Keruga, the Macrosage MTG Card


Keruga offers significant card advantage in games, particularly in decks with higher-cost permanents. Required simic mana and deck-building restrictions may limit its compatibility and early game presence. Despite its potential, Keruga’s five mana cost can be a strategic disadvantage against lower-cost alternatives.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dinosaur Hippo
Abilities Companion
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Companion — Your starting deck contains only cards with mana value 3 or greater and land cards. (If this card is your chosen companion, you may put it into your hand from outside the game for as a sorcery.) When Keruga, the Macrosage enters the battlefield, draw a card for each other permanent you control with mana value 3 or greater.


Cards like Keruga, the Macrosage

Keruga the Macrosage carves a unique space in MTG as a companion card with formidable deck-building restrictions and benefits. Similar to Keruga, cards like Sea Gate Oracle also allow you to look at the top cards of your library and draw one, but Keruga’s impact is far more massive, pulling a card for each permanent you control with converted mana cost 3 or higher.

Another analog is the beloved Elemental Bond, which creates card-drawing opportunities whenever a creature with power 3 or greater enters the battlefield. While the triggers differ, Elemental Bond can potentially draw more cards over several turns, although Keruga offers immediate pay-off the moment it hits the table. Then there’s Garruk’s Packleader, providing a repeated drawing effect for creature-heavy strategies, similar to Keruga’s once-off but extensive draw ability.

Assessing these comparisons, it’s clear that while Keruga the Macrosage demands a high deck-building price, the payoff can be substantial, making it a compelling choice for decks that can accommodate its specific conditions.

Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Packleader - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Packleader - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Keruga, the Macrosage by color, type and mana cost

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Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop - MTG Card versions
Moritte of the Frost - MTG Card versions
Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Prophet of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Tanazir Quandrix - MTG Card versions
Tawnos, the Toymaker - MTG Card versions
Overbeing of Myth - MTG Card versions
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary - MTG Card versions
Murkfiend Liege - MTG Card versions
Sages of the Anima - MTG Card versions
Species Gorger - MTG Card versions
Fleetfeather Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Tatyova, Benthic Druid - MTG Card versions
Galloping Lizrog - MTG Card versions
Bioessence Hydra - MTG Card versions
Roalesk, Apex Hybrid - MTG Card versions
A-Tanazir Quandrix - MTG Card versions
Wavesifter - MTG Card versions
Gale, Primeval Conduit - MTG Card versions
Alora, Cheerful Scout - MTG Card versions
Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
5c Enigmatic Fires5c Enigmatic Fires Pioneer5c Enigmatic FiresPioneer Super Qualifier 2023-12-23
4c Fires of Invention4c Fires of Invention Pioneer4c Fires of InventionPioneer Preliminary 2024-04-02 (1)
Selesnya YorionSelesnya Yorion PioneerSelesnya CompanySat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Keruga the Macrosage, drawing a card for each other permanent you control with converted mana cost 3 or greater can quickly refill your hand, providing substantial advantage in longer games.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Keruga encourages a strategy that optimizes resources. By incentivizing a deck with higher-cost permanents, it aligns with ramp strategies that aim to accelerate your mana base and cast impactful spells earlier.

Instant Speed: Although Keruga operates at sorcery speed, its companionship with flash-enabling cards allows you to exploit this advantage at instant speed. This interaction enhances responsiveness to an evolving board state, maintaining tempo while accruing card advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In a highly synergistic game like MTG, each card held represents potential. Keruga the Macrosage comes with the companion criterion that requires a deck to only include cards with a converted mana cost of 3 or higher, which means foregoing the advantage of early gameplay interactions and potentially pivotal lower-cost spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Keruga the Macrosage demands a specific combination of mana—specifically Simic colors (green and blue)—for casting. This requirement can restrict deck-building options and make it incompatible with strategies that don’t support these colors or dual-color mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, which includes one green and one blue, this commander’s ability to draw cards equal to the number of other permanents you control with a converted mana cost of 3 or greater might not always justify its place in a deck considering other available lower-cost draw options that might fit more seamlessly into a player’s game plan.


Reasons to Include Keruga the Macrosage in Your Collection

Versatility: Keruga the Macrosage offers a flexible role in your deck, acting as a companion if you meet its deck-building requirements or as a powerful card on its own, suitable for ramp and draw-heavy strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks looking to exploit its ability to draw cards. It can be a powerhouse in combo decks, especially when paired with effects that allow you to play multiple lands or additional spells per turn.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing landscape of the game, Keruga the Macrosage’s ability to provide card advantage can be key in matchups that hinge on resources and staying ahead in hand size against control archetypes.


How to beat Keruga the Macrosage

Keruga the Macrosage emerges as a unique challenge in the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This Companion card distinguishes itself by offering a significant card advantage if played correctly. Players facing Keruga decks typically see their opponents drawing numerous cards, leading to overwhelming game states. To tackle this behemoth, understanding its Companion mechanic is crucial. It limits deck construction significantly, as all other cards in the starting deck must have a converted mana cost of 3 or greater. This opens up avenues to defeat a Keruga deck with aggressive strategies.

Low-cost creatures and spells can apply pressure early in the game, capitalizing on the fact that decks containing Keruga as a Companion may not establish their presence until the third turn or later. Efficient removal spells that deal with big creatures or bounce spells that return Keruga to the owner’s hand are also effective. This disrupts their game plan and delays the card advantage they depend upon. Proper timing and anticipation, alongside a decisive and aggressive game plan, can prevent Keruga from tilting the card balance in your opponent’s favor.

Adhesion to an aggressive game plan, packing your deck with early threats and efficient answers can shift the game in your favor against Keruga the Macrosage’s potentially overwhelming card draw capability.


BurnMana Recommendations

Keruga the Macrosage beckons MTG enthusiasts to embrace a unique playstyle, balancing deck constraints with the promise of bountiful card draws. If you find solace in playing the long game or revel in the joy of ramp strategies, Keruga could be a key player in your collection. It’s not just about the raw power of the card but how it interlaces with your deck to unleash potential during match-ups. For those seeking to weave Keruga’s capabilities into their game plan or to challenge this companion with a cunning strategy, we offer insights and discussion. Dive deeper with us into the captivating gameplay that Keruga the Macrosage offers and optimize your decks to flourish in the ever-evolving landscape of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Keruga, the Macrosage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths 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 Keruga, the Macrosage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Keruga, the Macrosage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 808472015NormalBlackDan Scott
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 225p2015NormalBlackDan Scott
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 225s2015NormalBlackDan Scott
42020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2252015NormalBlackDan Scott
52020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3542015NormalBlackDan Scott
62023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 178z2015NormalBorderlessDenis Medri
72023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1132015NormalBlackDan Scott
82023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1782015NormalBorderlessDenis Medri
92023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 482015NormalBorderlessDenis Medri

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Keruga, the Macrosage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 Before shuffling your deck to become your library, you may reveal one card from outside the game to be your companion if your starting deck meets the requirements of the companion ability. You can't reveal more than one. It remains revealed outside the game as the game begins.
2020-04-17 If a card in a player's deck or a permanent on the battlefield has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2020-04-17 If more than one player wishes to reveal a companion, the starting player does so first, and players proceed in turn order. Once a player has chosen not to reveal a companion, that player can't change their mind.
2020-04-17 If you reveal a companion outside the game, for as long as it remains there, you may pay any time you could cast a sorcery (that is, you have priority during your main phase and the stack is empty). Once you do, you put it into your hand and behaves like any other card you've brought into the game. For example, if it's discard, countered, or destroyed, it's put into your graveyard, remaining in the game. This is a change from previous rules.
2020-04-17 The companion ability has no effect if the card is in your starting deck and creates no restriction on putting a card with a companion ability into your starting deck. For example, Zirda may be in your starting deck even if your other permanent cards don't all have activated abilities.
2020-04-17 The companion's other abilities apply only if the creature is on the battlefield. They have no effect while the companion is outside the game.
2020-04-17 The mana value of a token that isn't a copy of another object is 0. A token that is a copy of another object has the same mana cost as that object.
2020-04-17 The requirements of the companion ability apply only to your starting deck. They do not apply to your sideboard.
2020-04-17 You may have one companion in the Commander variant. Your deck, including your commander, must meet its companion requirement. Your companion is not one of your one hundred cards.
2020-04-17 Your companion begins the game outside the game. In tournament play, this means your sideboard. In casual play, it's simply a card you own that's not in your starting deck.
2020-06-01 If you reveal a companion outside the game, for as long as it remains there, you may pay any time you could cast a sorcery (that is, you have priority during your main phase and the stack is empty). Once you do, you put it into your hand and behaves like any other card you've brought into the game. For example, if it's discarded, countered, or destroyed, it's put into your graveyard, remaining in the game. This is a change from previous rules.
2020-06-01 Once you put your companion into your hand, it behaves like any other card you’ve brought into the game. For example, if it’s countered or destroyed, it’s put into your graveyard, remaining in the game.
2020-06-01 Paying to put your companion into your hand is a special action. It doesn't use the stack and players can't respond to it. Once you take this action, you may cast that card if it's legal to do so before any other player can take actions.
2020-06-01 Wizards of the Coast has issued functional errata for the Companion mechanic. Instead of casting companions from outside the game: Once per game, any time you could cast a sorcery (during your main phase when the stack is empty), you can pay to put your companion from your sideboard into your hand. This is a special action, not an activated ability. It happens immediately and can’t be responded to. It can’t be countered or stopped by cards like Phyrexian Revoker. For more information please see https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/june-1-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement