Praetor's Counsel MTG Card


Praetor’s Counsel offers incredible card advantage by returning all graveyard cards to your hand. Indirect resource acceleration through retrieved ramp spells can lead to a decisive mana surplus. Strategic flexibility similar to instant-speed plays ensures unpredictable and potent turns.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Return all cards from your graveyard to your hand. Exile Praetor's Counsel. You have no maximum hand size for the rest of the game.

As the Phyrexian contagion corroded Karn's body, the praetors whispered psalms to corrupt his mind.


Cards like Praetor's Counsel

Praetor’s Counsel is a standout green spell in Magic: The Gathering, boasting a unique and powerful effect – it grants players the ability to return all cards from their graveyard to their hand and removes their maximum hand size limit for the rest of the game. This monumental card finds its closest parallels in effects such as Eternal Witness and Regrowth, which also return cards from the graveyard to hand, albeit on a much smaller scale, typically reviving just a single card.

Seasons Past is another card that echoes the sentiment of recursion, though it selectively retrieves cards based on their mana costs, rather than the blanket approach used by Praetor’s Counsel. Where Praetor’s Counsel truly shines is in its late-game potential, transforming a depleted library into a replete hand, effectively becoming a reset button in drawn-out matches. Additionally, unlike the one-time effects of Recollect or Seasons Past, the Counsel’s elimination of a hand size limit has lasting benefits that extend throughout the game.

While Praetor’s Counsel requires a substantial mana investment, making it less flexible than its counterparts, the unparalleled advantage it offers in recuperating resources makes it a keystone for decks designed around maximizing card advantage and resilience in the long game.

Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Seasons Past - MTG Card versions
Recollect - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Seasons Past - MTG Card versions
Recollect - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Praetor's Counsel by color, type and mana cost

Incoming! - MTG Card versions
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Granny's Payback - MTG Card versions
Endless Swarm - MTG Card versions
Horncaller's Chant - MTG Card versions
Ezuri's Predation - MTG Card versions
Majestic Genesis - MTG Card versions
Verdant Rejuvenation - MTG Card versions
Last March of the Ents - MTG Card versions
Thunderous Debut - MTG Card versions
Colossal Chorus - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Praetor’s Counsel is a power-packed spell that clears the path for unparalleled card advantage. When you play this sorcery, you reclaim your entire graveyard, adding all those spells and creatures back into your hand. This effect means you’re never truly out of options, and it sets you up for overwhelming turns where the number of cards in your hand dictates the pace and direction of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Though Praetor’s Counsel itself does not directly accelerate your resources, by returning potentially numerous ramp spells to your hand, it indirectly sets the stage for explosive mana growth. The ability to play multiple land cards or reuse mana-generating spells from the graveyard provides a massive surge in available resources that can be the tipping point towards victory.

Instant Speed: While Praetor’s Counsel operates at sorcery speed, the flexibility it provides echoes the benefits of instant-speed spells. With a refreshed hand, you can strategically play out your turns, akin to having an arsenal of instant-speed responses ready. It allows for mid to late gameplay, where you can adapt rapidly to the evolving battlefield, making each of your subsequent turns as unpredictable and dangerous as casting an instant on your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect to consider is that although Praetor’s Counsel doesn’t make you discard cards, it does require a significant setup of having a well-stocked graveyard to fully capitalize on its effect. In situations where graveyards are being exiled or not adequately filled, it may not perform optimally.

Specific Mana Cost: Praetor’s Counsel comes with a very specific mana requirement, asking for three green mana symbols in its cost. This makes it less flexible and can sometimes be challenging to cast outside of heavily green-based decks or those with ample mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Praetor’s Counsel carries a steep casting cost of eight mana, which aligns with its powerful effect. However, this high mana investment means it competes with other late-game spells and might not always be the most efficient play, especially in formats where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include Praetor’s Counsel in Your Collection

Versatility: Praetor’s Counsel shines in decks that cycle through their library quickly or need late-game recovery. It effortlessly returns all cards from your graveyard to your hand, ensuring you never run out of options.

Combo Potential: This card is a powerhouse in combo decks, particularly those utilizing graveyard synergies. It can reset your resources and provides immense value by enabling the replay of impactful spells.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on mill or control strategies, Praetor’s Counsel stands out as it counteracts graveyard disruption and provides a significant swing in card advantage, potentially turning the tides in your favor.


How to beat

Praetor’s Counsel is a powerful Green spell in Magic: The Gathering that can dramatically shift the tide of a game. Upon resolution, this card allows its caster to return all cards from their graveyard to their hand, removing the maximum hand size limit for the rest of the game. This immense card advantage can overwhelm unprepared opponents.

To counter this overwhelming spell, focus on proactive measures such as graveyard disruption. Cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can be used to exile graveyards before Praetor’s Counsel can take effect. Counterspells are also an effective tool, with options like Mana Leak or Negate at the ready to prevent it from resolving. Additionally, pressure strategies like aggressive creature decks can reduce the game’s length, rendering Counsel less impactful as a late-game play.

It’s critical to anticipate the moment when your opponent reaches enough mana to cast Praetor’s Counsel and implement your disruptive strategies promptly. Keeping the pressure on, while simultaneously denying their graveyard resources, is key to overcoming the advantage that Praetor’s Counsel could provide in the game of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepening your understanding of MTG’s vast array of spells can turn the tide of any game. Praetor’s Counsel is a formidable weapon in any player’s arsenal, redefining the limits of card advantage. As you refine your deck, consider the mighty surge this card can offer, adding resilience against opponents who thrive on disrupting your plans. Whether you’re battling through relentless mill strategies or seeking to outmaneuver control decks, our insights can help you harness the full potential of your collection. Ready to reshape the battlefield with an unassailable hand? Delve deeper into the strategic nuances of MTG with us and claim victory at your next confrontation.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Praetor's Counsel MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Commander 2014, 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 Praetor's Counsel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Praetor's Counsel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 882003NormalBlackDaarken
22014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2092015NormalBlackDaarken
32017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1342015NormalBlackDaarken
42020-09-26The ListPLST C14-2092015NormalBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Praetor's Counsel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal