Tolarian Entrancer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	56
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bryan Talbot

Key Takeaways

Advantageous control over opponents’ cards can subtly turn games to your favor with the Tolarian Entrancer.
requires tactical discard and specific mana, posing both strategic challenge and deck-building considerations.
In the right conditions, it promises lasting control effects, setting it apart in creature-dominated metas.

Text of card

Whenever Tolarian Entrancer is blocked by any creature, gain control of that creature at end of combat.

"Why should I boast? The bards will do it for me—and with music." —Ertai, wizard adept

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Engaging with the Tolarian Entrancer in your deck can be a strategic move to gain card advantage. Each time the Tolarian Entrancer successfully damages an opponent, you may gain control over the top card of that player’s library. This not only deprives your opponent of a valuable resource but also potentially adds it to your arsenal, subtly shifting the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing acceleration, the Tolarian Entrancer can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by giving you access to your opponent’s cards. Each time you gain control of an opponent’s card, you increase the resources available to you without spending any additional mana, allowing for more efficient plays and stronger board presence as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: The Tolarian Entrancer itself doesn’t operate at instant speed; however, pairing it with instant speed spells and abilities that can untap it or protect it can be highly advantageous. This flexibility enables you to utilize the Tolarian Entrancer’s unique ability at opportune moments, disrupting your opponent’s plans and maintaining momentum within the flow of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To engage Tolarian Entrancer’s ability, you’re compelled to discard cards, which could be detrimental when your hand is already dwindling or the cards held are too valuable to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: Tolarian Entrancer necessitates a precise blend of mana types to cast, predominantly blue, which could restrict its inclusion to decks heavily skewed towards that particular color, potentially hindering deck diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher end of the curve for its abilities, players might find it lacking in speed and efficiency, especially when compared to other options within the same cost bracket that can impact the board state more immediately or offer more versatile interactions.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tolarian Entrancer offers a unique ability that can seamlessly integrate into various control or combo-oriented decks. The ability to take over an opponent’s creature whenever it deals damage proves useful across different match-ups, potentially turning the tide in your favor.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to hijack creatures, Tolarian Entrancer has synergy with cards that enable it to deal damage easily or benefit from gaining control of an opponent’s creatures. This can lead to powerful combos and unexpected victories in both casual and competitive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that celebrates creature-based strategies, Tolarian Entrancer can become a strategic card to have. It allows you to disrupt your opponent’s plans by gaining control of key creatures, making it a relevant choice for anyone looking to add an edge to their deck.

How to beat

The Tolarian Entrancer may seem unassuming with its fragility and seemingly light impact on the game, but make no mistake, this subtly powerful card can warp the battlefield in your opponent’s favor. To effectively counter it, consider including removal spells in your deck that can take it out before its ability triggers. Considering it requires to deal combat damage to a player to gain control of target creature that player controls, blocking strategies are equally effective. Cards that bolster your creatures’ toughness or leverage tap-down mechanics ensure that the Entrancer never gets a chance to swipe your creatures.

Focusing on evasion-preventing measures is also wise. Encase in Ice and similar cards that incapacitate creatures upon entry can lock down the Entrancer, nullifying its ability without having to remove it. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal spells when your opponent commits to an attack ensures that the Entrancer’s ability won’t disrupt your game plan. Direct damage spells like Shock or Murderous Cut not only deal with the Entrancer but also maintain the tempo of your game, providing efficient solutions to this threat.

Ultimately, comprehending the particular mechanics of the Tolarian Entrancer and preparing your deck with adequate responses will limit its potential and allow you to maintain control of the board. By staying a step ahead, you ensure that this crafty wizard remains a non-factor in your match.

Cards like Tolarian Entrancer

Tolarian Entrancer offers a unique approach to creature control within Magic: The Gathering. The entrancer shares similarities with cards like Willbreaker, which also takes advantage of an opponent’s creatures. Though Tolarian Entrancer requires a creature’s successful assignment to combat to gain control unlike Willbreaker, which only needs a target creature to become the target of a spell or ability.

Diving deeper into the comparison, we find cards like Ray of Command. This instant can disrupt combat by snatching an opponent’s creature until end of turn and is significantly more versatile in timing compared to Tolarian Entrancer’s more restrictive trigger. Yet, the entrancer promises ongoing control effects under the right conditions. Conversely, Control Magic offers a straightforward and lasting shift in creature allegiance without the need for combat but at a potentially higher mana cost.

Evaluating these options, Tolarian Entrancer stands out amongst its peers for those strategic players adept at maneuvering combat scenarios in Magic: The Gathering. Its potential for enduring control presents a tantalizing option for those looking to turn enemy forces to their favor.

Cards similar to Tolarian Entrancer by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tolarian Entrancer MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Tolarian Entrancer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tolarian Entrancer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tolarian Entrancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-04-01	The control change has no duration; you’ll retain control of that creature until the game ends or until some other effect causes it to change control. It doesn’t matter if Tolarian Entrancer leaves the battlefield, or if Tolarian Entrancer has already left the battlefield by the time the “at end of combat” ability triggers.