Gnarled Professor MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 319
2021-04-23 - Number 133
2021-04-24 - Number 133s
2021-04-24 - Number 133p
2002-06-24 - Number 90134
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Treefolk Druid |
| Abilities | Learn,Trample |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Trample When Gnarled Professor enters the battlefield, learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
Cards like Gnarled Professor
Gnarled Professor adds a unique twist to the creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering. It finds footing among other creatures that fetch spells from your deck, such as Spellseeker. While Spellseeker emphasizes flexibility by searching for any instant or sorcery card with a low cost, Gnarled Professor prioritizes education – bringing a Teachings card directly into your hand upon entering the battlefield. This latter ability leans on a thematic mechanic from the Strixhaven set where knowledge is power.
In the realm of value-based creatures, we encounter the Tireless Provisioner. Both cards allow for an extra effect upon entering the battlefield, yet the Provisioner is less restricted in deck-building, offering a landfall trigger that generates a Food or Treasure token. However, Gnarled Professor touts a broader base of 5/4 stats compared to Provisioner, asserting a stronger board presence.
Assessing these choices, players will find that while each creature can impact the board differently, Gnarled Professor earns its keep by creating card advantage and augmented board state. Its self-sufficient nature firmly positions it as a robust player in MTG formats where teaching cards have a place to shine.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gnarled Professor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nykthos Ramp | Pioneer | Nykthos Ramp | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-17 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gnarled Professor offers an immediate benefit upon entering the battlefield by allowing you to learn. This mechanic lets you either grab a Lesson card from outside the game or if none are available, you can draw a card, providing a valuable edge over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although this creature doesn’t directly produce additional mana or tokens, the learn mechanic can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By fetching specific Lesson cards that ramp or generate value, you’re effectively gearing up for more potent plays in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: While Gnarled Professor itself is a creature card and does not have instant speed, its triggered ability when cast can fetch you a Lesson that could be an instant, thus tactically expanding your options during the game. This grants you flexibility and the element of surprise, as Lessons can cover a wide range of responses and strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gnarled Professor’s learn ability necessitates a trade-off, often requiring you to discard a precious card or forfeiting card advancement by grabbing a lesson from outside the game. This choice can be particularly taxing in tight game scenarios where each card in hand is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Demanding two green mana as part of its four-mana total cost, Gnarled Professor can be challenging to cast on curve outside of mono-green or two-color green-based decks, potentially constraining its flexibility across a wider range of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Gnarled Professor competes with other four-drop creatures and spells that may deliver more immediate board impact or have lower opportunity costs, which could deter players from including it in a deck that aims for optimized mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include Gnarled Professor in Your Collection
Versatility: Gnarled Professor offers a unique blend of creature presence and educational utility. As a powerful Trample creature, it can hold its own in combat. Additionally, its learn ability allows you to fetch key sideboard cards, making it a versatile pick for various deck archetypes that value adaptability on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: The learn mechanic inherent to Gnarled Professor opens up combo possibilities, allowing you to tailor your tactics mid-game. You could retrieve essential lessons to create synergies with the cards already in play, thereby enhancing your strategic depth and flexibility in complex game situations.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where sideboards and situational answers are crucial, Gnarled Professor’s ability to access your sideboard mid-game keeps it relevant. It adapts to fluctuating gameplay dynamics and can leverage your lesson cards to counteract prevalent threats or strategies.
How to beat
Gnarled Professor, a formidable creature card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, has caught the attention of many players. With its trample ability and the added merit of fetching a valuable lesson card from your sideboard upon its casting, you might find yourself at a crossroads when this creature hits the battlefield.
To tackle the Gnarled Professor effectively, consider employing instant speed removals. Swift actions such as Doom Blade or Heartless Act can eliminate this threat before its knowledge can empower your opponent’s hand. It’s likewise beneficial to keep counter magic at the ready. Spells like Counterspell or Negate not only neutralize the creature but also prevent the learn mechanic from triggering. If the Professor has already arrived, cards with exiling effects or combat tricks that can surprise an unwary opponent during battle are key to tilting the odds in your favor.
Ultimately, one must remember that the Gnarled Professor’s strength lies not just in its decent body and trample ability but in the added card advantage it provides. By carefully planning your moves and maintaining control over the board, this threat can be reduced to just another lesson learned in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gnarled Professor MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Gnarled Professor 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
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Printings
The Gnarled Professor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 90134 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 319 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 3 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 133 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 4 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 133s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 5 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 133p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gnarled Professor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gnarled Professor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | If a card is brought into the game from outside the game, it will stay in the game until it ends or until its owner leaves the game, whichever comes first. |
| 2021-04-16 | If instructed to learn, you may do nothing. Discarding a card and putting a Lesson card into your hand are both optional. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Constructed tournament (or a Constructed game played under tournament conditions), you may select only a card from your sideboard. In casual Constructed games, the card comes from your collection. |
| 2021-04-16 | If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Sealed Deck or Booster Draft event, you may select only a card that is in the card pool that you built your deck from. |