Bottle Gnomes MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 278
1998-08-12 - Number br278sb
1999-08-04 - Number js278sb
1999-08-04 - Number js278
2003-10-02 - Number 148
2005-07-29 - Number 290★
2005-07-29 - Number 290
2007-07-13 - Number 312
2008-11-07 - Number 7
2014-11-07 - Number 231
2014-12-05 - Number 7
2015-05-06 - Number 217
2018-06-08 - Number 177
2019-11-07 - Number 1554
2002-06-24 - Number 36050
2003-01-01 - Number 1
2020-09-26 - Number TMP-278
2020-09-26 - Number CM2-177
| Card sets | Released in 18 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Gnome |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Sacrifice Bottle Gnomes: Gain 3 life.
"I am reminded of the fable of the silver egg. Its owner cracks it open to see what jewels it holds, only to discover a simple yellow yolk." —Karn, silver golem
Cards like Bottle Gnomes
Bottle Gnomes is an artifact creature that comes with a comforting ability – it grants you 3 life when sacrificed. Its presence is somewhat mirrored in the versatile life gain landscape of Magic: The Gathering, with Kitchen Finks being a notable comparison. Although Kitchen Finks costs more and has a slightly different mechanic called persist, which brings it back to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter, it also provides that crucial life bump upon entering, akin to the Bottle Gnomes’ exit strategy.
Another parallel can be found with the elegant Lone Missionary. It’s less of a commitment at two mana and immediately buffs your life total by 4 upon arrival. However, unlike the Bottle Gnomes, it doesn’t offer the flexibility of instant life gain since its effect is a one-time deal tied to its entrance on the battlefield.
Within the realm of MTG artifact creatures, there’s also the self-preserving Auriok Replica which, just like Bottle Gnomes, can be sacrificed for health—specifically 3 life, mirroring the Gnomes’ offering. It is a direct comparison, but the Replica requires an additional white mana to activate and is part of a cycle, appealing to those enjoying broader synergy.
Assessing these options, Bottle Gnomes stands out due to its immediate and guaranteed life gain irrespective of other variables, carving out its own niche as a reliable safeguard in the game.
Cards similar to Bottle Gnomes by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Bottle Gnomes can be a source of effective card advantage in MTG. This artifact creature offers the ability to regain life at a critical moment, potentially negating an opponent’s attack or burn spell, effectively turning it into a wasted card from the opponent. Holding onto the Gnomes until the perfect time can swing the game’s momentum in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While the Bottle Gnomes themselves do not directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, they can be considered a form of life gain acceleration. When sacrificed, they provide you with an immediate burst of life which can be vital for sustaining your presence on the battlefield, particularly in the face of an aggressive strategy that seeks to deplete your life total quickly.
Instant Speed: One of the key advantages of the Bottle Gnomes is their capability to be sacrificed at instant speed. This means that you can decide to use their life gain ability in response to an opponent’s actions, such as during the combat phase or in reaction to a damaging spell. This kind of flexibility can give you the upper hand in matches, making it more challenging for your opponents to predict and plan for your plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bottle Gnomes doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, but its ability can be less impactful if you have to forfeit other valuable cards to keep mana up for its activation.
Specific Mana Cost: The requirement of three generic mana to cast Bottle Gnomes might seem flexible, but it can compete for slots in decks that require a more streamlined mana base or that prefer cards with color-specific synergies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Bottle Gnomes can be a source of life gain, the three mana for a 1/3 creature might not be as cost-effective compared to other life gain options. In faster formats or competitive play, there might be more efficient creatures or spells to allocate your mana towards.
Reasons to Include Bottle Gnomes in Your Collection
Versatility: Bottle Gnomes offers a unique place in decks that value life gain or need reusable blockers. As an artifact creature, it slips easily into artifact-centric decks or those requiring a defensive creature that can also provide a small life boost.
Combo Potential: With their sacrifice ability, these gnomes work well in any setup that rewards you for sending your own creatures to the graveyard. They have synergy with cards that capitalize on artifact sacrifices or life gain triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies dominate, Bottle Gnomes shines by offering a recurring way to stabilize your life total. Its continual presence on the battlefield can thwart an opponent’s attempts at a quick victory, making it a prudent choice for the current metagame.
How to Beat Bottle Gnomes
When facing the durability that Bottle Gnomes offer in Magic: The Gathering, players should emphasize removal over damage. This resilience-focused artifact creature can be a headache due to its life-gaining ability upon sacrifice. It’s essential to counteract its effect with graveyard interaction or disruptive spells.
Considering Bottle Gnomes’ ability to be sacrificed at any time for life gain, instant speed removal like Tormod’s Crypt can efficiently exile it before the ability is used. Another strategy is to utilize cards like Rest in Peace, which prevent cards from hitting the graveyard altogether, negating the Bottle Gnomes’ benefit. Abilities like exile or bounce, found on cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon, offer an alternative to traditional destruction-based removal, sidestepping the life gain trigger. This maintains pressure on your opponent without giving them the extra life buffer.
In short, tackling Bottle Gnomes requires a strategic approach focusing on graveyard management and timing of removal. With a proper plan in place, this seemingly unassuming artifact creature can be overcome without letting its life-gain ability hinder your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bottle Gnomes MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Bottle Gnomes and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Bottle Gnomes Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 278 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | br278sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
| 3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | js278sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
| 4 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | js278 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
| 5 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36050 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | ||
| 6 | Friday Night Magic 2003 | F03 | 1 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | ||
| 7 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 148 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 8 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 290★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 9 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 290 | 2003 | Normal | White | Ben Thompson | |
| 10 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 312 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 11 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 7 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 12 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 13 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 14 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 217 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
| 15 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 177 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 16 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1554 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson | |
| 17 | The List | PLST | TMP-278 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | ||
| 18 | The List | PLST | CM2-177 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Thompson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bottle Gnomes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |