Geist of Saint Traft MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Spirit Cleric
Abilities Hexproof
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Geist of Saint Traft offers card advantage through hexproof and summoning a powerful Angel token.
  2. Optimization of resources is evident as the Geist creates additional threats without extra cards.
  3. Tackling it requires strategic removals, as direct spells are ineffective against its hexproof.

Text of card

Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.) Whenever Geist of Saint Traft attacks, put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to Geist of Saint Traft, the card itself may not draw you additional cards in the literal sense. However, it creates a significant on-board presence with its “Hexproof” ability which means it’s less likely to be removed, effectively keeping your card advantage intact against targeted spells.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, the Geist’s ability to summon a 4/4 Angel creature token with flying every time it attacks optimizes your resource allocation by providing a high-impact, secondary threat without additional card investment.

Instant Speed: The true strength of Geist of Saint Traft isn’t in instant speed interactions, but its persistent threat generates immediate responses from opponents. This often forces them to play their removals and counterspells at undesirable times, thereby swinging the tempo in your favor and setting the stage for instant speed plays with your other cards.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Geist of Saint Traft requires precisely one blue, one white, and one colorless mana to cast, which can be particularly restrictive. This exclusively ties the card to Azorius (blue-white) decks or those that can sufficiently manage a tri-color mana base, potentially limiting the diversity of decks it can be incorporated into.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana may seem reasonable, but for a creature with only two toughness, this cost can be considered quite steep. Considering other creatures and spells available at this mana cost, the Geist could be susceptible to many of the commonly played removal spells before making a substantial impact on the game.

Discard Requirement: While Geist of Saint Traft itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, building around it may necessitate specific cards that enable or protect it – such as counterspells or hexproof-granting auras. This could lead to situations where you may be forced to discard other valuable cards to maintain the Geist’s presence on the battlefield or to support its strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Geist of Saint Traft easily finds its place in numerous deck archetypes, particularly those that lean towards aggressive or tempo strategies. Its hexproof ability makes it reliable against removal-heavy decks, ensuring that it remains a consistent threat on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Paired with auras or equipment, Geist of Saint Traft can become even more formidable. The ability to create a significant angel token during combat also opens up avenues for synergies with flicker effects or cards that capitalize on attacking with large creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As a solid three-drop creature, it can be a favorable choice in metas that are tempo-oriented or against control decks that struggle to deal with hexproof creatures. This relevance ensures that Geist of Saint Traft continues to be a worthwhile addition to collections for both competitive and casual play.


How to beat

Geist of Saint Traft excels in duels with its elusive nature and the ability to summon a powerful Angel token when attacking. Disrupt this advantage by focusing on removal spells that circumvent its hexproof ability, such as board wipes or cards that force players to sacrifice creatures – think along the lines of Supreme Verdict or Diabolic Edict. Pin down its Angel token by employing instant-speed removals, for example, Fatal Push, which can take care of the token before it even deals damage.

Equally effective, exploit timing by using spells during the end step of the player controlling Geist, such as the ever-versatile Path to Exile, once the Angel token is gone and not being generated. Do not overlook the power of enchantments that prevent combat damage or disable attacking creatures; Ghostly Prison and Propaganda can be key if the game is drawn out. In essence, success against Geist of Saint Traft lies in controlling the field and restraining its assault, mitigating the impact of both the Geist itself and its celestial reinforcements.


BurnMana Recommendations

The journey of mastering MTG is multifaceted, teeming with techniques to be discovered and strategies to develop. Geist of Saint Traft is one such card that can redefine gameplay, adding a layer of resilience and power to your deck. While it thrives in specific deck archetypes, its potential for creating advantageous board states can’t be overstated. Unlocking this potential involves not just playing the card, but integrating it with supportive cards and strategies to maximize its impact. Eager to explore the depths of this card’s capabilities and see how it could revolutionize your game? Immerse yourself in our deep dive on Geist of Saint Traft and enhance your understanding of its role in various deck builds. Your path to dominating the battlefield with this spirited card starts here.


Cards like Geist of Saint Traft

Geist of Saint Traft holds a unique place among creature cards in MTG, blurring the lines between aggressive play and defensive stability. A close equivalent is Brimaz, King of Oreskos, which similarly brings a token into play upon attacking. Despite this likeness, Brimaz’s tokens do not carry the aerial threat or the Hexproof attribute that Geist of Saint Traft has, rendering it slightly less elusive.

Shadowmage Infiltrator is another card that offers a mix of offensive capability and protection, thanks to its evasion through Fear. Yet, it doesn’t match the raw power Geist of Saint Traft offers by summoning a 4/4 Angel token with flying every attack, a significant advantage over the Infiltrator’s single card draw.

Daxos of Meletis shares a somewhat similar mechanic in that it also involves attacking to trigger an effect. Unlike Geist of Saint Traft, Daxos exiles the top card of an opponent’s library and allows you to cast it, shining in a more control-oriented setup rather than immediate board presence.

In sum, Geist of Saint Traft stands out in the realm of MTG creature cards for its balance of offensive pressure and defensive evasion, cementing its place as a uniquely potent card in combat scenarios.

Brimaz, King of Oreskos - MTG Card versions
Shadowmage Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Daxos of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Brimaz, King of Oreskos - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Shadowmage Infiltrator - Odyssey (ODY)
Daxos of Meletis - Theros (THS)

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Silver Drake - Planeshift (PLS)
Soulherder - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
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Court Hussar - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Azorius Herald - Dissension (DIS)
Jötun Owl Keeper - Coldsnap (CSP)
Thistledown Duo - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Plumeveil - Modern Masters (MMA)
Silkbind Faerie - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - Commander 2016 (C16)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Geist of Saint Traft MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Geist of Saint Traft and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Geist of Saint Traft Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 519282003normalblackIzzy
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 604842015normalblackDaarken
32011-09-30InnistradISD 2132003normalblackIgor Kieryluk
42016-02-26Duel Decks: Blessed vs. CursedDDQ 12015normalblackDaarken
52020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1972015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
62021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1552015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
72023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 622015normalblackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Geist of Saint Traft has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelRestricted
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-07-17 Geist of Saint Traft is banned as a commander in Duel Commander format, but it may be part of your deck.
2020-08-07 Although the Angel is an attacking creature, it was never declared as an attacking creature. This means that abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won't trigger when it enters the battlefield attacking.
2020-08-07 Any effects that say that the Angel can't attack (such as that of Propaganda) affect only the declaration of attackers. They won't stop the Angel token from entering the battlefield attacking.
2020-08-07 If you create more than one Angel token (most likely due to Doubling Season), both are exiled at end of combat. On the other hand, if something else becomes a copy of the Angel token, the copy isn't exiled.
2020-08-07 You choose which player or planeswalker the Angel token is attacking. It doesn't have to be attacking the same player or planeswalker that Geist of Saint Traft is attacking.

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