Windgrace Acolyte MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 112
2019-11-07 - Number 827
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-112
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Cat Warrior |
| Abilities | Flying,Mill |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying When Windgrace Acolyte enters the battlefield, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard and you gain 3 life.
Acolytes of the lost Lord Windgrace fight to keep Urborg relics out of Cabal hands.
Cards like Windgrace Acolyte
Windgrace Acolyte is an alluring creature card that fans of Magic: The Gathering may find quite intriguing when looking at graveyard-utilizing strategies. It shares some similarities with other creature cards like Balustrade Spy. Both serve to manipulate the top cards of a player’s library but Windgrace Acolyte offers the added benefit of life gain through its lifelink ability. This not only impacts the state of your deck but also your life total, which can be crucial in longer games.
Mothdust Changeling is another card that jumps out as similar due to its creature type – both are primarily intended for decks that capitalize on creature synergy. However, Mothdust Changeling grants an immediate effect with its tap ability, unlike the Acolyte which demands a more strategic, longer-term play with its graveyard interaction. Meanwhile, Stinkweed Imp may draw a more direct comparison when it comes to dredge decks, boasting dredge 5. Though Stinkweed Imp doesn’t have the same immediate board impact upon entering, its recurring nature allows players to repeatedly exploit its dredge feature.
Assessing these cards, one can appreciate the unique position of Windgrace Acolyte in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a multifaceted approach to gameplay, affecting the library, graveyard, and life total, making it a noteworthy option for deck builders exploring black midrange or reanimator strategies.
Cards similar to Windgrace Acolyte by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Windgrace Acolyte enters the battlefield, its ability lets you mill three cards and potentially draw a card, keeping your hand filled with options.
Resource Acceleration: By putting land cards into your graveyard from your library, Windgrace Acolyte may indirectly support strategies that profit from land cards in the graveyard, hastening your game plan.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Windgrace Acolyte can still be a key part of decks that operate at instant speed. Cards that reanimate creatures from the graveyard, for instance, can bring it into play on an opponent’s turn, catching them off guard and maximizing strategic opportunities.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Windgrace Acolyte’s ability requires a player to delve into their graveyard upon entering the battlefield. This can potentially reduce the resources available for future graveyard strategies or other mechanics that rely on a well-stocked graveyard, placing a hidden cost on its seemingly beneficial effect.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that specifically requires black and green, this card restricts deck building flexibility. It’s not easily slotted into decks without a significant base of these colors which may deter players running diverse mana bases or those preferring to keep their options open for splashing additional colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a mana value of five for a 3/2 creature, Windgrace Acolyte could be considered inefficient when compared to other cards at the same cost. Players may find that other cards in this range could provide more impactful board presence or game-altering effects. Consequently, calculating its cost-to-advantage ratio might leave players opting for alternatives that promise a greater payoff for their mana investment.
Reasons to Include Windgrace Acolyte in Your Collection
Versatility: This card is a solid addition to graveyard-focused decks, particularly those playing with black mana. Its ability to put cards into your graveyard can be a boon for strategies built around recursion or creature synergies. Moreover, as a flying creature, Windgrace Acolyte provides both offensive pressure and defensive capabilities.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that favor high-graveyard volume, Windgrace Acolyte can be a key piece. Whether you’re looking to reanimate powerful creatures or enable delve for a reduced casting cost, this Acolyte could be the enabler your deck needs to execute its strategy efficiently.
Meta-Relevance: Given that Windgrace Acolyte can act as a self-mill engine while providing life gain, it slots nicely into the current meta that may lean towards aggressive strategies. The life gained from its entering the battlefield ability helps buffer against early aggression while also stocking your graveyard for future plays.
How to beat
Confronting a Windgrace Acolyte on the battlefield requires strategic finesse tailored for its unique capabilities. As a card whose strengths lie in providing card advantages through self-mill and life gain, decking the Acolyte demands a careful approach. It stands out among other creatures at its mana value due to its ability to potentially alter the state of play by setting up graveyard synergies. This positions it as a card which can impact matches by favoring long-term strategies over immediate board presence.
To trump the Acolyte’s utility, counterspells like Negate or Essence Scatter prove effective, averting the Acolyte’s entry altogether. For games that have advanced beyond early control, graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze can nullify the self-mill advantage the Acolyte aims to provide. The key is to preemptively mitigate the benefits it bestows or to tackle the graveyard tactics it enables. Targeted removal, while routinely effective, should be timed to minimize the life gain and card filtering Windgrace Acolyte might have already accomplished on its descent into play.
In summary, staying adaptive to the conditions the Acolyte presents is vital. A well-timed counterplay can neutralize the advantages it offers, keeping you unfettered on your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Windgrace Acolyte MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Windgrace Acolyte 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 Windgrace Acolyte Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Bayard Wu.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bayard Wu | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 827 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bayard Wu | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bayard Wu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Windgrace Acolyte has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |