Alchemist's Apprentice MTG Card

Alchemist’s Apprentice offers card cycling by sacrificing itself, enhancing deck consistency. Its sacrifice ability functions at instant speed, adding flexibility in gameplay. Discarding to activate and specific mana needs may limit its deck inclusion.

Alchemist's Apprentice - Avacyn Restored

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	42
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Palumbo

Text of card

Sacrifice Alchemist's Apprentice: Draw a card.

Side effects may include foul odors, scalding steam, and spontaneous nonexistence.

Cards like Alchemist's Apprentice

Alchemist’s Apprentice offers MTG enthusiasts a glimpse into the realm of utility creatures with a card draw advantage. In the same bundle of options, we have Elvish Visionary, providing a simple counterpart – when this creature enters the battlefield, the player draws a card without any additional stipulations. While both cards have a similar draw effect, Alchemist’s Apprentice requires a sacrifice to trigger the effect, offering a strategic angle of deciding the right moment to generate that extra card advantage.

Another peer in this category is Cloudkin Seer. With the benefit of flying, the Seer also allows the player to draw a card upon entry. It stands strong with a slightly greater mana cost but compensates with more board presence and evasion capabilities. Alchemist’s Apprentice, though less powerful stat-wise, does have the flexibility of instant timing due to its sacrifice-triggered ability, potentially offering surprise value and intricate play interactions.

Choosing the right creature for deck building taps into the strategy of a gameplan. Alchemist’s Apprentice might cater to decks capitalizing on sacrifice mechanics, whereas its counterparts could seamlessly fit into aggressive strategies or creature-based synergies, marking the importance of context in evaluating MTG cards.

Cards similar to Alchemist's Apprentice by color, type and mana cost

Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Alchemist’s Apprentice, players get an effective way to cycle through their deck. Upon sacrificing it, you receive a new card, aiding in finding key pieces and keeping your options fresh.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to mana production, the Apprentice dovetails smoothly with strategies that benefit from having creatures enter the battlefield or die, potentially ramping up your resources indirectly.

Instant Speed: As a creature, the Apprentice can’t be played at instant speed, yet its sacrifice ability can be used at any time, granting flexibility to react to the flow of the match and maximizing strategic depth during crucial moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Alchemist’s Apprentice is the need to discard another card to activate its ability. This can be a steep price, especially when your hand is already depleted, effectively forcing a choice between two potential resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The Apprentice demands a specific blend of mana, with blue being a necessity. This can sometimes hamstring deck-building flexibility, as the card is less likely to find a home outside of blue-centric decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to board impact versus mana expenditure, Alchemist’s Apprentice might not always measure up. There are numerous alternatives that could provide better value or utility for the same, or less, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Alchemist’s Apprentice in Your Collection

Versatility: Alchemist’s Apprentice can be a smart addition to various deck builds due to its ability to serve as both a creature on the board and a source of card draw when sacrificed.

Combo Potential: This card holds potential for combos in blue-based decks that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield, or utilizing graveyard strategies.

Meta-Relevance: With always shifting metas, Alchemist’s Apprentice offers immediate value in gameplay scenarios that reward players for cycling through their decks and adapting on the fly.

How to beat

Alchemist’s Apprentice is a card that resonates well with players fond of sacrificing mechanics for card advantage. Its ability to provide a card upon sacrificing it provides an immediate value, especially in decks focused on synergizing with creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. To counteract this apprentice’s contribution, consider employing instant-speed removal when the opponent is likely to sacrifice it for benefit, thus minimizing the value they get from the play.

Additionally, graveyard-hate cards can be exceptionally useful, as they prevent any form of reanimation or other graveyard interactions that might target Alchemist’s Apprentice. Cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can ensure that once the apprentice has been used, it stays out of play. Containment strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to sacrifice creatures freely or cards that penalize sacrificing creatures can also disrupt the apprentice’s effectiveness. Weighing options and timing your responses aptly can mitigate the impact of Alchemist’s Apprentice and keep you one step ahead in the game.

Keeping these strategies in mind, MTG players can deftly navigate around Alchemist’s Apprentice, ensuring it doesn’t become a recurrent nuisance and managing its potential advantages becomes a manageable task in your gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alchemist's Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Alchemist's Apprentice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Alchemist's Apprentice has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal