Swarm Guildmage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elf Shaman |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 201 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Simon Dominic |
Key Takeaways
- Flexible card with offensive and defensive abilities, enabling adaptation to evolving gameplay situations.
- Demands precise mana to activate abilities, potentially limiting its use to specific deck types.
- Enhances creature-centric strategies, synergizing well with tokens and counter-based decks.
Text of card
, : Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain menace until end of turn. (They can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) , : You gain 2 life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Swarm Guildmage offers tactical flexibility by providing both an offensive and defensive mode, helping you adapt to the current board state and increasing your chances to maintain an edge over the opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Its second ability can provide a crucial boost in your creatures’ power, potentially accelerating your game plan and leading you to overwhelm your opponent more swiftly.
Instant Speed: The instant speed activation of its abilities allows for surprise tactics during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and potentially mismanaging their resources in anticipation of your moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Swarm Guildmage requires a card to be discarded as part of its ability activation. This can be a significant drawback when your hand is already depleted or if you are holding onto key cards for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating Swarm Guildmage’s abilities demands a precise combination of mana, including one black and one green. This can make it challenging to fit into decks that aren’t dedicated to a Golgari (black-green) mana base, thus reducing its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To get the most out of Swarm Guildmage, a substantial investment of mana is needed, which can be costly considering the effects it provides. For a 2/2 creature, other options in the game could potentially yield a greater impact on the battlefield for a similar or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Swarm Guildmage fits seamlessly into Golgari or any black-green focused deck, serving as both a utility creature and a late-game mana sink, capable of either bolstering your life total or empowering an entire creature army.
Combo Potential: With its second ability to give creatures you control +1/+0 and menace until end of turn, this card can synergize with tokens and counter-focused strategies to create overwhelming combat scenarios for your opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks prevail, the repeatable life gain and attack buffs provided by Swarm Guildmage can give you an edge, adapting to both aggressive and board-stall situations effectively.
How to beat Swarm Guildmage
Swarm Guildmage is an intriguing creature card that offers players in Magic: The Gathering a dual utility – it can both buff your creatures and manipulate life totals. Key to overcoming this Guildmage lies in understanding its activated abilities. The initial ability grants your creatures a significant power boost, turning even small tokens into considerable threats. The second creates a swing in life totals which can lead to surprising comebacks or seal the game.
Neutralizing Swarm Guildmage effectively requires a prompt response. Instant speed removal spells are ideal for handling the Guildmage before its abilities can be activated. Cards like Lightning Strike or Fatal Push can efficiently deal with the Guildmage owing to their low mana cost and instant speed. Additionally, keeping up mana for counter spells when the Guildmage enters the battlefield will ensure it does not get a chance to influence the game.
Being proactive is also beneficial. By applying continuous pressure and forcing your opponent to react to your threats, their resources may be stretched too thin to leverage Swarm Guildmage’s abilities to their full advantage. Employing this strategy can keep the Guildmage in check and maintain control over the game’s flow.
Cards like Swarm Guildmage
The Swarm Guildmage presents a versatile option for players in Magic: The Gathering who enjoy commanding creatures and minute battle tactics. This dual-ability creature parallels leaders like Luxa River Shrine in its capability to potentiate fellow creatures. The Guildmage, unique to the Golgari guild, can amplify creature attacks while also offering options for lifegain, much like the Shrine, but with the added benefit of being a creature itself.
Looking across the fields of MTG, Deathspore Thallid presents itself as a potential counterpart, sharing the theme of small creature manipulation and an association with a guild. Although the Thallid does not directly boost creatures, it focuses on saproling generation and sacrifices for removal effects, offering a more indirect method of board control. Both cards obey a strategic pattern of smaller incremental advantages leading to a decisive victor.
With these comparisons, Swarm Guildmage affirms its worth among creature-centric strategies, carving its niche as both an enabler and a potential game finisher in MTG’s intricate web of playstyles and deck types.
Cards similar to Swarm Guildmage by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Swarm Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Swarm Guildmage 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Swarm Guildmage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
