Ersatz Gnomes MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 301
2020-09-26 - Number MIR-301
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Gnome |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Ersatz Gnomes provides card versatility by changing permanent colors at instant speed, catering to various strategies.
- The card’s ability can cause a discard, which may be a downside if hand resources are already low.
- Despite its three-mana cost, its uniqueness and adaptability make Ersatz Gnomes a noteworthy collection addition.
Text of card
oc T: Target spell is colorless. Play this ability as an interrupt. oc T: Target permanent is colorless until end of turn.
From jungle to sea, from sea to stone, from stone to field, from field to bone. What am I? —Zhalfirin riddle
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ersatz Gnomes has a unique ability that can convert the color of your permanent, which makes it versatile in various situations. This can potentially allow you to bypass certain restrictive conditions that are color-specific, tweaking the dynamics in your favor without losing card economy.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, the adaptability provided by Ersatz Gnomes can function as a form of indirect resource acceleration. It allows you to align your resources more efficiently, ensuring you don’t miss crucial plays due to color limitations.
Instant Speed: The ability to alter the color of permanents at instant speed gives you significant flexibility during gameplay. It enables you to react to your opponent’s moves and adjust strategies on the fly, keeping the tempo of the game within your control.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ersatz Gnomes forces you to discard a card when its ability is used. This can lead to a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low on options.
Specific Mana Cost: To play Ersatz Gnomes, you’re required to tap lands for colorless mana. This necessity can be restrictive since the card may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored mana bases that prioritize colored mana for other spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to cast, Ersatz Gnomes may compete for the same mana resources as other pivotal three-cost spells in your deck, which could offer more immediate or impactful benefits upon resolution.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ersatz Gnomes offers unique flexibility for players, acting as a key piece in decks that modify the color attributes of permanents, making this card adaptable for various strategies.
Combo Potential: This card excels in creating unexpected synergies, particularly with cards that have color-specific interactions, expanding the breadth of potentially game-winning combos within your arsenal.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where color matters—be it benefits from certain colors or color hate cards—Ersatz Gnomes can be an essential tool, adapting to the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play.
How to Beat
Ersatz Gnomes may not seem intimidating at first, but they can throw a wrench into your strategies in MTG, especially when dealing with color-centric decks. These peculiar little artifacts offer a unique ability to convert the color of other permanents on the field to colorless. This can disrupt decks reliant on color protections or targeting abilities and turn the tide of a game.
To effectively counter Ersatz Gnomes, consider using artifact removal spells that don’t hinge on color properties. Abilities that deal with artifacts on a broader scope, such as Naturalize or the more recent Release to the Wind, can effectively clear your path from these pesky constructs. Additionally, keeping a versatile range of removal in your deck helps ensure that Ersatz Gnomes won’t be a long-term thorn in your side. Targeted removal spells that aren’t contingent on colors, like Fatal Push or the exile effect of Path to Exile, are also excellent choices.
While Ersatz Gnomes are a card that require some consideration, a well-prepared player who anticipates the need for colorless removal tools won’t find them difficult to overcome, maintaining the flow of their well-tuned MTG deck.
Cards like Ersatz Gnomes
Ersatz Gnomes offers flexibility to MTG players crafting strategies around artifact manipulation. It’s often paralleled with cards like Neurok Transmuter, giving players the ability to change a creature’s card type until the end of the turn. However, Ersatz Gnomes can uniquely make any permanent into an artifact in addition to its other types, until the end of the turn and without losing its original types, which can be a tactical advantage in certain situations.
Another comparative card is Liquimetal Coating, which despite being a static artifact, shares the trait of transforming any target permanent into an artifact. While Ersatz Gnomes requires a creature on the field to function, Liquimetal Coating offers a repeatable effect each turn without the need for a creature. Additionally, Mycosynth Lattice extends this effect across the board, turning all permanents into artifacts, though its higher mana cost makes it a less frequently used option when similar, more cost-effective effects are necessary.
To summarize, Ersatz Gnomes holds its place in MTG decks that capitalize on artifact synergies. It stands out due to its ability to affect any permanent type, adding a broad usability to its inclusion in different game strategies.
Cards similar to Ersatz Gnomes by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ersatz Gnomes MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and The List, 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 Ersatz Gnomes 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 Ersatz Gnomes Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1996-10-08. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ersatz Gnomes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ersatz Gnomes card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If Ersatz Gnomes targets a spell that becomes a permanent, the permanent will enter the battlefield colorless and will remain colorless until it leaves the battlefield (or until another effect changes its color). |
