fly, responding to an opponent’s actions during their turn, which can potentially disrupt their strategy or provide an unexpected twist to the board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Wandering Mage demands that you discard a card to access its abilities, presenting a potential setback when your hand is already depleted or if the cards in hand are too valuable to dispose of.
Specific Mana Cost: This mage’s casting requires a precise combination of mana types, which may not align smoothly with all deck strategies, notably those that run multiple colors or have a less stable mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The resources required to play the Wandering Mage could be seen as steep, especially when compared to other creatures in the same mana range that might bring more immediate board presence or impact.
Reasons to Include Wandering Mage in Your Collection
Versatility: Wandering Mage offers flexible gameplay options, fitting neatly into control decks or those needing a skillful mix of life gain and loss to manipulate the game state.
Combo Potential: With its ability to impact life totals, the card can synergize with strategies focusing on payoffs for gaining life or dealing damage, enabling several interesting interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to disrupt opponent strategies through life manipulation, Wandering Mage has the potential to be a game-changer in environments where such tactics are beneficial.
How to beat
Wandering Mage offers a unique set of abilities that can make it a formidable component in your opponent’s strategy. This card is versatile, allowing players to influence the game in multiple ways through its mana abilities. However, there are strategies to overcome its influence in your games. Control decks that can counter creature spells effectively can shut down Wandering Mage before it gets a chance to impact the board. Removal spells are also key; having instant speed removal in hand ready to dispatch the Mage before its abilities can be activated is essential.
Adjusting your deck to include flexible threats that don’t rely on combat can circumvent the Mage’s life-gain and creature protection abilities. Cards that impose restrictions on casting creature spells or using activated abilities can also handicap the effectiveness of Wandering Mage. Ultimately, the key lies in limiting your opponent’s opportunities to use the Mage’s abilities to swing the game in their favor. Whether you’re pressuring early before it hits the field, using efficient removal, or employing strategy-specific hate cards, there are plenty of ways to ensure the Wandering Mage doesn’t wander out of control.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wandering Mage MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Masters Edition III, 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 Wandering Mage and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Wandering Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 111 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 186 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wandering Mage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wandering Mage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If you activate Wandering Mage’s third ability, you put the -1/-1 counter on a creature you control as a cost. That means it happens when you activate the ability, not when it resolves. If paying the cost causes the only creature you control to have 0 toughness, it’s put into the graveyard before you can pay the cost again. |
| 2009-10-01 | The second ability checks that the targeted creature is a Cleric or Wizard only at the time the ability is activated and at the time it resolves. It doesn’t check at the time the damage is actually prevented. |