Academy Journeymage MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 41
2019-11-07 - Number 281
2022-12-02 - Number 267
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-41
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Academy Journeymage offers card advantage and the potential for two-for-one plays in a game.
- Its cost reduction for wizards elevates deck efficiency and allows for flexible resource allocation.
- However, its specific mana and higher cost can present limitations in some deck strategies.
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast if you control a Wizard. When Academy Journeymage enters the battlefield, return target creature an opponent controls to its owner's hand.
"We don't choose who comes here. We choose how long they stay."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: This spell can be a notable inclusion in your deck when looking for the right balance of control and tempo. Specifically, Academy Journeymage paves the way for returning an opponent’s creature to their hand, effectively a two-for-one scenario, as you introduce a body on the board while setting back your opponent’s board presence.
Resource Acceleration: For those employing wizard synergistic strategies, the cost reduction ability of Academy Journeymage serves as a form of resource acceleration. By potentially casting this creature spell for one less mana, you’re able to allocate resources more efficiently, potentially deploying other spells in the same turn or keeping mana open for reactive plays.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, the tempo swing provided by Academy Journeymage can be comparable to the advantages gained at instant speed. Pacing the game is crucial and by effectively using your mana and spells to answer threats immediately, this card can tip the scales in a tight match, acting as an indirect force multiplier for your instant speed interactions in your deck.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cards that require you to discard, like Academy Journeymage, can deplete your hand quickly and leave you with fewer options as the game progresses.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a mix of color-specific mana, which can be a stumbling block when you’re not running a deck predominantly featuring blue mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For five mana, the impact of the Academy Journeymage‘s ability may not always justify its casting cost, especially when up against lower cost creatures with similar or better effects.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Academy Journeymage provides a flexible piece for deck construction, easily finding a home in Wizard-tribal or spellslinger decks where its cost-reduction ability and built-in tempo play are invaluable.
Combo Potential: Alongside cards that bounce creatures or replay wizards for value, the Journeymage can become a repeatable source of disruption, hindering opponents’ board states turn after turn.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy formats or against decks that rely on summoning pivotal creatures for their strategy, the ability of Academy Journeymage to bounce an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield has the potential to swing games in your favor.
How to Beat Academy Journeymage
Academy Journeymage is a notable creature in Magic: The Gathering known for its ability to disrupt opponents by returning a creature to its owner’s hand upon its casting if you control another Wizard. Strategically, when facing this card, it’s essential to reduce the utility that the opponent derives from it.
One effective tactic is to limit the number of Wizards on your adversary’s battlefield. Removing potential Wizards before the Journeymage’s arrival means denying the bounce effect the card is famous for. Countering the spell can also halt its effect entirely, so having instant counter spells in your deck is wise. Cards such as Essence Scatter or Negate are perfect for this situation.
Alternatively, focus on whisking away Academy Journeymage quickly once it lands. Employ removal spells, or leverage creatures with abilities that can exile or neutralize when they enter the battlefield. By doing so, you can minimize the tempo gain your opponent might achieve with the Journeymage and keep control of the battlefield’s pace. Using these strategies, you’ll effectively dampen the impact of Academy Journeymage and maintain an advantage in your matches.
Cards like Academy Journeymage
Academy Journeymage serves as an intriguing utility creature in Magic: The Gathering, fitting snugly into decks with a wizardry theme. Its closest relative in terms of utility is the Man-o’-War, another creature known for its ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield—a handy trick for disrupting opponents’ strategies. Unlike Academy Journeymage, Man-o’-War doesn’t have the potential cost reduction for having a wizard on the field, but it comes with a lower base casting cost.
Another kin in this category is Exclusion Mage, an adept creature at managing the board by sending creatures back to their owners’ hands. While Exclusion Mage’s effect is virtually identical to Academy Journeymage’s, it lacks the cost reduction feature for players delving into the wizard archetype, making Academy Journeymage a more synergistic choice in the right deck. However, Exclusion Mage does sport a more manageable casting cost in decks not specifically tailored to wizards.
Evaluating these options reveals that Academy Journeymage stands out in wizard-centric playstyles, offering both creature control and strategic cost management, a harmonious blend of disruption and efficiency that suits its specific role within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Academy Journeymage by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Academy Journeymage MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Academy Journeymage 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 Academy Journeymage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 41 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-41 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | ||
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 267 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Academy Journeymage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Academy Journeymage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | If you control more than one Wizard, Academy Journeymage's cost is reduced by only . |
| 2018-04-27 | Once you announce that you're casting Academy Journeymage, no player may take other actions until the spell's been paid for. Notably, players can't try to raise the spell's cost by removing your Wizards. |
