Old Gnawbone MTG Card


Old Gnawbone generates treasure equal to damage dealt, increasing mana and card options. Its ability for instant resource gain can decisively change the course of a game. High casting cost and green mana requirement may limit its deck compatibility.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Dragon
Abilities Flying,Treasure
Power 7
Toughness 7

Text of card

Flying Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, create that many Treasure tokens.

The ancient green dragon Claugiyliamatar is often seen with a mangled corpse dangling from her mouth.


Cards like Old Gnawbone

Old Gnawbone finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as an impactful green creature known for its massive size and unique mana-generating ability. It stands tall alongside other robust creatures like Ghalta, Primal Hunger, which also boasts formidable power and toughness. However, what makes Old Gnawbone distinct is its ability to create Treasure tokens equal to the damage dealt to opponents, potentially turning combat success into a vast mana advantage.

Another peer in the realm of green behemoths is Nyxbloom Ancient. While it doesn’t grant immediate Treasure tokens, this creature triples the mana from each land you tap, which can be incredibly valuable during the late game. It’s a powerful effect for ramp strategies, though it lacks the direct link to combat that Old Gnawbone possesses.

The Elder Dragon Nicol Bolas, the Ravager also enters this comparison with its ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand upon entry to the battlefield. Afterward, its transformation into a planeswalker offers a variety of powerful options. Despite these remarkable abilities, it doesn’t match Old Gnawbone’s simplicity in turning combat victories into mana assets. Thus, Old Gnawbone holds a distinctive spot in MTG as a creature that ties offensive strength directly to resource expansion.

Ghalta, Primal Hunger - MTG Card versions
Nyxbloom Ancient - MTG Card versions
Ghalta, Primal Hunger - MTG Card versions
Nyxbloom Ancient - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Old Gnawbone by color, type and mana cost

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Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Penumbra Wurm - MTG Card versions
Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Cultivator Colossus - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Horde - MTG Card versions
Krosan Tusker - MTG Card versions
Hundroog - MTG Card versions
Enormous Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ancient Ooze - MTG Card versions
Cytospawn Shambler - MTG Card versions
Panglacial Wurm - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Duskdale Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Old Gnawbone. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Four-color ZooFour-color Zoo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Old Gnawbone is a powerful asset for maintaining dominance on the board by creating a treasure token for each point of damage dealt to your opponents, potentially translating into a substantial card advantage as you draw into more options and answers.

Resource Acceleration: Notably, Old Gnawbone’s ability to generate copious amounts of treasure tokens not only ramps your mana resources but also opens the door for deploying high-cost spells much earlier in the game or even casting multiple spells in a single turn.

Instant Speed: While Old Gnawbone itself isn’t an instant, its triggered ability works in harmony with cards that facilitate damage at instant speed. This combination allows you to exploit the combat phase and post-combat main phase to its fullest by providing immediate resources for reactive play or seizing the opportunity to turn the tides when your adversaries least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Old Gnawbone doesn’t directly impose a discard requirement, its inclusion in a deck can necessitate a setup that leads to discarding cards to capitalize on its abilities, potentially putting you at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Old Gnawbone requires a substantial amount of green mana to cast. This can be restrictive, as you will need a mana base heavily skewed towards green, possibly limiting the card’s inclusion in multicolor decks or those with a more balanced mana spread.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Old Gnawbone comes into play much later than many other creatures. This can often be a critical drawback, especially in faster-paced games where early momentum is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Old Gnawbone’s ability to ramp up mana significantly by creating Treasure tokens aligns with various deck strategies. This can be particularly useful in green decks that focus on large creatures and spells with hefty mana requirements.

Combo Potential: With Old Gnawbone, every time a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you can create that many Treasure tokens. This opens up numerous possibilities for combinations with cards that untap creatures, double damage, or have other combat-related synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In metas with lots of creatures and combat interaction, Old Gnawbone can provide a substantial advantage. The meta often shifts, but a card that can produce a massive amount of mana can always find its niche, offering strategic flexibility in deck building and gameplay.


How to beat

Old Gnawbone presents a formidable challenge as a powerful legendary creature in MTG. Boasting the ability to create a treasure token for each point of damage it deals, this dragon can quickly fuel explosive turns teeming with mana. Key to countering Old Gnawbone is preventing it from hitting the battlefield altogether. Utilizing counter spells such as Counterspell or Negate can disrupt your opponent’s plan before it gains traction.

If Old Gnawbone has already landed, removal spells are your next best defense. Cards like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization provide efficient ways to remove it from the field, mitigating the mana advantage it could provide. Alternatively, reducing the damage potential with spells like Fog or utilizing creatures that must be blocked can help manage the threat it poses. When playing against this mighty dragon, maintaining control and using disruption strategically are essential to victory. Preventive measures can make all the difference between succumbing to Old Gnawbone’s power and outmaneuvering an opponent leveraging its strength.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we’ve unpacked the capabilities of Old Gnawbone, it’s clear that this card is a powerful force, apt for strategic depth in your MTG gameplay. Expertly balancing card advantage, ramping your mana pool, and utilizing instant speed plays, Old Gnawbone can be the cornerstone of a formidable green deck. If you’re looking to harness the full potential of this legendary creature, or simply wish to understand how to effectively counter it in battle, diving deeper into the nuanced world of MTG strategy is your next step. Explore the threads that bind Old Gnawbone to the meta, and learn how to integrate or combat this potent card in your future matches. Ready for comprehensive strategizing? Let’s delve into the versatile mana-ramp spaces Old Gnawbone creates.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Old Gnawbone MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Old Gnawbone and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Old Gnawbone Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-12-02 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 927582015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10162015NormalBlackJustine Mara Andersen
32020-09-26The ListPLST AFR-1972015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 197s2015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 2962015NormalBorderlessRandy Vargas
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 1972015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
72021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 197p2015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
82021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 197a2015NormalBlackFilip Burburan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Old Gnawbone has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal