Gnat Miser MTG Card


Limiting hand size, Gnat Miser can indirectly create a card advantage and disrupt opponent strategies. Works best in decks with instant-speed disruption, reducing the opponent’s ability to respond effectively. Casting requires black mana, making it specific to certain decks, and potentially less impactful in fast-paced formats.
Gnat Miser - Saviors of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Rat Shaman
Released2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameSaviors of Kamigawa
Set codeSOK
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number70
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Text of card

Each opponent's maximum hand size is reduced by one.

Nezumi insect-shamans enjoyed solitary lives, which was fortunate since no other nezumi could stand to live within half a mile of their foul stench.


Cards like Gnat Miser

Gnat Miser ranks as a potent asset in decks that aim to limit opponents’ resources in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to cards like Locust Miser and Cursed Rack, which share the objective of hand size reduction. What distinguishes Gnat Miser, however, is its ability to immediately affect each opponent’s hand without a mana cost once it’s on the battlefield. Cursed Rack manipulates the number of cards held during the discard phase, lacking the immediate influence that Gnat Miser provides.

Comparable too is the card Bottomless Pit, which randomizes the discard process at each player’s upkeep, creating unpredictability in resource denial strategies. Unlike Bottomless Pit, Gnat Miser ensures a consistent decrease in hand size, giving control players a more predictable tool for their schemes. Additionally, Gnat Miser’s low mana cost makes it an early game contender, whereas Bottomless Pit requires a setup, leaving Gnat Miser as a preferred option for rapid hand size control.

In essence, Gnat Miser shines within its strategy niche in MTG, effortlessly finding its place in decks designed around constraining opponents’ choices by inducing hand size restrictions from the early moments of the game.

Locust Miser - MTG Card versions
Cursed Rack - MTG Card versions
Bottomless Pit - MTG Card versions
Locust Miser - MTG Card versions
Cursed Rack - MTG Card versions
Bottomless Pit - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gnat Miser by color, type and mana cost

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Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Gnat Miser doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, it works to limit your opponent’s hand size thereby indirectly creating a card advantage for you. Playing multiple copies can severely handicap an opponent’s strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: Gnat Miser itself isn’t a resource accelerator in the traditional sense since it doesn’t produce mana or reduce costs of other spells. However, it does contribute to a strategy focused on denying your opponent the resources necessary to execute their game plan effectively.

Instant Speed: Although Gnat Miser must be cast at sorcery speed, slotting this card into a deck with instant-speed disruption can compound its effectiveness. By making your opponent play with fewer cards, they are more vulnerable to your instant-speed interaction, which can disrupt their plays on their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gnat Miser affects your opponent’s hand size, it doesn’t require them to discard. This means its impact is less direct compared to cards that actively make players discard, potentially making it less effective in certain discard-focused strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Gnat Miser requires black mana to cast, which limits deck inclusion to those that run black or have a mana base that can accommodate hybrid mana costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low casting cost of one black mana, when evaluated against other one mana creatures, the impact of Gnat Miser may not justify a slot in your deck, especially in formats where mana-efficiency is crucial.


Reasons to Include Gnat Miser in Your Collection

Versatility: Gnat Miser’s ability to limit your opponent’s hand size can be an excellent addition to decks focused on disrupting opponent strategies. This can be particularly powerful in formats where hand size management plays a critical role.

Combo Potential: As part of a lock-down strategy, Gnat Miser works well in conjunction with other cards that benefit from or contribute to hand disruption. Pairing it with similar effects can lead to a significant advantage over your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players rely heavily on card advantage, Gnat Miser can apply pressure and tilt the balance in your favor by hampering your opponents’ ability to hold answers and threats.


How to beat

Gnat Miser is a card that can put a dent in your opponent’s strategy in MTG. Hailing from the Saviors of Kamigawa set, this creature is capable of reducing your opponent’s hand limit by one. It shines in decks aimed at resource denial, making it harder for your opponent to keep a full grip of cards. But don’t be disheartened when you face this pesky one-drop.

To overcome the hindrance posed by Gnat Miser, consider focusing on card quality over quantity. Utilize spells and abilities that allow you to draw and play multiple cards per turn to mitigate the effect of your reduced hand size. Cards with ‘flash’ enable you to play on your opponent’s turn, keeping your hand free until you need to react. Also, prioritize actions that can affect the battlefield directly, minimizing the need to hold numerous options in hand.

Moreover, if you can remove Gnat Miser from the battlefield, its ability will no longer disrupt your plans. Efficient removal spells or creatures that can deal with smaller threats are key to regaining your footing. With the right approach, beating a deck that employs Gnat Miser is entirely within reach for a well-prepared MTG player.


BurnMana Recommendations

The intricate dance of MTG requires not just the knowledge of individual cards but an understanding of the synergy within your deck. Gnat Miser, while subtle in its approach, can be a thorn in your opponent’s side by constraining their options. For those who wish to incorporate strategies of control and resource denial, it has its merits. Integrating Gnat Miser into a finely-tuned deck can elevate your play, turning the tides to your favor through meticulous hand size management. If you’re intrigued by the strategic depth that cards like Gnat Miser offer, we welcome you to delve deeper into the art of MTG deck building and optimization with us. Together, we can refine your strategies and expand your MTG prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gnat Miser MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Gnat Miser and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gnat Miser has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 If multiple effects modify a player’s hand size, apply them in timestamp order. For example, if you put Cursed Rack (an artifact that sets a chosen player’s maximum hand size to four) onto the battlefield choosing your opponent and then put Gnat Miser onto the battlefield, your opponent will have a maximum hand size of three. However, if those permanents entered the battlefield in the opposite order, your opponent’s maximum hand size would be four.