Archivist MTG Card
1999-02-15 - Number 26
2001-04-11 - Number 61★
2001-04-11 - Number 61
2003-07-28 - Number 60★
2003-07-28 - Number 60
2005-07-29 - Number 60★
2005-07-29 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Archivist offers card advantage and instant speed, enhancing strategic depth and flexibility in gameplay.
- Demands careful resource management due to its discard requirement and specific blue mana.
- Vital for decks that capitalize on card draw, though it contends with alternatives like Azure Mage.
Text of card
oc T: Draw a card.
Some do. Some teach. The rest look it up.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Archivist card skillfully weaves the fabric of your strategy by allowing you to sift through your library, giving you access to more options and disrupting the predictability of your plays. This capacity to see more cards than your opponent can be critical in gaining the upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: With Archivist in play, the subtle yet impactful effect of delving through your library to uncover resources fuels your game’s pace. It ensures that your mana and resources are utilized more effectively, potentially turning the tides to your favor far quicker.
Instant Speed: The quick-witted nature of Archivist’s abilities can be used at instant speed, providing you with flexible decision-making that conforms to the unfolding situation. This adaptability can catch opponents off guard and allow you to make optimal moves outside the normal pace of play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While wielding the power of the Archivist can provide significant advantages, it comes at the cost of card advantage. Every activation requires the sacrifice of a precious resource from your hand, and in the delicate dance of maintaining card balance, this might tip the scales against you.
Specific Mana Cost: The magic woven into the Archivist demands a precise alignment of mana, notably a stringent need for blue mana sources. This can pigeonhole the card into mono-blue or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the multitude of MTG strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Summoning an Archivist to your side is no trivial expenditure of mana. Tapping four mana pools, with at least two being blue, can be quite a commitment, especially when other cards with lower costs might fill your hand or manipulate the battlefield with similar or greater efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Archivist’s ability to draw a card at the mere cost of tapping makes it a valuable addition to any deck that thrives on card advantage. Its ability to consistently provide card draw each turn lends itself to various strategies from control to combo decks.
Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergies with untap mechanics or abilities that activate when a player draws a card. This makes it a solid piece in combo decks looking to assemble a winning condition through card interactions and hand manipulation.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where long games and card advantage battles are common, Archivist can become an essential tool. Its ability to keep your hand replenished allows for sustained pressure against opponents and can be particularly potent in control-oriented metas.
How to Beat Archivist
The Archivist card in Magic: The Gathering is a unique creature that can pose quite a challenge with its ability to draw additional cards. However, with strategy and foresight, overcoming this card is possible. First and foremost, direct removal spells are your best friend against Archivist. Cards like Murder, Doom Blade, or Path to Exile can quickly deal with the creature before its ability can be activated. It’s critical to keep such removal spells in hand when facing a deck that might run Archivist.
Another effective tactic is to employ counterspells to prevent Archivist from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Counterspell, Mana Leak, and Negate are all useful tools in your magical arsenal to ensure that the Archivist’s ability never becomes a thorn in your side. Additionally, since Archivist requires tapping to activate its ability, creatures with the ‘tap down’ ability can render it virtually useless, making Thassa, God of the Sea or Gideon’s Lawkeeper instrumental pieces on your chessboard.
Deterrence is also key. Aggro decks can apply pressure and force opponents to use their Archivist defensively, thereby nullifying its card advantage potential. Rushing an opponent and keeping their health low may lead them to concede the card draw advantage in favor of searching for answers to your threats. Remember, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of cards like Archivist is crucial for crafting a strategy that secures your victory in the intricate dance of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Archivist
In the world of Magic the Gathering, Archivist holds its own among the pantheon of card-drawing creatures. Sharing the spotlight with other library-expanding creatures, it draws a striking resemblance to Azure Mage. Both creatures allow card drawing at the expense of mana, with the Archivist requiring a hefty four mana per card draw. Unlike the more affordable Azure Mage, the Archivist does not limit the number of times this ability can be utilized each turn, offering unlimited potential in the right circumstances.
Moving on to a different echelon, we come across The Magic Mirror, a legendary artifact that symbolizes the pinnacle of card drawing capabilities. While not a creature, the Mirror requires no mana for drawing extra cards and grows in potential each turn. The Archivist, on the other hand, provides immediate advantage, albeit at a higher initial resource investment. Lastly, Alhammarret, High Arbiter is another fine example of a card-advantage creature, divulging and locking away an opponent’s spell on entry, while Archivist focuses purely on amassing a larger hand over time.
Altogether, the Archivist thrives in environments that favor endurance and unlimited resource expenditure, carving out a distinct niche in the realm of card advantage creatures in Magic the Gathering.
Cards similar to Archivist by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archivist MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Seventh Edition, 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 Archivist 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 Archivist Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 26 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 61★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 61 | 1997 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola | |
| 4 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 60★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 5 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 60 | 2003 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola | |
| 6 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 60★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 7 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 60 | 2003 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archivist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
