The Power of Praetor's Counsel: A Deep Dive into a Modern Classic

Praetor's Counsel is a powerful sorcery card that has been a staple in many controlling and midrange Golgari decks for years. Its ability to return all cards from an opponent's graveyard to their hand, exiling the counsel itself in the process, makes it a valuable tool for generating card advantage and can be particularly devastating when combined with other graveyard-hungry cards or tokens.

Understanding the Card Mechanics

When Praetor's Counsel is played, it returns all cards from the opponent's graveyard to their hand, effectively giving them access to a large number of card advantage. This ability can have a significant impact on the game state, allowing the controller to gain an immediate advantage and potentially turning the tables in their favor.

However, it's worth noting that Praetor's Counsel does not have any other effects beyond its return ability. The exile of the counsel itself has no impact on gameplay, as it does not affect any of the returned cards or otherwise alter the game state. This means that while the counselor is being exiled, the returned cards can be played out and used to attack or generate card advantage.

Strategic Uses and Combos

Praetor's Counsel can be a powerful tool for generating card advantage through the return of tokens, creatures, or other low-toughness permanents from the graveyard. This can be particularly effective when combined with cards that benefit from having multiple copies in hand, such as Jace, the Mind Sculptor.

For example, if a player has access to Praetor's Counsel and a large number of tokens generated by Echoing Banners or Golgari Findbroker, they can return these tokens to their hand and use them to attack with. This combo can be devastating in the right situations, allowing the controller to rapidly generate card advantage and potentially win the game quickly.

Praetor's Counsel can also be used to set up for more complex combos, such as returning Golgari Findbroker's token-generating effects from the graveyard and using those effects to generate even more tokens. This level of synergy can make Praetor's Counsel a highly powerful card in the right decks.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Praetor's Counsel is typically found in controlling or midrange Golgari decks that rely on card advantage generation. These decks focus on generating card advantage through the return of tokens and other low-toughness permanents from the graveyard, allowing them to gain an advantage over their opponents.

In terms of deck archetype, Praetor's Counsel is commonly found in Golgari Death-Deck or Midrange Golgari decks. These decks are designed to be highly aggressive and focused on generating card advantage as quickly as possible, making Praetor's Counsel a valuable addition to any of these builds.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Praetor's Counsel has been a staple in Modern Golgari Death-Deck for years, with its ability to return all cards from the graveyard making it a powerful tool for generating card advantage. However, its format viability can be affected by the presence of other graveyard-hungry cards or tokens.

In recent formats, such as Pioneer and Commander, Praetor's Counsel has seen increased play due to the rise of graveyard-hungry cards like Umbra Hulk and Estrid, the Masked. These cards share similar abilities with Praetor's Counsel and can be used in combination with it to generate card advantage.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

As with most card abilities, the return ability from Praetor's Counsel applies to all cards in the opponent's graveyard. This includes permanents, creatures, tokens, and other non-land cards.

It's worth noting that the exile of Praetor's Counsel itself has no impact on gameplay, as it does not affect any of the returned cards or otherwise alter the game state. This means that while the counselor is being exiled, the returned cards can be played out and used to attack or generate card advantage.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Praetor's Counsel is an artifact card from the guild of Golgari, who value death and decay. The image on the card shows a decrepit and worn-out throne room, surrounded by bones and skulls, with a figure seated in the center. This reflects the themes of mortality and decay that are present throughout the Golgari guild.

The name "Praetor's Counsel" refers to the idea that the Praetor, or ruler, is offering advice or guidance to their followers through the power of death. This reflects the Golgari's fascination with the afterlife and the mysterious forces that govern it.

Understanding the Importance of Timing

One of the most important things to consider when playing Praetor's Counsel is timing. The card can be played on any turn, including the early game, making it a viable option for gaining an immediate advantage.

However, its high mana cost means that it will typically only see play in more advanced or controlling decks. This makes Praetor's Counsel a valuable addition to any deck that is focused on generating card advantage and can potentially win the game quickly.

Combining with Other Cards

Praetor's Counsel can be combined with other cards to generate even more card advantage. One example of this is combining it with Jace, the Mind Sculptor to generate multiple copies of a specific type of card.

For example, if a player has access to Praetor's Counsel and Jace, the Mind Sculptor, they can return tokens generated by Echoing Banners or Golgari Findbroker to their hand and use them to attack with. They can then use Jace to generate multiple copies of a specific type of card, allowing them to generate even more card advantage.

Conclusion

Praetor's Counsel is a powerful sorcery card that allows its controller to return all cards from an opponent's graveyard to their hand, exiling the counsel itself in the process. This ability makes it a valuable tool for generating card advantage and can be particularly devastating when combined with other graveyard-hungry cards or tokens.

While its high mana cost means that it will typically only see play in more advanced or controlling decks, Praetor's Counsel remains a staple in Modern Golgari Death-Deck. Its format viability is affected by the presence of other graveyard-hungry cards or tokens, but when played correctly, it can be a game-changer in the right situations.

Common Pairings and Synergies

Some common pairings and synergies to consider when playing Praetor's Counsel include:

• Echoing Banners: This token generator is often used in combination with Praetor's Counsel to generate multiple tokens that can then be returned to the hand.
• Golgari Findbroker: This card can be used in combination with Praetor's Counsel to return low-toughness permanents from the graveyard, allowing for rapid card advantage generation.
• Jace, the Mind Sculptor: This card can be used in combination with Praetor's Counsel to generate multiple copies of a specific type of card, allowing for even more card advantage.

Tips and Strategies

Some tips and strategies to consider when playing Praetor's Counsel include:

• Timing is everything: Make sure to play Praetor's Counsel at the right moment to maximize its impact on the game state.
• Combine with other cards: Consider combining Praetor's Counsel with other graveyard-hungry cards or tokens to generate even more card advantage.
• Focus on generating token advantage: Use Praetor's Counsel in combination with other low-toughness permanents to generate rapid card advantage and attack.

By understanding the power of Praetor's Counsel and how to use it effectively, players can take their decks to the next level and become a formidable opponent in any format.