Imperial Recruiter MTG Card


Imperial Recruiter offers great card advantage by tutoring creatures directly into your hand. It accelerates game plans by fetching specific creatures, enhancing strategic resource management. The Recruiter indirectly bolsters instant speed reactions, making decks more flexible and resilient.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Advisor
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Imperial Recruiter comes into play, search your library for a creature card with power no greater than 2, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterward.


Cards like Imperial Recruiter

Imperial Recruiter from Magic the Gathering serves a specialized role in fetching creatures with prowess from your library. Its strength lies in the precision it brings to your game, allowing you to seek out key pieces to execute your strategy. Looking across the landscape of MTG, we observe cards like Recruiter of the Guard and Stoneforge Mystic, which also allow players to pull specific cards from their library, though with differing criteria.

Recruiter of the Guard, sharing a similar tutoring effect, focuses on toughness instead of power, which skews towards defense-oriented gameplay. Conversely, Stoneforge Mystic caters to equipment-centered decks, allowing you to fetch weapons that enhance your creatures on the battlefield. Moreover, creatures like Goblin Matron exist with an even narrower search requirement, specifically targeting the Goblin tribe, reveling in its tribal synergies.

To sum up, while each creature tutor offers unique advantages, the Imperial Recruiter is distinguished by its ability to consistently assemble powerful combos by seeking creatures based on power, regardless of their creature type, fostering a versatile and dynamic game approach for MTG players.

Recruiter of the Guard - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Goblin Matron - MTG Card versions
Recruiter of the Guard - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Goblin Matron - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Imperial Recruiter by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Thunder-Thrash Elder - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Thunder-Thrash Elder - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Imperial Recruiter. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
PainterPainter LegacyPainterLegacy League 2024-02-25
HumansHumans ModernHumansModern Challenge 64 2024-04-20
Boros PainterBoros Painter LegacyPainterAtarka Rizzcord Championship Series - Legacy Round 1
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Devoted ComboDevoted Combo ModernDevoted ComboModern League 2024-03-12
Food ChainFood Chain LegacyFood ChainLegacy League Pavia 23/24 - Tappa 34
Temur Food ChainTemur Food Chain LegacyFood ChainLegacy Preliminary 2024-02-26 (1)
RR LegacyLegacy League 2024-03-06
Mono-Blue ControlMono-Blue Control Legacy2 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - Liga Paulista Legacy
Rogue DecklistsRogue Decklists LegacyFood ChainBLACK - SAT - 11AM - Legacy for Original Magic Artwork

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Imperial Recruiter shines in providing card advantage. Upon entering the battlefield, it allows you to search your library for a creature card with power 2 or less and put it into your hand. This concentrated tutor ability bolsters your hand with the right creature for the situation at hand, ensuring you maintain a strategic edge.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, the Recruiter accelerates your resources by fetching combo pieces or value creatures. Its ability to tutor a specific card from your deck streamlines your game plan and often leads to plays that can rapidly swing the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Imperial Recruiter’s ability is not at instant speed, it sets you up for future plays that can be activated at instant speed. By securing tools that interact quickly or in response to opponents’ actions, the card indirectly enhances your reactive capabilities, making your deck more resilient and flexible during crucial moments of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Imperial Recruiter lacks such a drawback, making it a more beneficial card in terms of resource retention.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost requiring red mana, Imperial Recruiter may not seamlessly fit into all deck strategies, especially those not supporting red or multicolored synergies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana value of three, which includes two generic and one red, this card could be considered costly for its tutoring effect, especially when compared to some lower-cost alternatives available in the vast MTG card pool.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Imperial Recruiter is a highly flexible card that can be slotted into numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to search for a creature with power 2 or less makes it a staple for finding key combo pieces or essential utility creatures across various formats.

Combo Potential: The tutor effect of this red creature allows for seamless execution of combo strategies. Whether it’s finding a missing piece for an infinite loop or grabbing that creature which synergizes perfectly with others on your board, Imperial Recruiter’s fetching capability is second to none.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its inherent value in searching up pivotal creatures, Imperial Recruiter remains pertinent in a shifting meta. It’s a card that adjusts as the meta evolves, giving players a constant tool for adaptation and strategic planning in their game play.


How to beat

Imperial Recruiter is a powerful tool in Magic: The Gathering that offers strategic creature tutoring capabilities. Recognized for its ability to search for another creature card with power 2 or less, Imperial Recruiter can pose a considerable challenge when it fetches needed combo pieces or essential creatures from a player’s library. To effectively counter this card, consider employing removal spells that can be cast in response to its triggered ability. Such instant speed removals can prevent an opponent from benefiting from the creature they aim to fetch.

Graveyard hate cards also serve as a solid strategy against Imperial Recruiter’s power. By disrupting your opponent’s graveyard mechanics, you can limit the potential recursion of creatures that they might have planned to reuse. Additionally, playing strategically around known decklists using Imperial Recruiter enables you to anticipate and prepare for their sought-after creatures, thereby blunting its impact on the game.

Ultimately, adept hand disruption or countering strategies are your best bet against decks that employ the recruiting prowess of this card. By remaining proactive in managing your opponent’s board and resources, you can mitigate the advantages granted by Imperial Recruiter, turning the tide in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Imperial Recruiter is an asset for any player looking to craft a meticulously tuned deck. With its ability to fetch crucial creatures, it turns the tide of matches and escalates your strategic plays. Recognize its strengths in resource acceleration and deck resilience, though be mindful of the color and mana considerations. Embrace the versatility and combo potential, and don’t forget the importance of meta-relevance as shifts in the game occur. For those aiming to finesse their collection with a card of multifaceted utility and consistent adaptability in gameplay, learning more about this card is essential. Enhance your MTG experience; understand Imperial Recruiter’s full potential with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Imperial Recruiter MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Magic Online Promos, 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 Imperial Recruiter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Imperial Recruiter Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-05-01Portal Three KingdomsPTK 1131997NormalWhiteMitsuaki Sagiri
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 912772015NormalBlackHoward Lyon
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1301997NormalBlackMitsuaki Sagiri
42018-03-16Masters 25A25 1362015NormalBlackZack Stella
52020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1312015NormalBlackZack Stella
62021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2812015NormalBlackZack Stella
72021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3142015NormalBorderlessHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Imperial Recruiter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 Because the “search” requires you to find a card with certain characteristics, you don't have to find the card if you don't want to.
2008-10-01 If a creature card has “*” in its power, the ability that defines its power works in all zones.