Noble Benefactor MTG Card


Noble Benefactor accelerates your deck by tutoring a card upon its death. Its search ability can be precisely timed with instant-speed interactions. Shared tutoring may inadvertently empower your opponents’ strategies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

If Noble Benefactor is put into any graveyard from play, each player may search his or her library for any one card and put that card into his or her hand. Each player who searches his or her library shuffles it afterwards.


Cards like Noble Benefactor

Noble Benefactor provides an interesting dynamic in Magic: The Gathering gameplay, falling into the unique category of creatures with post-death card tutoring abilities. Upon its demise, it allows each player to search their library for any card and add it to their hand, reminiscent of the symmetric effects seen in cards like Veteran Explorer. While Veteran Explorer offers a benefit to all players upon its death by ramping up land cards, Noble Benefactor expands the choices to any card in the deck, potentially a double-edged sword.

Another card that echoes this universal advantage is Gate to the Afterlife, which provides a loot effect for all players when a creature dies. Although it doesn’t provide direct tutoring like Noble Benefactor, its ability to convert death into card advantage is similar. Gift of Estates follows a different path, solely benefiting the caster by providing land cards, yet it lacks the diplomatic element that Noble Benefactor carries into strategic play. Timing and context are crucial in leveraging Noble Benefactor’s abilities, as players must balance the ultimate gain against the potential of uplifting their opponents’ arsenal.

Ultimately, Noble Benefactor stands out with its unconditional tutoring effect post-death, creating a balance between risk and reward that is both enticing and challenging for MTG enthusiasts. Mastery lies in orchestrating the creature’s demise at the most opportune moment, ensuring the advantage tips in your favor.

Veteran Explorer - MTG Card versions
Gate to the Afterlife - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Veteran Explorer - MTG Card versions
Gate to the Afterlife - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Noble Benefactor by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
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Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
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Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
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Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Noble Benefactor provides the unique ability to search for any card in your deck when it dies, potentially giving you access to your most powerful spells and accelerating your game plan.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana pool, this card ensures you get to the key pieces of your deck faster, effectively smoothing out your draws and maintaining a healthy pace against opponents.

Instant Speed: Although the card itself is not an instant, it can be paired with instant speed removal or sacrifice effects. This interaction allows you to dictate the timing of the Benefactor’s search effect, disrupting opponent strategies and maximizing your tactical advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When deploying Noble Benefactor, there is no direct discard cost attached to its casting. However, it’s critical to understand the implicit downside of its demise. Upon the Benefactor leaving the battlefield, every player benefits from tutoring a card. This can inadvertently bolster your opponents’ arsenals, potentially turning the tide against you, especially if they possess more optimal tutor targets within their decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Noble Benefactor comes with a set mana cost that must be paid with at least one blue mana. This specificity anchors it firmly in blue-aligned decks or those that can handle colored mana requirements, potentially reducing its versatility in a format where mana flexibility can be key to consistent performance.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of three mana, this card’s investment might not always align with your game plan. The value of the search ability it provides upon death must be weighed against other cards within the three-mana slot, which may offer more immediate or individually beneficial effects. In fast-paced games or environments where resource efficiency is paramount, Noble Benefactor’s comparative mana cost might be considered a strategic conundrum.


Reasons to Include Noble Benefactor in Your Collection

Versatility: Noble Benefactor works well in decks that appreciate a consistent draw engine. As a creature that ensures card selection once it leaves the battlefield, it can slot into a variety of strategies, from control to combo decks.

Combo Potential: When sacrificed, this card offers the unique ability for both you and your opponent to search for a card, which can be manipulated to your advantage in decks designed to benefit from shared tutors.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where information and card advantage can make or break a match, Noble Benefactor provides an edge, particularly in formats that reward strategic deck building around universal search effects.


How to beat

Noble Benefactor presents a unique challenge in MTG gameplay. When this creature dies, each player gets to search their library for any card, then shuffle their library and put that card on top of it. For opponents, this can mean retrieving a game-winning piece, hence it’s crucial to employ strategies that minimize its benefit to others while exploiting it for your personal advantage.

To tackle Noble Benefactor, consider using graveyard manipulation tactics. Cards like Bojuka Bog that can exile graveyards prevent benefitting from the Benefactor’s triggered ability. Control tactics are also instrumental. Denying the opponent the chance to sacrifice the Benefactor or to benefit from death triggers using cards like Grafdigger’s Cage can halt their strategic advances. Lastly, instant speed removal can disrupt an opponent’s end-of-turn plans, leaving them at a disadvantage.

In essence, mastering the balance between positional advantage and denying the same to the opponent when facing Noble Benefactor can lead to a strategically satisfying win in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving deeper into MTG gameplay dynamics, Noble Benefactor emerges as a potent card worth considering for your collection. With the ability to tutor any card upon its demise, this card can significantly change the course of play. However, its utility is not without a trade-off, as opponents also gain access to their deck’s treasures. The key to success lies in strategic deployment and capitalizing on the resulting card selection. For a more comprehensive understanding of how to harness Noble Benefactor’s potential and navigate its risks, join us as we explore advanced techniques that could give you the upper hand in your matches. Unlock new levels of gameplay and optimize your deck to its full capacity.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Noble Benefactor MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and The List, 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 Noble Benefactor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Noble Benefactor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 1997-06-09. Illustrated by DiTerlizzi.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-06-09WeatherlightWTH 441997NormalBlackDiTerlizzi
22020-09-26The ListPLST WTH-441997NormalBlackDiTerlizzi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Noble Benefactor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-04-01 The player whose turn it is searches their library (or chooses not to), then each other player in turn order does the same. Then the player whose turn it is shuffles their library (if that player searched), then each other player in turn order does the same.