Tribal Forcemage MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elf Wizard |
| Abilities | Morph |
| Released | 2003-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Legions |
| Set code | LGN |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 142 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Key Takeaways
- Instant speed activation of Forcemage’s ability offers the element of surprise and combat flexibility.
- Requires careful hand management due to card discard upon activation, affecting resource retention.
- Potentially pivotal in creature-based aggro decks, where its power boost can be game-changing.
Text of card
Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Tribal Forcemage is turned face up, creatures of the type of your choice get +2/+2 and gain trample until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tribal Forcemage can function as a pivotal tool in tribal decks, fostering synergy as it potentially boosts the power of each creature sharing its type. This can turn a moderate board presence into a formidable one, effectively amplifying the threat level of your creature lineup.
Resource Acceleration: While the Forcemage doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the manner of producing mana or treasure tokens, it can expedite your game plan. By increasing the damage output of your creatures, the Forcemage can accelerate the pace at which you diminish your opponent’s life total, pushing you towards a win more rapidly.
Instant Speed: The speed at which you can utilize the Forcemage’s ability is a strategic asset. Being able to activate it at instant timing means you’re able to surprise your opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, making it harder for them to prepare or counter your strategies efficiently.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tribal Forcemage can force players to part with valuable cards from their hand, potentially depleting crucial resources needed for subsequent turns or strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of mana colors which may not seamlessly fit into every deck archetype, limiting its integration into multi-colored or mana-flexible decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value potentially being on the higher side for its abilities, players might opt for alternative creatures or spells that provide similar benefits for less of a mana investment, optimizing their curve and strategy efficiency.
Reasons to Include Tribal Forcemage in Your Collection
Versatility: Tribal Forcemage offers utility in various deck builds that focus on creature types. Its ability to give a boost to all creatures of a chosen type the turn it enters the battlefield makes it a flexible choice for tribal-themed decks.
Combo Potential: This card shines by enabling explosive plays. It can amplify the power of creature swarms and work with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage or creatures entering with higher power.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based aggro decks are prevalent, Tribal Forcemage can offer a significant power surge to overrun opponents during critical turns of the match.
How to beat
The Tribal Forcemage can be a tricky card to contend with, especially when it leverages its tribal synergies to boost creatures on the battlefield. Mastering the countering of such a formidable card requires strategic planning and understanding its mechanics. The Forcemage can give other creatures of its kind a significant power boost when played at the right moment, which often becomes a game-changer during combat phases.
To effectively negate the advantage the Forcemage offers, control decks are often your best bet. Utilizing removal spells ensures that the Forcemage doesn’t stay on the field to begin with. Countering it upon cast or quickly removing it before the combat phase can cripple the planned assault of your opponent. Cards like Fatal Push or Swords to Plowshares can prove to be efficient solutions, depending on your available colors. Moreover, remember to keep an eye out for potential combat tricks and consider the risk of the Forcemage being used mid-combat to skew the numbers further in your opponent’s favor.
In essence, staying one step ahead and neutralizing the Tribal Forcemage before it can capitalize on its tribal boosting ability is the key to maintaining control over the game, ensuring that you don’t fall victim to an overwhelming onslaught of enhanced creatures.
Cards like Tribal Forcemage
Tribal Forcemage serves as an intriguing component within creature buffs in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes other cards like Elvish Archdruid, which also offers a boost, but to Elf creatures specifically, and provides mana acceleration to boot. Tribal Forcemage, distinct with its “When you play a creature spell” trigger, offers a temporary but potentially game-swiveling advantage to all creatures that share a type, rather than focusing on a single creature type for sustained benefits.
In a similar context, we encounter Brass Herald, which not only increases the power and toughness of creatures of the chosen type but also allows for card advantage by digging into the top four cards of the library for more creature reinforcement. Though not as immediate as Tribal Forcemage in its impact, the Herald presents a blend of strength and card utility. Additionally, Adaptive Automaton is a notable mention, as it provides a static buff to creatures of the chosen type while also being a creature itself, a two-in-one package that offers both offensive and defensive value.
Considering the various options for tribe synergies and power boosts across the MTG landscape, Tribal Forcemage claims its unique position with its potent, albeit fleeting, group empowerment, carving its niche in decks centered around creature-type themes and surprise offensive strategies.
Cards similar to Tribal Forcemage by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tribal Forcemage MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Tribal Forcemage 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 Tribal Forcemage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tribal Forcemage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The trigger occurs when you use the Morph ability to turn the card face up, or when an effect turns it face up. It will not trigger on being revealed or on leaving the battlefield. |
