Monastery Mentor MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Mythic |
Type | Creature — Human Monk |
Abilities | Prowess |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put a 1/1 white Monk creature token with prowess onto the battlefield.
"Speak little. Do much."
Cards like Monastery Mentor
Monastery Mentor proves to be a powerful force in MTG, asserting itself among the elite “token generators.” Notably, Young Pyromancer shares the ability to create a creature token whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell. Though the elementals spawned by the Pyromancer aren’t as robust as the Monk tokens, which grow stronger with prowess. Looking to Dokai, Weaver of Life, there’s another token-related mechanism in play, crafting creatures through activated abilities rather than relying on spellcasting.
Contributing to the comparison, Murmuring Mystic deserves a mention for its similar propensity for token generation with instants and sorceries, yet it lacks the additional oomph each Monastery Mentor’s token receives from the prowess ability. While Talrand, Sky Summoner, also parallels the Mentor’s token strategy, it launches into action exclusively on casting blue instants and sorceries, providing flying drake tokens instead of Monks.
Type, cost, and benefits considered, Monastery Mentor remarkably stands out with its combination of token creation and power enhancement, making it a significant choice for players aiming to build a formidable presence on the board through spells and creature synergy.
Cards similar to Monastery Mentor by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Monastery Mentor. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Azorius Tempo | Standard | Azorius Tempo | Standard Preliminary 2024-04-09 | |
Esper Tinker | Vintage | Blue Tinker | Vintage League 2024-04-10 | |
Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage | Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-18 | |
Jeskai Control | Legacy | Jeskai Control | Legacy League 2024-04-09 | |
WU | Pioneer | Pioneer League 2024-04-22 | ||
Esper Artifacts | Legacy | Blue Artifacts | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-20 | |
Bant Tokens | Standard | Bant Tokens | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 15, 2024 | |
Beanstalk Control | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | Legacy League 2024-04-13 | |
WUR | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 8, 2024 | ||
WR | Pioneer | Pioneer League 2024-04-08 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Monastery Mentor is a potent engine for card advantage. Every noncreature spell you cast creates a Monk token with prowess, effectively turning each spell into a potential threat. This can quickly swarm the board and overwhelm opponents with a constantly growing army, all while you continue to draw and play your hand.
Resource Acceleration: The prowess ability of Monastery Mentor and its tokens inherently acts as a form of resource acceleration. By boosting the power and toughness of creatures for each noncreature spell cast, it allows you to use your spells as indirect mana investments into creating a larger board presence, without the need to allocate additional mana for creature enhancement.
Instant Speed: While Monastery Mentor itself does not have flash or operate at instant speed, it synergizes exceptionally well with instant-speed spells. Casting instants during the opponent’s turn not only adds to your Monk token count but also unpredictably enhances their power, disrupting the opponent’s calculations for blocks and attacks. This unpredictability can force mistakes or unfavorable trades from the opposing player.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Monastery Mentor itself does not ask you to discard to activate its prowess, it pressures players to constantly play non-creature spells to generate value. This can lead to a depleted hand, especially in games where resources become scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: Monastery Mentor demands both white and colorless mana, making it less flexible for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency. In formats where mana fixing is less accessible, this can be a significant drawback.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Monastery Mentor comes into play later than other options for early game board presence. In a format flooded with low-cost, high-impact creatures, Monastery Mentor might be seen as a step behind in the race for tempo.
Reasons to Include Monastery Mentor in Your Collection
Versatility: Monastery Mentor is a powerful inclusion for a range of decks and strategies. Its ability to spawn Monk tokens upon casting noncreature spells means it seamlessly slips into spell-heavy setups and enhances their board presence.
Combo Potential: The prowess of Monastery Mentor and its tokens provides considerable combo potential. Each noncreature spell not only bolsters your army but also increases their threat level, turning even the most innocuous spells into significant power boosts.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Monastery Mentor stands out. It can consistently churn out tokens that serve both as attackers and blockers. Plus, in a meta filled with instants and sorceries, this card becomes a force that can rapidly tilt the game in your favor.
BurnMana Recommendations
If you are seeking to refine your MTG deck with a card that exemplifies strategy and adaptability, Monastery Mentor should not be overlooked. This card thrives in environments rich with instants and sorceries, allowing you to transform straightforward spells into an expanding threat that can dominate the battlefield. Ideal for decks that capitalize on spell-slinging shenanigans, the Mentor is a beacon of versatility deserving a spot in your collection. Whether you’re aiming to fortify your board or seeking to outmaneuver your opponent’s tactics, Monastery Mentor might be the key to unlocking your next level of play. Delve deeper into its strategic applications and discover how to optimize your deck with this dynamic card. Join us now for more insights!
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Monastery Mentor MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Judge Gift Cards 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 Monastery Mentor 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Monastery Mentor Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
2 | 2019-04-10 | Judge Gift Cards 2019 | J19 | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Ovchinnikova | |
3 | The List | PLST | FRF-20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | ||
4 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 21 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 420 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
6 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
7 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 347 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
8 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Promos | PMOM | 28p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
9 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Promos | PMOM | 28s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Monastery Mentor has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Restricted |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Monastery Mentor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2014-11-24 | Any spell you cast that doesn't have the type creature will cause prowess to trigger. If a spell has multiple types, and one of those types is creature (such as an artifact creature), casting it won't cause prowess to trigger. Playing a land also won't cause prowess to trigger. |
2014-11-24 | Casting a noncreature spell will cause both prowess and Monastery Mentor's other ability to trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in either order. Whichever ability is put on the stack last will resolve first. |
2014-11-24 | Once it triggers, prowess isn't connected to the spell that caused it to trigger. If that spell is countered, prowess will still resolve. |
2014-11-24 | Prowess goes on the stack on top of the spell that caused it to trigger. It will resolve before that spell. |
2014-11-24 | Prowess triggers only once for any spell, even if that spell has multiple types. |
2014-11-24 | The spell that causes Monastery Mentor's second ability to trigger will not cause the prowess ability of the Monk token that's created to trigger. |