It is sometimes interesting to examine just how much a small change in the rules of magic the gathering can change the way that a card is used and one of the small changes that has effected a great many cards is the elimination of mana burn in the magic the gathering 2010 rules changes. This means that cards that give you mana at the beginning of the turn no longer have any negative side effect but it also means that cards that give your opponent mana at the beginning of their turn have no side effect either.

Magus of the Vinyard is a rare human wizard from the future Sight expansion set of magic the gathering. It costs one green mana to put into play, is a 1/1 creature and has an ability that reads "At the beginning of each player's precombat main phase, add two green mana to that player's mana pool."

When this card was printed there were two dangers to the card. The first was that you would be unable to use the mana, this was a danger that effected both players and the one using the magus would be able to plan for. This could lead to some damage to the opponent helping to mitigate the second danger.

The second danger of course is that this has the howling mine effect. That is to say that your opponent will get the first value out of this card not you. This means that assuming you go first your opponent is going to have three mana on his first turn allowing him to bypass the typically weak first turn or two, but without the danger of taking mana burn. And the last thing you want to see an opponent do on the first turn is to play a forest, a bird of paradise and a tarmygoif.

The advantage of course is that you will be able to plan to use this mana and that is one that has not been changed. If you work hard you can gain a considerable advantage with two mana a turn, especially in green where you can turn that mana into more mana easier than other colors letting you reach the point where you can cast cards like tooth and nail far earlier than you otherwise would.

Though the way this card feels has changed considerably the truth is that it really isn't that much different than it ever was and it was always a mid level card at best.

Learn more about this author, Elton Gahr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Magic the Gathering card analysis: Magus of the Vineyard?
We want to hear your view. Write now!