Professor of Symbology MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 24
2021-04-23 - Number 4s
2021-04-23 - Number 4
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Kor Cleric |
| Abilities | Learn |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Professor of Symbology 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.)
"A language isn't dead until we stop learning from it."
Cards like Professor of Symbology
Professor of Symbology stands as a valuable asset for those looking to enhance their deck with knowledge counters and learn capability in Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares similarities with other mentor creatures like Combat Researcher, providing a means to sift through the library and gain an advantage. While Combat Researcher offers card draw for every attack, Professor of Symbology focuses on the learn mechanism, allowing players to reveal Lesson cards from outside the game or draw into their library if no Lesson card is available.
Comparing it to another two mana creature, Mentor of the Meek, the Professor doesn’t draw cards directly but instead works dynamically with Lesson cards, offering a broader range of potential effects beyond mere card draw. Elite Spellbinder, also a white creature, disrupts the opponent’s hand but doesn’t allow the flexibility of accessing an external Lesson library or drawing a card – a unique facility provided by the Professor of Symbology.
As we evaluate creatures that affect hand and deck composition, Professor of Symbology stands out for its learn feature, offering a distinct form of card advantage and strategic depth to gameplay in Magic: The Gathering.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Professor of Symbology. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Reanimator | Modern | Goryo's Vengeance | 2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open |
 | Abzan Aggro | Pioneer | Abzan Greasefang | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Cincinnati - Friday - 1:30 pm (Bronze) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Professor of Symbology provides immediate value upon entering the battlefield by allowing you to learn, effectively granting access to your sideboard and ensuring that you have additional options as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: By offering a less traditional form of resource acceleration, Professor of Symbology can lead to tempo gains. While it doesn’t produce mana or tokens on its own, the learn mechanic can fetch cards that facilitate resource acceleration or smoother mana flow.
Instant Speed: While Professor of Symbology is a creature and not an instant itself, its learn ability synergizes well with instant-speed spells in your deck. You can strategically plan your turns to cast spells from your hand or lessons learned during your opponent’s turn, keeping your game plan adaptable and unpredictable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Learn mechanic grants flexibility, it comes with the prerequisite of discarding a card, which could put players at a disadvantage when card options are tight.
Specific Mana Cost: The Professor of Symbology arrives with a mana cost that demands white mana, which could restrict it to certain deck archetypes, potentially excluding it from more diverse mana-base decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Being a two-mana creature, Professor of Symbology’s impact may not align with its cost, particularly when compared to other two-mana creatures that can offer more immediate board presence or value.
Reasons to Include Professor of Symbology in Your Collection
Versatility: Professor of Symbology slides seamlessly into white based cleric, human, or even spell-focused decks. Its ability to learn allows players to fetch the appropriate lesson card for any given situation, embodying the adaptability that many deck strategies crave.
Combo Potential: This card opens up avenues for synergy, as its learn mechanic sets the stage for powerful combo plays. It facilitates a smooth flow by exchanging cards in hand for specific answers or threats from the sideboard, paving the way for game-changing setups.
Meta-Relevance: Given the constantly evolving MTG environment, having a toolbox card like Professor of Symbology is beneficial. With a solid base stat line and the capacity to shape game outcomes through smart tutor effects, it keeps pace with various shifts in the competitive scene.
How to beat
Professor of Symbology is a versatile creature card that allows players to learn from their sideboard, giving them access to a range of options that can adapt to the current game state. The key to overcoming this nifty toolbox is to neutralize the Professor’s ability to fetch Lessons. A strategy is to use instant removal spells or abilities to exile or destroy the Professor before its controller has the chance to declare an attacker or exploit its lesson-grabbing ability. Early disruption is essential; cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can effectively control the board before the Professor gets to tutor any Lessons.
Maintaining hand advantage also helps to suppress the flexibility that Professor of Symbology brings. Using hand disruption spells such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can remove key Lessons or answers from your opponent’s hand. It’s also worth strategizing around the opponent’s sideboard. If you anticipate certain Lessons, you can prepare your deck with appropriate responses that will blunt the impact of your opponent’s selected cards, keeping you one step ahead.
Ultimately, by addressing Professor of Symbology directly through removal and disruption while managing your game strategy against potential Lesson cards, you can control its influence on the match and maintain the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Professor of Symbology // Professor of Symbology MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven Art Series and Strixhaven Art Series, 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 Professor of Symbology // Professor of Symbology 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 Professor of Symbology // Professor of Symbology Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 4s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Jason Rainville | ||
| 2 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 4 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Jason Rainville | ||
| 3 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Professor of Symbology has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Professor of Symbology 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. |