Tolarian Scholar MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 71
2018-07-13 - Number 80
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- The Scholar fits into deck curves nicely, but lacks direct card advantage and acceleration.
- Its three-mana specific cost is a limitation in multicolored decks and it offers no abilities.
- Adequate for defense early on, yet easily overcome with creatures over 3 power or removal spells.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tolarian Scholar doesn’t directly offer card advantage, but as a common creature, it can be easily incorporated into various deck strategies where card draw synergy is prevalent.
Resource Acceleration: While this mage doesn’t provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of mana generation, it seamlessly fits into a curve, helping you maintain board presence and use your mana efficiently in the early game stages.
Instant Speed: Though Tolarian Scholar operates at sorcery speed, having a dependable creature on the field could allow for more flexibility with your instant-speed spells, by not needing to reserve mana for creature plays later.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although the Tolarian Scholar card doesn’t have a discard cost, it’s important to consider this aspect when it comes to other spells you may want to cast. Holding mana for a vanilla creature like Tolarian Scholar could potentially limit your ability to play other cards with discard effects productively.
Specific Mana Cost: Tolarian Scholar demands a precise two blue and one generic mana, which can be restrictive in multicolored decks. This specific cost reduces flexibility in mana usage, especially early in the game when mana resources are scarce.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Paying three mana for a basic 2/3 creature may not be the best use of resources, as other cards at similar cost can provide additional abilities or synergies. The absence of any abilities makes Tolarian Scholar a less impactful play relative to other available three-mana creatures.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tolarian Scholar is a solid inclusion in decks that are looking for a reliable creature on the curve. With its straightforward mana cost and respectable body, it can hold the fort against early aggressors.
Combo Potential: Although not a combo piece itself, Tolarian Scholar can be a placeholder in your strategy while you assemble your key components. It supports themes that benefit from having a non-threatening presence on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where the meta swings towards aggressive strategies, having a cost-efficient creature that can block effectively may give you the breathing room you need to stabilize and control the game.
How to beat
Tolarian Scholar positions itself as a straightforward creature card in MTG, an unassuming yet reliable addition for players looking to bolster their creature line-up. With its 2/3 stat line, Tolarian Scholar offers a decent defensive option for early to mid-game, embedding durability on the board. Despite being a common find, it takes more than a simple attack to bypass this card.
Overcoming Tolarian Scholar requires an understanding of tempo and board control. Playing creatures with power greater than 3 is an efficient strategy, forcing the Scholar into unfavorable blocks or deterring attacks altogether. Removal spells that bypass the Scholar’s toughness can also clear the path with ease, ranging from Rapid Hybridization to Fatal Push, providing swift and mana-efficient solutions to regain board advantage. Adept deck builders will often incorporate such spells to handle threats much like the Scholar.
In the grand scheme of MTG, while Tolarian Scholar holds its own as a basic yet formidable academy denizen, adept tactics and the right mix of creatures and removals can navigate you past the Scholars’ scholarly defenses, keeping your path to victory wide open.
Cards like Tolarian Scholar
When evaluating the Tolarian Scholar in MTG, it stands out as a quintessential creature that fits snugly into the fabric of blue decks. This common card shares some ground with Vedalken Loremaster, another creature card which offers not only a body on the board but also a thematic flavor of magical prowess. However, Vedalken Loremaster brings an added utility with its ability to return an artifact to its owner’s hand, something the Tolarian Scholar lacks.
Another kindred spirit to the Scholar is the renowned Waterknot, a blue enchantment aura that pacifies another creature on the battlefield. Tolarian Scholar may not have an inherent control ability but both cards can influence the board’s tempo through their blue-specific features. Academy Drake is also similar in the aspect of versatility. It arrives as either a simple flying creature or as an even more formidable force if kicked, providing adaptability in comparison to the Scholar’s consistent presence.
In essence, Tolarian Scholar stands as a solid baseline in blue creature cards within MTG. It offers straightforward value for its mana cost and, while not the most intricate card, it firmly holds its own in terms of simplicity and reliability among its scholarly counterparts.
Cards similar to Tolarian Scholar by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tolarian Scholar MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Core Set 2019, 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 Tolarian Scholar 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Tolarian Scholar Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Sara Winters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sara Winters | |
| 2 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sara Winters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tolarian Scholar 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 |
