Gearsmith Prodigy MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 57
2022-12-02 - Number 303
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Artificer |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Gearsmith Prodigy excels in artifact-heavy decks enhancing its power with each artifact controlled.
- Limited to blue mana decks, this card thrives in artifact synergies but can restrict deck diversity.
- As a one-drop creature, it’s essential to weigh its power against its need for artifact support.
Text of card
Gearsmith Prodigy gets +1/+0 as long as you control an artifact.
Young artificers on Kaladesh let their imaginations run wild.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gearsmith Prodigy shines in decks that embrace a high artifact count, potentially allowing you to trade one card for multiple threats on the board. By synergizing with artifacts, this card can bolster your hand indirectly by increasing the threat every artifact presents when played alongside this creature.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana acceleration, Gearsmith Prodigy benefits from any cost-reducing artifact effects. This synergy makes it easier to deploy multiple spells in a single turn, thus accelerating your overall resource utilization and board development.
Instant Speed: Though Gearsmith Prodigy operates at sorcery speed as a creature, it pairs effectively with instant-speed artifacts or spells that can be activated at critical moments. This can lead to powerful plays and board state changes in the blink of an eye, especially when opponents least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Gearsmith Prodigy does not directly demand the player to discard a card, it’s important to be aware that cards that synergize with it, especially in blue artifact-focused decks, often come with discard mechanics to fuel their advantages. This could potentially backfire when resources are scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: Gearsmith Prodigy requires a commitment to blue mana, which narrows deck-building options. Its single blue mana cost means it fits primarily in mono-blue or blue-centric artifact decks, potentially limiting its utility in more diverse or color-flexible decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a one-drop, Gearsmith Prodigy’s strength hinges on the presence of artifacts to boost its power. In scenarios where artifacts aren’t consistently in play, it might occupy the slot of another card with inherently higher power or valuable utility, possibly hindering the effectiveness of early game strategies.
Reasons to Include Gearsmith Prodigy in Your Collection
Versatility: Gearsmith Prodigy is a solid addition to any blue deck, particularly those that center around artifacts. Its ability to gain a power boost when you control artifacts means it can effortlessly fit into and enhance various blue deck strategies that capitalize on artifact synergies.
Combo Potential: This card possesses inherent combo potential in artifact-centric decks. It pairs well with cards that allow you to untap your artifacts for repeated uses or with those that produce artifact tokens to consistently buff its power on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta evolves and artifact strategies become more popular, Gearsmith Prodigy’s relevance increases. It’s a low-cost creature that can quickly become a threat if left unchecked, especially in environments where players utilize a high volume of artifacts.
How to beat
Gearsmith Prodigy is a card that can subtly boost the power of blue artifact-centered decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to get a +1/+0 as long as you control an artifact makes it a potential threat, especially in the early stages of the game where building a strong board presence is crucial. Notably, it excels in decks filled with low-cost artifacts, accelerating its strength on the battlefield.
To counter Gearsmith Prodigy effectively, removal spells are key. Since it usually depends on artifacts to be a significant threat, spot removal like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt, which can handle creatures with low toughness, are ideal for dealing with it before it can capitalize on its power boost. Additionally, keeping artifact removal at hand, like Abrade or Naturalize, can be beneficial for disrupting the synergy and leaving Gearsmith Prodigy as a manageable 1/2 creature.
Essentially, tackling Gearsmith Prodigy is about managing both the creature and its artifacts synergies. Removing its support system makes it far less daunting, ensuring it never becomes more than a minor inconvenience as you navigate towards victory.
Cards like Gearsmith Prodigy
Gearsmith Prodigy is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that appeals to players building an artifact-centric deck. This card bears comparison with Etherium Sculptor for its ability to function well amid artifacts. Gearsmith Prodigy gets a power boost whenever you control artifacts, transforming it into a stronger combatant on the board. Conversely, Etherium Sculptor doesn’t beef up your creatures but rather makes your artifacts cost one less mana to cast – a powerful economic advantage in the game.
In the same realm, we find cards like Toolcraft Exemplar, which rewards you for having artifacts by growing stronger and gaining first strike until end of turn, again depending on the presence of artifacts. It’s a bit more aggressive than Gearsmith Prodigy due to the potential power spike in the early game. There’s also the Veteran Motorist, a card that, while not interacting directly with artifacts, allows you to scry and enhance your vehicle artifacts – delineating a diverse strategic approach within artifact synergies.
Though Gearsmith Prodigy may not offer the utility of cost reduction or the raw power of a Toolcraft Exemplar, it serves as a reliable one-drop creature that can quickly become a threat in the right deck. It undoubtedly finds its niche in artifact-heavy decks, balancing cost efficiency with combat relevance.
Cards similar to Gearsmith Prodigy by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gearsmith Prodigy MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Gearsmith Prodigy and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See Magic products
Printings
The Gearsmith Prodigy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 57 | 2015 | normal | black | Deruchenko Alexander | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 303 | 2015 | normal | black | Deruchenko Alexander |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gearsmith Prodigy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
