Tower of the Magistrate MTG Card


Tower of the Magistrate - Mercadian Masques
RarityRare
TypeLand
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Number330
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byThomas Gianni

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables creature protection, thwarting equipment and enchantment tactics, leading to opponent resource loss.
  2. Grants instant speed flexibility, allowing control over the game’s tempo and strategic defensive maneuvers.
  3. In select metas, this card is invaluable for its specialized artifact disruption and combo protection roles.

Text of card

oc T: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. o1, oc T: Target creature gains protection from artifacts until end of turn.

Like the city, weakest at its foundation.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tower of the Magistrate offers a unique method of card advantage by providing protection to your creatures. This utility can effectively counteract strategies that rely on equipment or enchantment-based buffs, indirectly causing your opponent to lose resources while you maintain board presence.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to generate mana of any color is not directly provided by the Tower of the Magistrate. However, its ability to protect your creatures can lead to indirect resource acceleration by preserving your board state and the creatures that might enable mana production or other valuable abilities.

Instant Speed: The key to flexibility is the use of instant speed abilities. The Tower’s ability can be activated during any phase of the game — your turn, your opponent’s turn, or in response to an action, which can be particularly disruptive to your opponent’s plans. By enabling a swift response to threats, you can retain control of the game tempo and exert pressure through strategic defensive plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tower of the Magistrate doesn’t force a discard, but equipping creatures require additional resources which, when used unwisely, can lead to a disadvantageous card economy.

Specific Mana Cost: Tower of the Magistrate demands both generic and colored mana (one of each), which could make it slightly awkward in multi-colored mana bases that prioritize color fixing over utility lands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing two mana to grant protection from artifacts every turn can tally up, especially in the early stages of the game. There are alternatives that protect creatures for less investment or offer more versatile solutions.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tower of the Magistrate offers unique utility in a variety of decks. Its ability to provide protection against artifacts can be crucial in games where equipment and artifact creatures play a significant role.

Combo Potential: This land has untapped potential in combo decks, providing a means to protect combo pieces from being targeted by artifact-based removal, keeping your key creatures safe as you set up for the win.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with artifact interaction, Tower of the Magistrate can serve as a powerful tool. It can disrupt opponents’ strategies by rendering their creature-based equipment useless at critical moments.


How to beat

When facing Tower of the Magistrate on the battlefield, the strategy shifts subtly but importantly. This versatile land has the unique capability to grant target creature protection from artifacts until end of turn. This can disrupt your equipment strategies or block artifact creature attacks. Overcoming this requires a flexible game plan. First, consider using instant-speed removal that doesn’t rely on attaching equipment or targeting with artifact creatures. Spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can bypass the protection granted by the Tower.

Another tactic is to bait out the Tower’s ability before combat or when it’s less advantageous for your opponent. Forcing them to use their mana during their own turn can limit their options and give you an opening. Also, increase pressure with non-artifact threats to force difficult decisions. Incorporate versatile creatures that don’t depend on artifacts to be effective. Lastly, don’t overlook the value of enchantments, sorceries, and instants in this matchup. These can often be just as potent as artifact-based strategies while circumventing the Tower’s protective influence. By adapting your approach, you can effectively neutralize Tower of the Magistrate’s defensive capabilities.


Cards like Tower of the Magistrate

Tower of the Magistrate stands out in the realm of utility lands within Magic: The Gathering. Its unique effect of providing target creature with protection from artifacts is not commonly found and elevates its utility in specific matchups. Comparing it to lands like Maze of Ith—which offers a way to nullify an attack without granting any sort of protection—it’s clear that the Tower offers more than just delaying tactics; it allows for strategic defense against artifact-heavy decks.

When examining cards like Teferi’s Response, which also provides a way to outmaneuver opponents by countering actions taken against your lands, Tower of the Magistrate offers a less reactive and more preventative tool in your arsenal. Teferi’s Response can save a key land from destruction, while the Tower can prevent the threat from ever taking hold by protecting your creatures.

Ultimately, the specific inclusion of Tower of the Magistrate into an MTG deck requires a well-considered strategy. It shines in environments where artifacts are prevalent and can be a game-changer with its ability to disrupt opponent tactics and protect significant threats on your side of the battlefield.

Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Response - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - The Dark (DRK)
Teferi's Response - Invasion (INV)

Cards similar to Tower of the Magistrate by color, type and mana cost

Urza's Tower - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Eldrazi Temple - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Homeward Path - MTG Card versions
Field of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Forge of Heroes - MTG Card versions
Temple of the False God - MTG Card versions
Sanctum of Eternity - MTG Card versions
Reliquary Tower - MTG Card versions
Labyrinth of Skophos - MTG Card versions
Urza's Tower - Commander Masters (CMM)
Ice Floe - Fifth Edition (5ED)
City of Brass - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Bloodstained Mire - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Zoetic Cavern - Future Sight (FUT)
Grixis Panorama - Commander 2013 (C13)
Rupture Spire - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Terramorphic Expanse - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - Theros (THS)
Wasteland - Zendikar Rising Expeditions (ZNE)
Eldrazi Temple - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Tectonic Edge - Friday Night Magic 2012 (F12)
Maze of Ith - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Homeward Path - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Field of Ruin - The List (PLST)
Forge of Heroes - Commander 2018 (C18)
Temple of the False God - Commander 2019 (C19)
Sanctum of Eternity - Commander 2019 (C19)
Reliquary Tower - Love Your LGS 2020 (PLG20)
Labyrinth of Skophos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tower of the Magistrate MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Tower of the Magistrate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tower of the Magistrate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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