Gnottvold Recluse MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spider
Abilities	Reach
Released	2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Kaldheim
Set code	KHM
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	172
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nicholas Gregory

Key Takeaways

Gnottvold Recluse offers card advantage and can rapidly increase your access to mana, accelerating gameplay.
The card’s instant speed play adds tactical depth while its entrance discard cost poses a trade-off.
Despite a high mana cost, its versatility and combo potential can strongly influence the game’s outcome.

Text of card

Reach

Fed up with webs impeding travelers in other realms, Kolvori banished the giant spiders to Gnottvold, where their webs snare only the occasional rampaging troll.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gnottvold Recluse weaves its magic to provide players with additional draw power, a cornerstone for outpacing opponents in terms of available options and giving a strategic depth to every match. Drawing additional cards can significantly impact your ability to respond to opponents’ moves and tailor your strategy.

Resource Acceleration: As a formidable force on the battlefield, this creature can also expedite your access to crucial mana. This can be crucial in casting high-impact spells earlier than usual or efficiently deploying multiple spells in a single turn to seize control of the game.

Instant Speed: Its ability at instant speed offers a tactical advantage. This versatility means you can optimize your mana usage efficiently by only playing it when the right moment arises, which could potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy while bolstering yours.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gnottvold Recluse offers a solid defense, it demands a card to be discarded when it enters the battlefield. Such a requirement can deplete your hand, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you’re already struggling with card availability.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card comes with a mana cost that includes both green and colorless mana. This specific requirement might restrict it exclusively to certain types of decks, such as those that can reliably generate green mana early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Gnottvold Recluse is priced with a higher mana cost for its base stats and abilities. When evaluating its cost effectiveness, some players may find other creatures or spells that provide more value or impact on the game at a similar or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gnottvold Recluse can be a flexible addition to a variety of deck builds. Its solid power/toughness ratio for its mana cost makes it a good defensive creature for green decks, as well as an enabler for delirium or graveyard strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to grow stronger with each card type in your graveyard, Gnottvold Recluse works well in decks that exploit self-mill, synergize with other graveyard mechanics or benefit from various card types being present in the yard.

Meta-Relevance: Gnottvold Recluse holds its ground in a meta that values creature combat. Its ability to become an imposing threat as the game progresses can be a determining factor in outvaluing your opponents.

How to beat

Gnottvold Recluse is the kind of card that might seem daunting with its ability to grow stronger with every land your opponents play. This creature card from MTG presents a unique challenge as it blends size escalation with potential for massive damage. Overlooking this card’s presence on the battlefield can quickly turn the tide against you if you’re not prepared.

To counter Gnottvold Recluse, effective strategies include removal spells that can bypass its hexproof from blue ability. Targeted removal like Doom Blade or board wipes such as Wrath of God can help clear the way before it becomes too large. Moreover, playing around land drops and utilizing land destruction or stalling tactics can limit the Recluse’s growth. Cards like Stone Rain or utilising ‘land bounce’ effects might just save your game from the constant threat of this powerful giant.

Taking a proactive approach to controlling the board and keeping tabs on the number of lands being played is essential. With smart play and timely removal, taming the growing threat of Gnottvold Recluse is an achievable task, ensuring your victory remains in sight.

Cards like Gnottvold Recluse

Gnottvold Recluse stands out as a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering. When looking at creatures that thrive on being alone, Loyal Cathar comes to mind. Loyal Cathar can be a resilient troop by coming back as Unhallowed Cathar, though it doesn’t grow like the Recluse. Loyal Cathar provides consistency over the potential to become a powerhouse.

Solitary Hunter is another card that carries the theme of isolation, flipping into a much stronger Werewolf under specific conditions. Unlike Gnottvold Recluse, which gets stronger with each turn you control no other creatures, Solitary Hunter requires a different trigger to transform and become a formidable creature. Similarly, Nightshade Assassin gains power from having no other creatures in play but through a different mechanism, offering removal upon entry rather than an escalating threat.

Analyzing Gnottvold Recluse alongside these cards, it becomes evident that its ability to self-enhance without relying on external conditions makes it an interesting choice for decks focusing on a minimalistic creature strategy. It may require a specific playing style, but its strength can significantly increase turn by turn, making it a valuable addition to MTG decks aiming for that one formidable creature on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Gnottvold Recluse by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gnottvold Recluse MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Gnottvold Recluse and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gnottvold Recluse has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal