Forcemage Advocate MTG Card


Forcemage Advocate - Judgment
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Centaur Shaman
Released2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set nameJudgment
Set codeJUD
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number116
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDarrell Riche

Key Takeaways

  1. Revives resources with its unique ability to return cards from graveyards, providing sustained advantage in games.
  2. Its specific mana cost requires stable dual-color mana bases to maximize this utility creature’s potential.
  3. Despite a higher mana cost, it can be a versatile tech choice in metas with prevalent graveyard strategies.

Text of card

oc T: Return target card in an opponent's graveyard to his or her hand. Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

"Our unity renews our strength."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Forcemage Advocate presents unique card advantage not by drawing, but by allowing players to return cards from their graveyard to their hand, ensuring they have access to more resources during the game.

Resource Acceleration: This utility creature aids in resource acceleration by bringing back powerful spells or creatures that can be replayed for an extra value, effectively doubling the impact of your previous resources.

Instant Speed: While Forcemage Advocate itself is not an instant, its ability to interact with instant-speed spells in your graveyard offers fluid and flexible gameplay, seamlessly integrating with your strategy at any point of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Forcemage Advocate in your deck may not always translate to value, especially if the discard requirement forces you to lose a vital card from your hand. This could put you at a disadvantage if you’re facing an empty hand or trying to clutch onto key combo pieces.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Forcemage Advocate can be a bit tricky for some decks to manage. Needing both green and white mana means that this card is strongly suited for decks that can reliably produce both colors. If your mana base isn’t stable, you might find this card stuck in your hand at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that involves three mana, Forcemage Advocate can be a tough card to play early in the game. This cost is relatively high when considering other cards in the same mana range that may provide immediate board impact or longer-term value. Balancing the cost with the benefits is crucial for players considering this card for their decks.


Reasons to Include Forcemage Advocate in Your Collection

Versatility: Forcemage Advocate offers a unique blend of creature retrieval and board advantage. Its ability to return cards from the graveyard to your opponent’s hand is a rarity among green cards and can be tactically used to weaken graveyard-dependent strategies while bolstering your creature lineup.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in a strategic combo with cards that benefit from repeated casting or enemy graveyard manipulation. Pairing Forcemage Advocate with bounce effects or sacrifice outlets can turn its drawback into a controlled advantage for repeatable effects.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where utility creatures and graveyard strategies are prevalent, Forcemage Advocate serves as a subtle piece of tech. It not only disrupts your opponent but also allies with a wide variety of green-centric decks, making it a potential sleeper hit in both casual circles and competitive edges.


How to beat

Forcemage Advocate presents a unique dynamic in player interactions, allowing the return of cards from an opponent’s graveyard in exchange for a boost in creature stats. This creature blurs the lines of advantage, gifting opponents their spells while strategically growing your own forces on the board. The snare, however, can be sidestepped with savvy gameplay.

One way to mitigate the Advocate’s effect is through graveyard hate cards that can exile crucial cards before they can be targeted. Tormod’s Crypt and Rest in Peace are prime examples, ensuring that your graveyard remains barren of useful spells for the Forcemage Advocate to exploit. Another tactic is to employ instant-speed removal when an opponent attempts to trigger the Advocate’s ability, which nullifies the effect and eliminates the creature before it can become a more significant threat.

In the overall scheme of things, Forcemage Advocate may seem like a formidable card, but with the right strategies and timing, its influence on the game can be significantly reduced or even turned into an advantage for a well-prepared player.


Cards like Forcemage Advocate

Forcemage Advocate is a unique creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of utility that resonates with certain strategic plays. This card can be likened to Fellow Warde, which also allows players to return a card from a graveyard to its owner’s hand to gain an effect. While Fellow Warde gives creatures you control a boost in power, Forcemage Advocate provides a more straightforward life gain.

Another parallel can be drawn with Skullwinder, which also returns a card from a graveyard to a player’s hand, but includes the stipulation that an opponent gets to reap the same benefit, potentially at a higher strategic cost. Forcemage Advocate stands out by giving the control solely to the player to selectively target the benefit. Additionally, its low casting cost makes it an appealing choice for early gameplay or as part of a mana-efficient strategy.

Comparing these cards underscores the nuanced approach players must take when integrating creatures like Forcemage Advocate into their decks. It’s not just about the immediate impact but also how it synergizes with the broader strategy, making Forcemage Advocate a versatile card for those looking to capitalize on graveyard interactions and selective life gain.

Skullwinder - MTG Card versions
Skullwinder - Commander 2015 (C15)

Cards similar to Forcemage Advocate by color, type and mana cost

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Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior APAC Series (PJAS)
Stonewood Invoker - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Oran-Rief Survivalist - Zendikar (ZEN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forcemage Advocate MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Forcemage Advocate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forcemage Advocate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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