Marjhan MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 31
2008-09-22 - Number 54
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Serpent |
| Power | 8 |
| Toughness | 8 |
Key Takeaways
- Marjhan offers card advantage through repeatable enter-the-battlefield effects and survivability.
- Mana base disruption and high casting cost present notable challenges when playing Marjhan.
- Marjhan’s versatility and control make it a worthy addition against creature-heavy metas.
Text of card
Does not untap during your untap phase. Marjhan cannot attack if defending player controls no islands. If at any time you control no islands, bury Marjhan. o Uoo U Sacrifice a creature to untap Marjhan. Use this ability only during your upkeep. o Uoo U -1/-0 until end of turn. Marjhan deals 1 damage to target attacking creature without flying.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Marjhan is a creature card that can prove invaluable in the right deck configuration. It offers the ability to return it to your hand, allowing you to repeatedly utilize its enter-the-battlefield effect, potentially leading to significant card advantage over the course of a match.
Resource Acceleration: Though Marjhan does not directly accelerate resources, its ability to survive through its return-to-hand capability means preserving the resources already spent on casting it. This preservation can be seen as a form of indirect resource acceleration, as it prevents the necessity of spending additional mana on another creature.
Instant Speed: While Marjhan itself might not be an instant, it possesses the ability to tap to make creatures without flying unable to attack that turn as though it had “flash”. This can mimic the element of surprise typically associated with playing cards at instant speed, disrupting your opponent’s combat strategies and safeguarding your life total during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Marjhan is the necessity of returning an Island you control to its owner’s hand when you declare an attack, which can be quite disruptive to your mana base, especially during crucial turns where every land counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Marjhan’s casting cost is heavy on blue mana which could hinder its playability in decks that aren’t mono-blue or those with a less reliable mana base. The commitment to blue can be a liability in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a summoning cost that totals seven mana, Marjhan can be somewhat cumbersome to cast. Given the pace of most games, investing such a significant amount of resources in a single creature can be risky, especially if it faces immediate removal, leaving you at a mana disadvantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Marjhan brings flexibility to blue-focused decks, functioning well in both creature-heavy and control strategies. Its ability to tap or destroy creatures adds a layer of adaptability against various opponent plays.
Combo Potential: This card allows for intricate combos, particularly with its self-returning mechanic. It can synergize with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or being sacrificed.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based decks are prevalent, Marjhan’s capacity to control the board can be especially influential, therefore, including it in your collection can be a strategic move to counter such trends.
How to beat Marjhan
In the deep, mysterious pools of Magic: The Gathering, Marjhan might seem dominating with its vast array of abilities, but it’s far from unbeatable. This leviathan of the deep requires a substantial mana investment, not just to play but to utilize its potential. This might be the first chink in its armor. Consider using mana disruption strategies to keep Marjhan from hitting the board in the first place. Techniques like land destruction, counter spells, or taxing effects could be vital in rendering Marjhan a dead card in your opponent’s hand.
If Marjhan has already surfaced, focus on removing it without triggering its ability that prevents it from being the target of spells or effects. Cards that change the rules of engagement, such as ones that grant your creatures the ability to bypass Marjhan’s protections or sweepers that destroy all creatures regardless of their abilities, can effectively neutralize the threat. Remember, direct removal isn’t an option, but you can still think outside the box with mass bounce effects or cards that force sacrifice, sidestepping its imposing presence entirely.
The key to triumph over Marjhan lies in preparation and versatile deck building. Ensure your deck can handle such imposing creatures either by preventing their arrival or having the tricks up your sleeve to deal with them post-summoning. By doing so, you can sink Marjhan back to the murky depths from whence it came.
Similar Cards to Marjhan
Marjhan holds a unique place in the seascape of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. As a Leviathan, it finds kinship with other colossal sea creatures like Lorthos, the Tidemaker. Both demand a high mana investment, yet Lorthos rewards players by potentially locking down the battlefield with its ability to tap eight permanents. Marjhan distinguishes itself by offering a suite of abilities, including damaging creatures without flying and the option to return to your hand, offering flexibility in long-term strategy.
Stormtide Leviathan is another sea giant that creates ripples in the game. It ensures that lands become Islands and only creatures with flying or islandwalk can attack. Marjhan, however, does not impose such global effects but focuses on singular control through its ability to swallow up smaller creatures. It’s a more self-contained force, demanding strategic deployment for maximum effect.
In weighing Marjhan against its colossal counterparts, it becomes clear that while it doesn’t alter the game board as dramatically as some others, its blend of offense and defense encapsulates a robust versatility, making it more than just a deep-sea behemoth in MTG.
Cards similar to Marjhan by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Marjhan MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition II, 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 Marjhan 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
Printings
The Marjhan Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 31 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 54 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Marjhan 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 Marjhan card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | The ability that untaps it during your upkeep has been returned to an activated ability. There is no restriction on how many times it can be untapped during your upkeep with this ability. |
