Izzet Chronarch MTG Card


Izzet Chronarch offers card advantage by retrieving powerful instants and sorceries from your graveyard. Its ability to enhance resource flexibility can significantly accelerate your strategic gameplay. Despite its mana specificity and cost, its strategic benefits make it a valuable deck addition.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Izzet Chronarch comes into play, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.

He ensures not only whether but also when and where the lightning strikes twice.


Cards like Izzet Chronarch

The Izzet Chronarch card stands as a solid creature selection in the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering. Its closest kin in functionality might be Archaeomancer, an ally that recovers an instant or sorcery card from the graveyard to the owner’s hand upon entry. Izzet Chronarch offers a similar effect but extends the retrieval opportunity to include all sorceries, potentially offering a broader range of strategic recall during play.

Another kindred spirit to Izzet Chronarch is Mnemonic Wall. This creature shares the trait of returning a spell from the graveyard to its owner’s hand. However, it differentiates itself with its higher toughness, giving it an edge in survival but at the cost of a higher mana investment. Comparatively, Izzet Chronarch checks in with a more balanced mana-to-effect ratio, suitable for decks focused on tempo and efficiency.

Analysing these choices, players find that Izzet Chronarch fills a niche in the red-blue deck archetype, allowing for repeated use of powerful instants and sorceries. The balance it strikes between cost and effect potentially provides players with a powerful tool for maintaining card advantage and prolonging their strategic plays within the game.

Archaeomancer - MTG Card versions
Mnemonic Wall - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer - MTG Card versions
Mnemonic Wall - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Izzet Chronarch by color, type and mana cost

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Firkraag, Cunning Instigator - MTG Card versions
Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler - MTG Card versions
Najal, the Storm Runner - MTG Card versions
Winged Hive Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Magnus the Red - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Illusionist - MTG Card versions
Kraum, Ludevic's Opus - MTG Card versions
Hypersonic Dragon - MTG Card versions
Uvilda, Dean of Perfection // Nassari, Dean of Expression - MTG Card versions
Ogre Savant - MTG Card versions
Stormcloud Djinn - MTG Card versions
Dominus of Fealty - MTG Card versions
Mercurial Chemister - MTG Card versions
Maverick Thopterist - MTG Card versions
Spellbound Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thundering Djinn - MTG Card versions
Zara, Renegade Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Oggyar Battle-Seer - MTG Card versions
Storm Skreelix - MTG Card versions
Lozhan, Dragons' Legacy - MTG Card versions
Firkraag, Cunning Instigator - MTG Card versions
Alora, Cheerful Swashbuckler - MTG Card versions
Najal, the Storm Runner - MTG Card versions
Winged Hive Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Magnus the Red - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Izzet Chronarch, when played, lets you return an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. This effect gives you access to powerful spells you’ve already used, effectively increasing the amount of resources at your disposal and allowing you to outpace your opponent in terms of options and flexibility.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Izzet Chronarch itself does not accelarate resources in the form of mana, by retrieving crucial spells, it accelerates your game plan. Getting back a key piece of disruption or a spell that generates resources can be pivotal for setting up winning turns and maintaining pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Izzet Chronarch’s ability is not an instant, it opens up strategic plays because you can choose to play the spells you retrieve at instant speed, if they have that capability. This allows for greater flexibility during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and allowing you to respond effectively to threats or opportunities as they arise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Izzet Chronarch can retrieve an instant or sorcery card from the graveyard, it requires you to have these card types present to gain value. This can be a limiting factor, especially if your graveyard is not well-stocked with the appropriate spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Izzet Chronarch comes with a specific mana cost that includes both blue and red mana. This dual requirement restricts its playability to decks that can reliably produce both colors, potentially excluding it from diverse mana base strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana (2 generic, 1 blue, and 2 red), Izzet Chronarch is on the pricier side for its ability to recoup spells. Players might find that other cards in the game offer similar or better effects at a lower mana investment, leading to more streamlined and efficient deck-building options.


Reasons to Include Izzet Chronarch in Your Collection

Versatility: Izzet Chronarch can be a multifunctional addition to decks that thrive on casting spells from the grave. Its ability to return an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand makes it a flexible piece in various deck builds.

Combo Potential: For those who delight in intricate play sequences, this card can be key. It works harmoniously with strategies involving spell recursion, allowing you to reuse high-impact instants or sorceries, thereby enhancing your combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to recur important spells, Izzet Chronarch remains relevant, particularly in metas where long-term resource management prevails, making it a tactical choice for players looking to outlast their opponents with recurring value.


How to Beat

Izzet Chronarch is a unique creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that provides card advantage when it enters the battlefield. Players often use it to recur an instant or sorcery card from their graveyard. This ability solidifies your opponent’s hand and gives them access to crucial spells they’ve already played. It’s the sort of card that requires a clear strategy to overcome.

One effective method is to limit the number of targets for Izzet Chronarch’s ability. This means keeping your opponent’s graveyard sparse, through cards with graveyard hate functionalities such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus. Also, counterspells like Cancel or Mana Leak can prevent Izzet Chronarch from ever hitting the board. If the Chronarch does manage to enter play, having removal spells ready can mitigate the advantage it provides. Overall, disrupting the graveyard or countering key spells are solid tactics to neutralize the setback an Izzet Chronarch might present during a game.

Dealing with a card like Izzet Chronarch demands a proactive approach to controlling your opponent’s resources. Recognize the potential for recurring threats and plan accordingly to maintain the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG collection with Izzet Chronarch could be the game-changer you’ve been looking for. With the ability to reclaim instants or sorceries from your graveyard, this versatile card is ideal for those epic comebacks and maintaining a strategic edge over your adversaries. If your playstyle enjoys the thrill of preparing for the late game and methodically outmaneuvering your opponent, adding Izzet Chronarch to your arsenal is a move to consider. Dive deeper into the synergies and deck-building strategies that could turn your next game into a storied victory. Discover more insights and tips to optimize your play with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Izzet Chronarch MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and Commander 2011, 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 Izzet Chronarch and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Izzet Chronarch Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2017-08-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1192003NormalBlackNick Percival
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2052003NormalBlackNick Percival
32012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 112003NormalBlackSteven Belledin
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1752015NormalBlackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Izzet Chronarch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal