How to make Traveling Philosopher useful?
Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 15, 2014, 1:20 p.m. by FrogWarlord
Background story: A friend of mine studies Philosophy, so we find the specific Theros card (Traveling Philosopher) very funny and I'd like to build a deck around it.
Are there ways of making such a basic card, without any abilities, useful in game? If you would have to build a deck around it, how would you go about it?
Rhadamanthus says... #4
Yeah, the only card I know of to help you actually build around the Philosopher is Muraganda Petroglyphs . In any other deck, the Philosopher would just be taking up the spot of something much better.
January 15, 2014 1:26 p.m.
FrogWarlord says... #7
Hahaha, yes that is what I feared. It really isn't such a good card.
Muraganda Petroglyphs
seems like a good one though!
January 15, 2014 1:28 p.m.
Well clearly you build a theme deck and not care how competitive it is. Being interesting but ultimately useless is sort of the philosopher's special move.
Traveling Philosopher
Pedantic Learning
Thran Tome
Jalum Tome
Academy Researchers
Careful Study
Compulsive Research
Wizards' School
Minamo, School at Water's Edge
January 15, 2014 1:35 p.m.
hunter9000 says... #9
I like Devonin's idea:
Tolarian Academy
Rhystic Study
Jayemdae Tome
Academy Rector
Academy Ruins
Rayne, Academy Chancellor
Stonybrook Schoolmaster
Summon the School
Hermetic Study
January 15, 2014 1:44 p.m.
FrogWarlord says... #10
I like your ideas for a themed deck as well! Blue has a lot of those scholarly type cards.:)
If I would go for a deck build around Muraganda Petroglyphs , it would require a lot of ability-less creatures such as Watchwolf and Grizzled Leotau , which I think could actually work out really good. My main concern would be to get Muraganda Petroglyphs as quickly out on the battlefield as possible. I guess tutor cards are the best way to try to do that? Or are there are ways?
January 15, 2014 2:23 p.m.
Well, if you're going Green/White (which I think you do) you'd probably want to add in
January 15, 2014 2:27 p.m.
Bear in mind also, that most tokens have no abilities, and green/white is really good at making tokens. So that's another avenue over things like Grizzled Leotau which isn't all that stellar.
January 15, 2014 2:29 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #13
Woah, I hadn't noticed Traveling Philosopher was a 2/2. Aristotle could kill Grizzly Bears ! That's some serious talking.
raithe000 says... #2
There are some old cards (from Time Spiral block?) that gave benefits to creatures without abilities. Otherwise, there isn't really anything to build around. You could make a White Weenies deck (lots of small, aggressive white creatures) but Traveling Philosopher would be sub-par at best in such a deck.
January 15, 2014 1:23 p.m.