Selkie Hedge-Mage MTG Card


Selkie Hedge-Mage provides both disruption and life-gain when conditions of owning an Island and Forest are met. It demands specific mana and graveyard resources, making it less flexible in non-dual decks. Despite the mana cost, its versatility in control and life-gain roles makes it a worthy collection addition.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Selkie Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Forests, you may gain 3 life. When Selkie Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Islands, you may return target tapped creature to its owner's hand.


Cards like Selkie Hedge-Mage

Selkie Hedge-Mage is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that brings a mixture of control and life-gain to the table. In essence, it evokes memories of cards such as Coiling Oracle for its ability to manipulate both your hand and the field. However, the Selkie Hedge-Mage differs by focusing on two specific land types for triggering its abilities and notably works well within a multicolor deck that includes both islands and forests.

When examining cards with a similar impact, Reclamation Sage emerges as a renowned counterpart. Like the Selkie Hedge-Mage, it can deal with artifacts or enchantments on entry, albeit without the land-type condition. Meanwhile, Kitchen Finks also shares the creature type with the Hedge-Mage and offers life-gain, but instead, it does so through its persist ability rather than being dependent on land types.

By comparing the functionalities and requirements of these creatures, the Selkie Hedge-Mage stands out in decks where its conditions are easily met. It’s a testament to the strategic depth and varying approaches available in Magic: The Gathering for players who appreciate nuanced board control and life management.

Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Reclamation Sage - MTG Card versions
Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Reclamation Sage - MTG Card versions
Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Selkie Hedge-Mage by color, type and mana cost

Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - MTG Card versions
Vigean Hydropon - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Cold-Eyed Selkie - MTG Card versions
Gilder Bairn - MTG Card versions
Wistful Selkie - MTG Card versions
Winged Coatl - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Elusive Krasis - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Bounding Krasis - MTG Card versions
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - MTG Card versions
Void Grafter - MTG Card versions
Rogue Refiner - MTG Card versions
Avid Reclaimer - MTG Card versions
Shapers of Nature - MTG Card versions
Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca - MTG Card versions
Gyre Engineer - MTG Card versions
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - MTG Card versions
Vigean Hydropon - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Cold-Eyed Selkie - MTG Card versions
Gilder Bairn - MTG Card versions
Wistful Selkie - MTG Card versions
Winged Coatl - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Elusive Krasis - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Bounding Krasis - MTG Card versions
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - MTG Card versions
Void Grafter - MTG Card versions
Rogue Refiner - MTG Card versions
Avid Reclaimer - MTG Card versions
Shapers of Nature - MTG Card versions
Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca - MTG Card versions
Gyre Engineer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Selkie Hedge-Mage offers a versatile ability that enables you to return a target creature to its owner’s hand when you control an Island, essentially providing a bounce effect that can disrupt your opponent’s board while maintaining your card quantity.

Resource Acceleration: Similarly, when controlling a Forest, Selkie Hedge-Mage empowers you to heal by regaining life, potentially swinging the life race in your favor and keeping you in the game longer against aggressive strategies.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Selkie Hedge-Mage’s abilities have a comparable impact by creating tempo and life gain opportunities whenever you fulfill its land-based conditions, doing so at the speed of creature spells, which allows strategic planning during your main phases.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Selkie Hedge-Mage requires both a green and a blue creature card to be in your graveyard to utilize its full potential. This discard stipulation can pose a challenge, especially in early game scenarios where your graveyard is not yet populated with ample targets, potentially leaving its abilities underutilized.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement for one green and one blue mana can be restrictive and demands a deck that’s fine-tuned to accommodate such mana needs. This might not align with decks that run on a more varied or mono-color mana base, hence limiting the card’s versatility in broader deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana cost of three, including a hybrid mana of green and blue, Selkie Hedge-Mage’s cost can be seen as steep for the benefit it provides. When compared to other creatures or spells within the same mana range, the Mage might not be as cost-effective, particularly in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is crucial for maintaining tempo.


Reasons to Include Selkie Hedge-Mage in Your Collection

Versatility: Selkie Hedge-Mage offers flexible utility in a variety of deck builds. Its dual abilities allow it to serve multiple roles, from reclaiming lost life points to clearing the way by returning an opponent’s creature to their hand.

Combo Potential: This card’s triggered abilities can synergize with decks that emphasize returning creatures to play or hands, which might generate additional value each time the Hedge-Mage is played.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that fluctuates with control and tempo decks, Selkie Hedge-Mage can adapt to the current competitive environment, serving as a tool for recovering from opponent’s threats or disrupting their board presence.


How to beat

Selkie Hedge-Mage is an intriguing creature card with multi-faceted utility in MTG. Best known for its ability to control and regain momentum, it can present a challenge if not tackled correctly. It excels in environments where it can fully utilize its two aspects – returning a target tapped creature to its owner’s hand and, if it meets the island and forest condition, allowing its controller to regain valuable life. To effectively counter this, focusing on land disruption and graveyard management can be crucial.

A strategy to overcome Selkie Hedge-Mage includes utilizing land removal spells to limit the player’s access to either forests or islands, making it harder to fulfill the conditions for its abilities. Cards like Blood Moon can transform nonbasic lands, making this synergy more difficult to achieve. Additionally, graveyard removal tools like Tormod’s Crypt can prevent the reanimation or recursion of the Hedge-Mage, providing longer term disruption against strategies that may rely on this card’s reusability.

Ultimately, by diminishing the card’s synergy potential and applying consistent pressure on the opponent’s resources, you can effectively mitigate the impact of Selkie Hedge-Mage and maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selkie Hedge-Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI 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 Selkie Hedge-Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Selkie Hedge-Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2008-07-25. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325492003NormalBlackBrandon Kitkouski
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 202003NormalBlackBrandon Kitkouski
32008-07-25EventideEVE 1582003NormalBlackLarry MacDougall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Selkie Hedge-Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-08-01 Both abilities are optional; you choose whether to use them when they resolve. If an ability has a target, you must choose a target even if you don’t plan to use the ability.
2008-08-01 Both abilities trigger at the same time. You can put them on the stack in any order.
2008-08-01 Each of the triggered abilities has an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” That means (1) the ability won’t trigger at all unless you control two or more lands of the appropriate land type when the Hedge-Mage enters the battlefield, and (2) the ability will do nothing if you don’t control two or more lands of the appropriate land type by the time it resolves.
2008-08-01 Each of the triggered abilities look at your lands individually. This means that if you only control two dual-lands of the appropriate types, both of the abilities will trigger.