Patron Wizard MTG Card


Patron Wizard offers card advantage, disrupting opponent strategies while conserving your resources. Able to tap opposing resources, it slows their board development, giving you strategic leverage. Functions at instant speed, allowing flexibility to counter spells at the most opportune moments.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Tap an untapped Wizard you control: Counter target spell unless its controller pays o1.

"The best way to teach is by example."


Cards like Patron Wizard

Patron Wizard is a unique figure in the MTG lineup, offering a powerful control element to Wizard tribal decks. It stands in line with other taxing effects, like Judge’s Familiar, which also presents an obstacle to opponents’ spells. While Judge’s Familiar can be sacrificed to counter a spell unless its controller pays one more mana, Patron Wizard offers a repeatable effect, albeit restricted to the control of other Wizards you may have on the battlefield.

The comparison extends to Voidmage Prodigy, another Wizard that can counter spells. Unlike Patron Wizard, Voidmage Prodigy requires sacrificing a Wizard, including itself, but it doesn’t ask for the additional mana to be paid. Furthermore, the Prodigy can also counter without relying on the presence of other Wizards, offering flexibility. Then there’s Glen Elendra Archmage, which has persist and can counter noncreature spells, providing a more durable presence but lacking the broader countering scope of Patron Wizard.

Patron Wizard’s ability to potentially counter multiple spells per turn, as long as you control other Wizards, places it in a prominent position for players seeking to build around a Wizard tribal theme and exert continual control over the game’s flow.

Judge's Familiar - MTG Card versions
Voidmage Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Judge's Familiar - MTG Card versions
Voidmage Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Patron Wizard by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - 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
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - 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
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Jeskai Oracle ComboJeskai Oracle Combo LegacyBlue Oracle ComboLegacy League 2024-03-12
UBRUBR LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-01-07
Mono-Blue ComboMono-Blue Combo LegacyBlue Oracle Combo2023 Asia Legacy Championship

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Patron Wizard enables a significant advantage in card utility by allowing you to counter an opponent’s spell unless they pay an additional cost. This not only disrupts their strategy but also conserves the cards in your hand, ensuring you maintain upper hand in resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card can effectively tap an opponent’s resources by forcing them to allocate more mana to casting their spells. This indirect resource acceleration can stunt your opponent’s board development, giving you a clear path to advance your position on the field.

Instant Speed: The ability to counter spells with Patron Wizard operates at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to decide the best moment to interfere with your opponent’s plays. Whether it’s during their turn or in response to a game-altering spell, this card ensures you’re always ready to act in a pinch.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Patron Wizard’s ability calls for you to tap an untapped Wizard you control, which can be restrictive as it depletes your board presence, making it difficult to use if you’re running low on creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Patron Wizard requires blue mana not only for casting but also insists on a mono-blue commitment for optimal use, potentially limiting deck flexibility and constraining its integration into multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two blue, Patron Wizard can be a weighty investment in the early game compared to other disruption options which may offer similar effects with a lower mana requirement.


Reasons to Include Patron Wizard in Your Collection

Versatility: Patron Wizard offers a flexible role in your deck due to its capability to disrupt opponents at any point in the game. His ability to counter spells can be crucial for protecting your strategy or weakening your opponent’s.

Combo Potential: This card can be instrumental within wizard-themed decks or any setup aiming to lock down the opponent’s game plan. Its synergistic potential with other wizards can create potent combinations that can dominate the board.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavily influenced by spell-based strategies, having a card like Patron Wizard can tilt matches in your favor. It acts as a deterrent for opponents who rely on non-creature spells, thereby solidifying its position as a valuable asset against certain meta decks.


How to Beat

The Patron Wizard card plays a powerful role in control decks within the Magic: The Gathering universe. With the ability to counter spells by tapping an untapped Wizard you control, opponents often find themselves in a bind. To maneuver past this hurdle, strategy and deck composition are key. One effective method is by using instant-speed removals, like Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push, to take out the Wizard before its ability can be activated. Employing uncounterable spells, such as Abrupt Decay or Supreme Verdict, can also bypass the Patron Wizard’s interfering grasp.

In addition, squeezing in aggressive creatures early in the game can pressure a Patron Wizard user before they establish their counterspell wall. Cards with the prowess and haste abilities can swiftly change the pace before the wizard’s power becomes overwhelming. Another tactic is leveraging spells that cannot be countered. Cavern of Souls, a land that ensures creatures of a chosen type can’t be countered, is an exemplar tool against Patron Wizard’s ability. Remaining adaptable and predicting when to hold back or charge forward can turn the tide against the influence of Patron Wizard in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re looking to sharpen your MTG gameplay and bolster your deck’s control capabilities, Patron Wizard is an invaluable asset to consider. With its unique ability to tap into your wizardry arsenal and counter critical spells, this card can be a linchpin in many strategic scenarios. In wizard-centric decks, it provides a persistent threat to your opponent’s game plan, creating opportunities for you to dictate the pace of play. To delve deeper into maximizing Patron Wizard’s potential and integrating it seamlessly into your collection, join our community. Together, we can explore powerful combos, refine deck-building strategies, and navigate the battlefield with finesse. Start mastering your counterspell game today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Patron Wizard MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Patron Wizard and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Patron Wizard Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-10-01OdysseyODY 891997NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10022015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32020-09-26The ListPLST ODY-891997NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Patron Wizard has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Patron Wizard 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 Since the cost does not include the symbol, it can tap itself even on the turn it enters the battlefield.