Gurmag Drowner MTG Card


Gurmag Drowner allows advanced deck filtration and hand sculpting through its exploit ability. Integral for dimir decks, yet mana specificity may limit versatility in deck construction. In-depth knowledge of its mechanics is vital for leveraging its full potential in play.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Naga Wizard
Abilities Exploit
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Gurmag Drowner exploits a creature, look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.


Cards like Gurmag Drowner

Gurmag Drowner offers players a unique opportunity through its exploit ability to delve into the deep strategies of Magic: The Gathering. While reminiscent of cards like Sultai Soothsayer, which also provide a look at the top cards of your library, Gurmag Drowner grants an immediate return on your investment. Unlike the slower Soothsayer, the Drowner’s strength lies in its ability to exploit another creature to potentially filter through more options, thereby optimizing your future plays.

Sidisi’s Faithful also shares the exploit mechanic, showcasing flexibility in its role on the battlefield. Though primarily viewed as a means to bounce and disrupt opponent’s creatures, its lesser impact on library manipulation marks a clear departure from Gurmag Drowner’s card selection potential. Meanwhile, creature cards like Jeskai Sage, which offer card draw upon death, hint at similar value over time, but lack the immediate and direct influence over deck churn that Drowner possesses.

Ultimately, whenever evaluating Gurmag Drowner against its counterparts, its specific fusion of self-sacrifice for deck filtration makes it a potent tool for those adept at navigating their decks to synthesize winning combinations in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s specialized nature provides nuanced advantages that highly skilled players can exploit to significant effect.

Sultai Soothsayer - MTG Card versions
Sidisi's Faithful - MTG Card versions
Jeskai Sage - MTG Card versions
Sultai Soothsayer - MTG Card versions
Sidisi's Faithful - MTG Card versions
Jeskai Sage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gurmag Drowner by color, type and mana cost

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Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Sower of Temptation - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gurmag Drowner’s ability to exploit, which lets you look at the top four cards of your library and put one into your hand, can be a significant advantage. This feature not only helps to filter through your deck to find key cards but also can disrupt your opponent’s understanding of your hand contents.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana, the exploit mechanic of Gurmag Drowner can effectively be a form of resource acceleration. By sacrificing a creature that has already served its purpose, such as one with a valuable enter-the-battlefield effect, you’re turning what would otherwise be a static asset on the board into immediate card selection, thus accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Gurmag Drowner acts at sorcery speed, the strategy surrounding its use can revolve around instant-speed interactions. It fits well in decks that can leave mana open for counterspells or instant removal, only to use the mana for exploiting if those options are unnecessary. This makes the card a flexible choice in reactive strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gurmag Drowner requires you to exploit a creature, essentially discarding it, potentially setting back your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a blue and black mana, which can restrict deck building to dimir colors or a more complex manabase to accommodate it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, the 2/4 stats and single instance of card selection may not compare favorably to other options in the mana curve.


Reasons to Include Gurmag Drowner in Your Collection

Versatility: Gurmag Drowner offers flexibility as a creature that can impact the board and also assist in sculpting your hand by giving you access to deeper layers of your deck. It’s a valuable addition for any blue-based deck looking for strategic depth.

Combo Potential: When combined with cards that thrive on graveyard interaction, Gurmag Drowner can serve as a crucial piece in setting up powerful combos, seamlessly integrating into self-mill strategies or reanimator themes.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where the graveyard is a resource as important as the hand, Gurmag Drowner proves to be a relevant choice, its exploit mechanism allowing for tailored responses to current game states.


How to Beat

Understanding the dynamics of Gurmag Drowner in MTG is crucial for strategizing against it. As a creature card with the exploit mechanic, it allows the player to sacrifice another creature to peer into the top four cards of their library and place one of them into their hand. This card selection strategy can give your opponent a significant advantage if not addressed quickly.

To counter Gurmag Drowner effectively, you can focus on removing it before its exploit ability is triggered. Direct removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with the Drowner, ensuring your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand. Additionally, graveyard hate cards can diminish its impact by limiting the options for delve – a common strategy used in conjunction with Gurmag Drowner.

Be vigilant of the field, as preemptively controlling your opponent’s creature count can mitigate the advantages Gurmag Drowner might provide. Cards that can exile creatures from the graveyard or limit the ability to search the library are also strong options for disrupting your opponent’s game plan. In essence, staying proactive and readying removals or disruptive spells are key methods in overcoming the challenge posed by Gurmag Drowner.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gurmag Drowner MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir 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 Gurmag Drowner and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gurmag Drowner Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Lake Hurwitz.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 572015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3962015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
32020-09-26The ListPLST DTK-572015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gurmag Drowner has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gurmag Drowner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-02-25 A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves.
2015-02-25 If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger.
2015-02-25 You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger.
2015-02-25 You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability.
2015-02-25 You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves.