Fathom Mage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Evolve
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms +1/+1 counters into card advantage, refilling the player’s hand for more tactical options.
  2. Complements instant-speed spells for flexible, surprise card draw on the opponent’s turn.
  3. Needs evolve mechanics, potentially at the expense of playing other creature cards.

Text of card

Evolve (Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.) Whenever a +1/+1 counter is placed on Fathom Mage, you may draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fathom Mage is a powerful engine that turns +1/+1 counters into drawn cards, potentially netting you a significant advantage over your opponent by refilling your hand with more options.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly creating mana, Fathom Mage synergizes well with strategies that proliferate or distribute +1/+1 counters, effectively accelerating your resource pool by drawing into more spells you can play.

Instant Speed: While Fathom Mage herself is a creature card and doesn’t have instant speed, she can interact beneficially with instant-speed spells that place +1/+1 counters. This allows for flexible and potentially surprise card draw during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fathom Mage does not compel a player to discard cards, but the need to evolve it to draw cards may cost you essential creatures that could have been played instead. This requirement can result in a net loss of resources over time, especially in tight matches where board presence is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Fathom Mage’s casting cost includes one green and one blue mana, which necessitates a commitment to a Simic deck or at the very least a deck with efficient mana fixing to consistently cast it on curve. This specific color alignment might not blend well with all strategies, restricting its interoperability in a diverse meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana value for its base stats, Fathom Mage can be seen as a slower option compared to other creatures in its mana range. Without any immediate board impact or protection mechanisms, it is susceptible to removal before its ability can be leveraged, potentially leading to a loss in tempo—something that is crucial in dynamic gameplay.


Reasons to Include Fathom Mage in Your Collection

Versatility: Fathom Mage is a flexible addition to any collection, adapting well to counter-based decks. Her ability to draw a card each time a counter is placed on her scales with various playstyles, from casual kitchen table games to more competitive commander pods.

Combo Potential: With the right synergies in place, this card becomes an engine of card advantage. Pair Fathom Mage with proliferate mechanics or creatures that enter the battlefield with counters, and you’ll quickly churn through your deck for the right answers or threats.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Fathom Mage offers sustainable draw power. This allows for consistent deck performance and can be a cornerstone for Simic decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counter synergies.


How to beat

Fathom Mage is a unique creature card in MTG that turns any +1/+1 counter placed on it into card draw power. Naturally, Fathom Mage can be a significant engine for card advantage in decks that focus on counters. Successfully overcoming the advantages it offers requires strategy.

To neutralize Fathom Mage efficiently, consider using creature removal spells before it begins to accumulate counters and yield card draw benefits. Instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be especially effective as they can be cast in response to the Mage being targeted with a counter-increasing spell. Board wipes are also useful to clear a developed board including Fathom Mage, as they bypass Hexproof and Indestructible if it has been buffed.

Moreover, you can disrupt counter strategies with cards like Solemnity, which prevent counters from being placed on creatures, thereby stunting Fathom Mage’s growth and card drawing abilities. Ensuring you have answers to both Fathom Mage and the broader counter strategy of an opponent’s deck is key. Efficient threat management will often leave you in a strong position when facing this card.


BurnMana Recommendations

To fully harness the potential of Fathom Mage in MTG, consider integrating it into your deck where +1/+1 counters are abundant. The ability to convert each added counter into a card draw is invaluable for maintaining momentum. Enhance Fathom Mage’s strengths by pairing it with cards that proliferate or increment counters frequently to maximize draw power. For those looking to disrupt opponents, pack removals that preemptively target this creature before its benefits are reaped. Adopt strategies that include efficient threat management to counteract opposing counter-heavy decks. Dive deeper into strategic deck building with us and discover how to make Fathom Mage a linchpin in your matches.


Cards like Fathom Mage

Fathom Mage stands out as a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to evolve and draw cards. When comparing it to similar creatures, Lorescale Coatl immediately comes to mind. Both creatures have the potential to grow larger through card draw, yet Lorescale Coatl doesn’t provide the card draw itself but grows whenever you draw cards. Chasm Skulker is another sea-themed creature that benefits from card draw, swelling in size with each card drawn, and upon death, it fills the board with Squid tokens. While Fathom Mage doesn’t explode into tokens, the consistent card advantage it provides can be more beneficial in the right deck.

Another creature that shares a relationship with card draw is Toothy, Imaginary Friend. Like Fathom Mage, Toothy can become a massive threat by accumulating +1/+1 counters, but Toothy requires leaving the battlefield to draw cards. The trade-offs are clear: Toothy potentially draws more cards at once, while Fathom Mage offers more incremental growth and immediate card advantage.

Ultimately, Fathom Mage’s unique combination of card draw and creature growth is an asset in decks built around +1/+1 counters. Given these synergies, it demonstrates a powerful presence among creatures that interact with card draw mechanics in Magic: The Gathering.

Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Chasm Skulker - MTG Card versions
Toothy, Imaginary Friend - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Chasm Skulker - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)
Toothy, Imaginary Friend - Battlebond Promos (PBBD)

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Living Airship - Apocalypse (APC)
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
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Ezuri, Claw of Progress - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Altered Ego - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Master Biomancer - Commander 2021 (C21)
Frilled Mystic - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Sharktocrab - Commander Legends (CMR)
Louvaq, the Aberrant - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 (CMB1)
Dormant Sliver - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Manifestation Sage - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fathom Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Gatecrash, 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 Fathom Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fathom Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 480012003normalblackDan Scott
22013-02-01GatecrashGTC 1622003normalblackRyan Pancoast
32016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1982015normalblackRyan Pancoast
42018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1562015normalblackRyan Pancoast
52019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 1182015normalblackRyan Pancoast
62020-09-26The ListPLST GK2-1182015normalblackRyan Pancoast
72020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4452015normalblackRyan Pancoast
82022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3392015normalblackRyan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fathom Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-01-24 Fathom Mage's last ability will trigger whenever any +1/+1 counter is placed on it, not just ones due to the evolve ability.
2013-01-24 If Fathom Mage enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it (perhaps due to Master Biomancer), its last ability will trigger once for each +1/+1 counter it entered the battlefield with.
2013-01-24 If multiple +1/+1 counters are placed on Fathom Mage simultaneously, its last ability will trigger once for each of those counters.
2013-04-15 If a creature enters the battlefield with +1/+1 counters on it, consider those counters when determining if evolve will trigger. For example, a 1/1 creature that enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it will cause the evolve ability of a 2/2 creature to trigger.
2013-04-15 If evolve triggers, the stat comparison will happen again when the ability tries to resolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, the ability will do nothing. If the creature that entered the battlefield leaves the battlefield before evolve tries to resolve, use its last known power and toughness to compare the stats.
2013-04-15 If multiple creatures enter the battlefield at the same time, evolve may trigger multiple times, although the stat comparison will take place each time one of those abilities tries to resolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and two 3/3 creatures enter the battlefield, evolve will trigger twice. The first ability will resolve and put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. When the second ability tries to resolve, neither the power nor the toughness of the new creature is greater than that of the creature with evolve, so that ability does nothing.
2013-04-15 When comparing the stats as the evolve ability resolves, it's possible that the stat that's greater changes from power to toughness or vice versa. If this happens, the ability will still resolve and you'll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and a 1/3 creature enters the battlefield under your control, it toughness is greater so evolve will trigger. In response, the 1/3 creature gets +2/-2. When the evolve trigger tries to resolve, its power is greater. You'll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve.
2013-04-15 When comparing the stats of the two creatures for evolve, you always compare power to power and toughness to toughness.
2013-04-15 Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, check its power and toughness against the power and toughness of the creature with evolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, evolve won't trigger at all.

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