Copper Gnomes MTG Card


Copper Gnomes help deploy costly artifacts quickly, offering early-game advantage through unique card utility. The ability to operate at instant speed provides tactical flexibility, keeping opponents uncertain of your next move. While powerful, the need for specific mana and self-sacrifice presents limitations, influencing deck construction and play style.
Copper Gnomes - Urza's Saga
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Gnome
Released1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameUrza's Saga
Set codeUSG
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number291
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJeff Laubenstein

Text of card

o4, Sacrifice Copper Gnomes: Choose an artifact card in your hand and put that artifact into play.

Start with eleven gnomes and a room of parts, and come morning you'll have ten and a monster the likes of which you've never seen.


Cards like Copper Gnomes

Copper Gnomes stands out in MTG as a unique artifact creature with the ability to cheat massive constructs onto the battlefield early in the game. This ability mirrors the utility seen in Quicksilver Amulet, an artifact that also bypasses traditional casting costs to deploy creatures quickly. The key contrast lies in the permanence of the Quicksilver Amulet, which isn’t sacrificed upon activation, versus the one-time use of the Gnomes. Another comparable card is Master Transmuter, which not only places artifacts onto the battlefield but also provides additional control by returning other artifacts to their owner’s hand.

Elvish Piper echoes the Gnomes’ theme, enabling creature cheats but with a focus on green creature spells. The flexibility it offers by not being sacrificed after use gives it an enduring presence on the field. Additionally, the Piper deals with creatures of any type, not just artifacts. Conversely, Tinker is a sorcery that swaps artifacts from the field to any artifact from the library, an effect akin to Copper Gnomes’ mechanism but with a greater range of targets and at the cost of sacrificing a different artifact.

Each of these parallels presents distinct advantages, yet Copper Gnomes is a noteworthy option for players looking to aggressively accelerate artifact-based strategies in their MTG gameplay.

Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions
Master Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Tinker - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Amulet - MTG Card versions
Master Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Tinker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Copper Gnomes by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Elsewhere Flask - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Elsewhere Flask - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Copper Gnomes offer a unique form of card advantage by enabling access to high-cost artifacts, which might be otherwise difficult to cast in the early stages of a game. By bypassing their mana costs, you effectively draw into powerful assets ahead of schedule.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a resource accelerator by allowing you to cheat out artifacts at the cost of sacrificing the Gnomes. In a sense, they transform the four mana invested in them into an artifact that could potentially cost much more, ensuring an efficient upgrade of resources on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: One of the critical attributes of Copper Gnomes is the ability to activate their ability at instant speed. This tactical flexibility lets players wait until the end of an opponent’s turn or respond to actions before making a crucial move, keeping the opponent guessing and preserving the element of surprise in your strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Copper Gnomes requires sacrificing the creature itself, which is a form of discard. This can set you back by losing a creature presence on the battlefield, potentially opening you up to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: While only requiring two colorless mana, Copper Gnomes’ ability demands an additional four colorless mana to activate. This specific mana cost can be a limiting factor in decks that could otherwise use that mana for more flexible options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The considerable total of six mana to use Copper Gnomes’ ability can be too slow or costly compared to other artifact-tutoring options in the game. There are many alternatives available that may fetch artifacts at a lower cost or offer additional benefits beyond simply putting an artifact onto the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Copper Gnomes in Your Collection

Versatility: Copper Gnomes offer a flexible role in artifact-based decks, giving players the ability to cheat high-cost artifacts into play earlier than usual. Their ability to adapt to various strategies makes them a valuable asset for any collection.

Combo Potential: With the ability to pay 4 and sacrifice themselves, Copper Gnomes can be part of intricate combos, fetching game-changing artifacts straight onto the battlefield. This opens up a realm of possibilities for synergy with other cards and effects that capitalize on artifact manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts play a significant role, the inclusion of Copper Gnomes becomes even more pertinent. Their seamless integration into artifact-centric decks makes them a considerable choice for anyone wanting to stay competitive and exploitative of current trends.


How to Beat

Maneuvering your strategy against Copper Gnomes in MTG requires an understanding of its unique ability to cheat expensive artifacts into play. As a card that can significantly alter the game’s balance, countering it involves targeted disruption. Removing the Gnomes before they activate or while the ability is on the stack is crucial. Choose artifact removal spells or creature destruction tactics to quickly eliminate this threat and prevent your opponent from gaining an upper hand with their heavy-hitting artifacts. Remember also to watch for any particular synergies your opponent has built around Copper Gnomes, which might require a more dedicated counter-strategy, such as graveyard hate or counter-magic to impede reanimation or recursion. Effective timing and the right choice of spells will swing the game back in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Copper Gnomes MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Copper Gnomes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Copper Gnomes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 You choose the artifact card on resolution.
2007-05-01 Putting the card onto the battlefield is optional. When the ability resolves, you can choose not to.