Trinket Mage MTG Card


Trinket Mage excels in card advantage by tutoring for one-mana or less cost artifacts, enhancing hand value. It boosts mana resources, allowing for more expansive and quicker gameplay strategies. The Mage’s ability to fetch instant-speed artifacts adds an element of surprise and versatility.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Trinket Mage comes into play, you may search your library for an artifact card with converted mana cost 1 or less, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.


Cards like Trinket Mage

Trinket Mage serves as a particular asset within the pool of creature cards in MTG, thanks to its ability to fetch artifacts. Its closest cousins include Trophy Mage and Treasure Mage, each with their unique fetching abilities. Trophy Mage searches for an artifact card with a converted mana cost of three, while Treasure Mage hunts for one with a converted mana cost of six or more. This sets them apart as they pinpoint different segments within your deck’s artifact range.

Another relative in this family is Fabricate, which shares the functional goal of artifact tutoring but not the creature aspect. Fabricate is a sorcery card, reducing the synergy with creature-focused strategies. The flexibility to choose any artifact regardless of mana cost with Fabricate is countered by Trinket Mage’s additional board presence. Furthermore, Ethereal Usher can also tutor for cards, though its focus is on transmutability and it fetches any card that shares a name with another creature you reveal.

While assessing artifact retrieval options, Trinket Mage holds a special place for its cost-efficient tutoring and creature-based utility, making it a staple in strategies that rely on crucial low-cost artifacts.

Trophy Mage - MTG Card versions
Treasure Mage - MTG Card versions
Fabricate - MTG Card versions
Ethereal Usher - MTG Card versions
Trophy Mage - MTG Card versions
Treasure Mage - MTG Card versions
Fabricate - MTG Card versions
Ethereal Usher - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Trinket Mage by color, type and mana cost

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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 Trinket Mage. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rocco Rainbow ElvesRocco Rainbow Elves Free formNoble Spring Quarterly
Five-color ComboFive-color Combo LegacyPainterCharlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
UU VintageVintage Challenge 32 2024-03-10
Mono-Blue TronMono-Blue Tron ModernMono-Blue TronModern Super Qualifier 2023-12-26
TronTron ModernTronModern Preliminary 2024-01-02 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Trinket Mage shines as a source of card advantage, adeptly tutoring for essential artifacts costing one or zero. Upon entering the battlefield, it guarantees a valuable addition to your hand, offering the strategic edge of desired artifact retrieval.

Resource Acceleration: By fetching fast mana artifacts such as Sol Ring or accelerants like Everflowing Chalice, Trinket Mage can significantly boost your mana resources. This acceleration enables broader strategic moves and powerful plays ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: While Trinket Mage itself is a creature spell, it opens doors to instant speed interaction by retrieving artifacts like Sensei’s Divining Top or artifact-based counters such as Dispeller’s Capsule, which you can deploy immediately if need be. This tactical flexibility keeps opponents guessing and prepares you for a wide array of game states.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Trinket Mage doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, it necessitates that you have a targetable artifact of one mana cost or less in your deck to fully utilize its ability. Not having such an artifact in your library when it enters the battlefield renders its search ability fruitless.

Specific Mana Cost: Trinket Mage’s casting cost demands one blue and two generic mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or colorless decks. This specificity can make it a less versatile pick when compared to more color-flexible cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 2/2 creature, Trinket Mage may be considered costly when the desired artifact’s impact is marginal or if the game state doesn’t support the timely retrieval of a one-mana artifact, potentially impacting the tempo of your play.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Trinket Mage offers a flexible slot in numerous deck archetypes due to its ability to search for any one-mana artifact. This allows you to adapt to various game situations by retrieving the perfect tool for the job, whether that’s a Sol Ring for ramp, a Sensei’s Divining Top for card quality, or a Meekstone for control.

Combo Potential: Known for fetching essential combo pieces, Trinket Mage’s fetch ability enhances decks centered around artifact-based combos. Whether enabling an infinite loop or simply ensuring your key artifacts are at your fingertips when you need them, its synergy with combo strategies is undeniable.

Meta-Relevance: With artifact-based strategies often at the forefront of competitive play, having access to a card like Trinket Mage can keep you one step ahead. This card’s presence in your collection gives you a valuable option against a variety of popular decks and meta shifts, ensuring you’re always game-ready.


How to beat

Trinket Mage serves as a versatile toolbox enabler within Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique ability to fetch powerful one-mana artifacts directly to your hand. Its presence can quickly tilt the game in favor of those who utilize small-scale artifacts to their advantage. To effectively counter this, be prepared with removal spells that can disrupt your opponent’s strategies before they gain momentum.

Consider incorporating instant-speed removal like Disenchant or Abrade that can handle artifacts, thus neutralizing the targets of Trinket Mage before they become a threat. It’s also wise to keep creature removal on hand to deal with the mage itself. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently take care of the 2/2 creature without significant mana investment.

Strategic planning plays a key role when facing a card like Trinket Mage. It’s essential to anticipate its activation and have a response ready. Always weigh the potential impacts of the artifacts it may bring into play, and prioritize your removal to minimize your opponent’s advantage. This approach not only impedes the Trinket Mage’s effectiveness but also helps maintain control over the game flow.


BurnMana Recommendations

The versatility and strategic depth that Trinket Mage brings to MTG are undeniable. By efficiently searching for pivotal artifacts, it enhances your deck’s consistency and tactical flexibility. Whether you’re ramping up your mana base, setting up combos, or keeping pace with the meta, Trinket Mage has a place in your arsenal. To harness the full potential of this remarkable card and refine your gameplay strategies, delve deeper with us. Learn how to seamlessly integrate Trinket Mage into your deck and leverage its abilities to ensure your collection remains competitive. Let’s explore together and enrich your MTG knowledge—join our community for detailed insights and advanced tactics.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trinket Mage MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Trinket Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Trinket Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-06-04Fifth Dawn5DN 392003NormalBlackMark A. Nelson
22010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 482003NormalBlackScott Chou
32011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 92003NormalBlackScott Chou
42016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1022015NormalBlackScott Chou
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5332015NormalBlackScott Chou
62020-09-26The ListPLST DDU-412015NormalBlackScott Chou
72021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3201997NormalBlackMark A. Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Trinket Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-03-19 If a card in a player’s library has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.