Exhibition Magician (SNC)

Exhibition Magician
Casting Cost: {2}{R}
Card Type: Creature - Human Wizard
Power/Toughness: 2/1
Card Text:
When Exhibition Magician enters the battlefield, choose one -

• Create a 1/1 green and white Citizen creature token.
• Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")
  Artist: Greg Staples

Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:

  • Provides versatility by offering a choice between a creature token or a mana acceleration token.
  • Can fit into different strategies depending on the chosen mode.
  • The mana cost is fair for the versatility it provides.

• Weaknesses:

  • With only 2 power and 1 toughness, the Exhibition Magician is easily removed by most forms of damage or removal spells.

Deck Utility:

• Token Decks: The ability to generate a 1/1 Citizen token makes the Exhibition Magician suitable for token strategies, especially if combined with effects that benefit from having multiple creatures.

• Ramp or Multicolored Decks: The Treasure token can provide a one-time boost of mana of any color, assisting decks that have high mana requirements or need specific colors of mana.

Interactions and Combos:

• Anointed Procession: In a token-based deck, this card can double the number of tokens you get, giving you two Citizen tokens or two Treasure tokens.

• Dockside Extortionist: In conjunction with other cards generating Treasure tokens, this card can produce a substantial amount of mana in a single turn.

Flavor and Lore:

• The name "Exhibition Magician" suggests a performer or someone showcasing their magical skills, which ties in well with the ability to create a spectacle (either a Citizen or a Treasure).

• Greg Staples' artwork might depict a flamboyant or charismatic magician impressing a crowd, further emphasizing the card's flavor.

Overall Impression:

"Exhibition Magician" is a versatile card that can find a home in various deck archetypes. While it may not be the most powerful card on its own, in the right context and with synergy from other cards, it can provide significant value. The flavor is evocative, painting a picture of a magician dazzling a crowd with their feats.