Marchesa's Emissary MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Rogue |
| Abilities | Dethrone,Hexproof |
| Released | 2014-06-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conspiracy |
| Set code | CNS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 21 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Tyler Jacobson |
Key Takeaways
- Built-in mechanics offer card draw, fueling consistent pressure on opponents throughout the game.
- Its synergy with various abilities makes it a versatile catalyst for resource acceleration.
- Demands specific mana and may require discarding, but adds strategic depth to deck building.
Text of card
Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.) Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
"The Black Rose doesn't tolerate weeds."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Marchesa’s Emissary comes with built-in mechanics that enable you to occasionally draw an extra card when hitting an opponent. This incremental advantage ensures you never run out of steam as you pressure your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Coupled with abilities that synergize with the monarch mechanic or dethrone, the Emissary can serve as a catalyst for resource acceleration by encouraging advantageous attacks or deterring opponents from attacking you when you’re the monarch, thereby preserving your resources.
Instant Speed: Although the Emissary itself does not operate at instant speed, it pairs exceedingly well with spells that do. Being able to deploy surprise blockers or flash in effects that enhance its capabilities keeps your adversaries on their toes, well aware that your resources can change the state of play at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Marchesa’s Emissary often means having to part with a valuable card in hand, which can be detrimental when you’re looking to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Marchesa’s Emissary demands both colored and generic mana for casting, which can be restrictive for decks not dedicated to its specific color identity, thus limiting its versatility in various builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end for its provided benefits, players might find it cumbersome to weave into a tight mana curve, especially in formats where efficiency is paramount.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Marchesa’s Emissary provides flexibility in deck construction, seamlessly fitting into strategies revolving around defensive measures or political gameplay in multiplayer formats.
Combo Potential: Alongside cards that care about +1/+1 counters or creature protection, Marchesa’s Emissary can form the linchpin of a resilient and interactive combo, safeguarding key creatures from removal.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors decks with a focus on enhancing creature survivability, Marchesa’s Emissary becomes a crucial addition, adept at navigating through removal-heavy or creature-centric metas.
How to beat
Marchesa’s Emissary offers a unique twist in the realm of evasive creatures within MTG. Its ability to grant a cascade effect to spells cast on it makes it a tempting target for buffs and is a fabric that weaves complex gameplay. To counter this versatile card, one could consider strategies similar to managing hexproof threats. Utilizing board wipes that don’t target, such as Wrath of God, bypasses the need to target the Emissary directly, negating its protection.
Another practical approach is to use cards that change the rules of combat, like Silent Arbiter, to minimize the Emissary’s impact. Alternatively, Edict effects that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature can prove effective. Cards like Diabolic Edict disrupt the opponent’s board while bypassing the targeting restriction. Timing is critical against the Emissary, and hence, keeping up instant speed removal or effects that can be executed on the opponent’s turn becomes a valuable tactic.
Understanding the opportune moment to strike and having the right counters in your arsenal can ensure that Marchesa’s Emissary doesn’t dictate the pace of the match, allowing you to maintain control of the game state.
Cards like Marchesa's Emissary
Marchesa’s Emissary is a unique creature card that provides both evasion and card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. When examining cards of parallel functions, we observe that cards like Thieving Magpie have a related ability, granting a card draw upon dealing combat damage to a player. Yet, Marchesa’s Emissary stands out with its enchantment synergy, as it gains hexproof when enchanted, offering it protection from targeted spells or abilities.
Shadowmage Infiltrator is another card that comes to mind. It, too, is designed to slip through defenses and draw cards; however, it doesn’t possess the same self-protective mechanics that come with Marchesa’s Emissary. Looter il-Kor shares the theme of evasion and card draw, albeit through the looting mechanic which requires discarding, potentially providing a different strategic angle. Unlike Looter il-Kor, Marchesa’s Emissary allows for keeping the additional card without the need to discard.
Assessing these comparisons helps to pinpoint Marchesa’s Emissary’s valuable role in decks that capitalize on enchantment synergies and require reliable defensive capabilities, making it a strategic choice for players in specific MTG deck builds.
Cards similar to Marchesa's Emissary by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Marchesa's Emissary MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy, 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 Marchesa's Emissary and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Marchesa's Emissary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Marchesa's Emissary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-29 | Dethrone doesn’t trigger if the creature attacks a planeswalker, even if its controller has the most life. |
| 2014-05-29 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, dethrone will trigger if the creature attacks either player on the team with the most life or tied for the most life. |
| 2014-05-29 | Once dethrone triggers, it doesn’t matter what happens to the players’ life totals before the ability resolves. You’ll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature even if the defending player doesn’t have the most life as the ability resolves. |
| 2014-05-29 | The +1/+1 counter is put on the creature before blockers are declared. |
