Watercourser MTG Card
2012-07-13 - Number 78
2015-07-17 - Number 82
2018-06-08 - Number 137
2019-11-07 - Number 541
2020-09-26 - Number BBD-137
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
: Watercourser gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
"Beware an eddy where there should be none or a stretch that flows too fast or too slow." —Old Fishbones, Martyne river guide
Cards like Watercourser
Watercourser is a versatile creature card in Magic: The Gathering that brings adaptability to the battlefield. It bears resemblance to creatures such as Coral Merfolk, a simple but reliable two-mana 2/1 blue creature. Watercourser shines with its ability to pump its power on demand, providing players the chance to dish out extra damage or hold back mana for other plays.
Analogous to Watercourser, the card Merfolk Thaumaturgist offers a strategic advantage but through a different lane. The Thaumaturgist can switch power and toughness of creatures until end of turn, a tactic that doesn’t impose a mana cost increment each time like Watercourser’s ability. Yet, the Thaumaturgist lacks the straightforward offensive power boost that Watercourser commands.
Exploring further, we have the prowess of Zephyr Sprite – a one mana 1/1 flyer. Although not directly modifiable like Watercourser, its evasion gives it a consistent advantage. Nonetheless, Watercourser’s flexible power adjustment makes it a valuable asset during the combat phase.
All in all, Watercourser offers a commendable blend of mana efficiency and combat potential in blue decks, capable of acting as both an offensive threat and a dynamic blocker, depending on the game’s needs.
Cards similar to Watercourser by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Watercourser creature can be a consistent threat on the board, effectively giving you a card advantage as it requires an answer from your opponent, otherwise, its presence can dominate smaller creatures turn after turn.
Resource Acceleration: While Watercourser itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its flexible blue mana ability ensures you can efficiently manage your mana pool to adapt to the ever-changing state of the game, potentially freeing up resources for other crucial spells.
Instant Speed: Watercourser’s ability to boost its power at instant speed provides a strategic advantage. This adaptive power allows you to surprise an opponent during combat, turning the tides to win crucial battles or making it an unwelcome target for would-be attackers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Watercourser does not directly impose discard requirements on the player. However, its power lies in its ability to increase its strength at will. If your strategy involves cards that utilize discarding as a cost, the lack of synergy could be a downside as Watercourser offers no inherent discard-related benefits.
Specific Mana Cost: While Watercourser has a flexible blue mana cost that can benefit from various mana-producing sources, it also means it’s confined largely to blue-centered or two-color decks that can reliably provide blue mana, potentially limiting its versatility in multicolor decks that don’t heavily employ blue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Watercourser commands a three-mana investment for a base 2/3 creature, which may be considered costly for the stat line provided. When you account for the necessity to pump additional mana into Watercourser to make it a substantial threat, the total mana expenditure can become disproportionately high compared to other creatures with static abilities that require no additional mana input.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Watercourser’s ability to adjust its power makes it a flexible choice for blue-centered decks that appreciate being able to quickly adapt to the battlefield’s demands. This creature can play both offense and defense roles as needed.
Combo Potential: With instant-speed control over its power, Watercourser works well with cards that benefit from power modifications or need specific power values to unleash combos. It’s a handy tool for intricate gameplay maneuvers.
Meta-Relevance: Against a backdrop of constantly shifting metas, this card offers a reliable option for players facing various threats. In an environment filled with combat tricks and surprise buffs, Watercourser can effectively match and surpass the power levels posed by opponents’ creatures.
How to beat
Within the MTG realm, the Watercourser presents itself as an adaptable creature card that can fluidly shift its power during combat. This blue creature possesses the ability to increase its power while decreasing its toughness, allowing for tactical flexibility depending on the battle situation. It’s a card seasoned with versatility, but with the right strategy, overcoming it is manageable.
When facing a Watercourser, the key is to exploit its reduced toughness after its power has been augmented. This can be done through employing instant removal spells or abilities that can cost-effectively deal damage or destroy a creature with diminished toughness. Moreover, forcing your opponent to continually invest mana into adjusting the Watercourser’s power can provide you with a window of advantage to outmaneuver them by developing your board presence or saving mana for disrupting other threats. Furthermore, taking control of combat through your own creature buffs, strategic blocks, and clever spell timing can turn the tides in your favor against a Watercourser on the battlefield.
Ultimately, understanding the inherent trade-off of the Watercourser’s ability conveys significant insight for an opponent. By threading together clever plays and maintaining board control, this card’s ingenuity can be surpassed, securing your dominance in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Watercourser MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Magic Origins, 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 Watercourser 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Watercourser Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 78 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 2 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 82 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 3 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 541 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | BBD-137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Watercourser has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |