Gerrard's Wisdom MTG Card

Instant speed allows for flexible play, countering opponents’ threats and shifting game dynamics favorably. Demands card discard, potentially disadvantaging players with low hand counts during crucial turns. Provides substantial life gain in decks designed around large hand sizes, countering aggressive strategies.

Weatherlight (WTH)
1997-06-09 - Number 15

Starter 1999 (S99)
1999-07-01 - Number 18

Gerrard's Wisdom - Seventh Edition (7ED)

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 16

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 16★

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

For each card in your hand, gain 2 life.

"Fighting without an army is called a duel, and you'll lose a duel if your enemy comes expecting a war." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*

Cards like Gerrard's Wisdom

Gerrard’s Wisdom stands out in the sphere of life gain cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterpart is Heroes’ Reunion, a straightforward instant that grants you a healthy boost of seven life points without any additional conditions. Gerrard’s Wisdom, however, adds an interesting twist by providing life gain equal to the number of cards in your hand, which can potentially offer a larger amount of life in the right setup.

Another similar card is Chaplain’s Blessing, which is extremely cost-efficient at one mana for five life. Although it doesn’t scale with the game’s progression like Gerrard’s Wisdom. Comparatively, Life Burst is another life-oriented spell that may not offer immediate high life gain but has the upside of becoming more potent with each successive copy played from the graveyard. This incremental approach contrasts with Gerrard’s Wisdom’s potential for a significant one-time life gain.

Ultimately, Gerrard’s Wisdom’s ability to turn a robust hand into a substantial rise in life points positions it uniquely amongst its peers, giving players who are able to maintain a large hand size an edge in sustaining their life total.

Cards similar to Gerrard's Wisdom by color, type and mana cost

Presence of the Wise - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Gerrard's Wisdom. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Jeff	Free form		Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gerrard’s Wisdom presents an opportunity for players to take a proactive approach in fortifying their life total while bolstering their hand. This balance of life gain and card replenishment can shift the momentum in your favor during a duel.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly adding mana, Gerrard’s Wisdom replenishes life, which in MTG can be a decisive resource. With increased life, players may afford to tap lands for mana without the same apprehension of reaching critical life points, indirectly promoting a more aggressive playstyle.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Gerrard’s Wisdom at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing players to adapt to the fluid dynamics of a game. This quality ensures that actions can be taken reactively, providing a strategic edge by responding to an opponent’s threats with timely life gain and hand fortification.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gerrard’s Wisdom demands that you discard another card, which can put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is nearly empty and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a mixture of white mana and generic mana to cast, which can be restrictive if your deck isn’t optimized for a white mana base or if you’re facing mana color-fixing issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two white and two generic mana, Gerrard’s Wisdom sits at a higher spectrum for similar effects, making it less attractive when trying to maintain tempo or when up against decks that operate on lower mana curves.

Reasons to Include Gerrard’s Wisdom in Your Collection

Versatility: Gerrard’s Wisdom stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate into various deck builds. Its nature as a life-gaining spell makes it a prime choice for decks that focus on survival, stalling tactics, and ultimately turning the tide in prolonged matches.

Combo Potential: In decks that synergize around life gain, Gerrard’s Wisdom can be a key component. It works well with cards that trigger off life increases, providing numerous opportunities to capitalize on its substantial life-gaining effect for both offensive and defensive advantages.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating landscape of the game, a card that provides a healthy life buffer can be incredibly effective. In metagames where aggressive strategies dominate, Gerrard’s Wisdom gives players the much-needed lifeline to stabilize and dictate the pace of the game.

How to beat Gerrard’s Wisdom

Gerrard’s Wisdom is a unique card that can bolster a player’s life total significantly, particularly in decks that maintain a large hand size. Its effectiveness is maximized when a player has a plethora of cards at their disposal. To counter this, ensuring that your opponent’s hand is kept to a minimum is crucial. Utilizing discard effects or playing cards that force your opponent to play their hand quickly can be effective strategies to undermine Gerrard’s Wisdom’s potential.

Control strategies are particularly adept at handling cards like Gerrard’s Wisdom. Cards that counter spells, such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, can prevent Gerrard’s Wisdom from ever taking effect. Additionally, hand disruption cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can remove Gerrard’s Wisdom before it has a chance to be cast, thereby nullifying the threat it poses.

Remember, in playing against a life-gain strategy, it’s vital to close out the game swiftly or disrupt your opponent’s ability to maintain a high card count. This approach will diminish Gerrard’s Wisdom’s impact and can lead you to a path of victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gerrard's Wisdom MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Starter 1999, 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 Gerrard's Wisdom and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gerrard's Wisdom Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-06-09	Weatherlight	WTH	15	1997	Normal	Black	Heather Hudson
2	1999-07-01	Starter 1999	S99	18	1997	Normal	White	Heather Hudson
3	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	16	1997	Normal	White	Donato Giancola
4	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	16★	1997	Normal	Black	Donato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gerrard's Wisdom has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal