Aura Gnarlid MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Aura Gnarlid strengthens with each Aura, multiplying the impact of your enchantments on the battlefield.
  2. Capable of using opponents’ Auras, it presents indirect resource acceleration for deck builders.
  3. Instant-speed Aura plays can dramatically shift combat dynamics, enhancing Aura Gnarlid’s effectiveness.

Text of card

Creatures with power less than Aura Gnarlid's power can't block it. Aura Gnarlid gets +1/+1 for each Aura on the battlefield.

Kill a gnarlid with your first blow, or it'll cheerfully show you how it's done.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aura Gnarlid’s unique ability to become more powerful with each Aura you control makes it a formidable force on the battlefield. It capitalizes on card synergy, essentially converting each Aura spell you own into a potential source of strength for this creature. This multiplies the value of your Aura cards, turning them into both offensive instruments and defensive buffs simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: By encouraging a deck build centered around Auras, Aura Gnarlid indirectly accelerates your resource management. As it benefits from any Aura on the field – not just your own – it can utilize opponents’ enchantments as well, potentially reducing the number of resources you need to invest in making it a threat.

Instant Speed: Although Aura Gnarlid itself isn’t an instant, it thrives in an environment where you can play Auras at instant speed. Reacting to opponents’ actions by enchanting Aura Gnarlid on the fly can dynamically alter the power balance during combat phases, catching adversaries off-guard and turning the tide of battle in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other creatures that offer immediate value upon entering the battlefield, Aura Gnarlid requires a player to have a setup of auras already in play to fully capitalize on its abilities. This could lead to a disadvantage for players who face removal or disruption, effectively negating the creature’s potential without the necessary board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Aura Gnarlid requires a specific combination of green mana to be cast. This can sometimes restrict its inclusion only to decks that heavily support green mana sources or multicolor decks that can accommodate its cost. For mono or dual-color decks not focused on green, Aura Gnarlid may not be a feasible option.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Aura Gnarlid comes into play later than other low-cost creatures, which might put players at a tempo disadvantage in fast-paced games. Moreover, considering it needs auras to be truly effective, the setup cost in terms of mana and card resources may be higher compared to other creatures that are effective on their own.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aura Gnarlid’s core ability to be unblockable by creatures with less power makes it a fitting addition to many green-based enchantment strategies. This creature adapts easily to decks that focus on scaling power and toughness, especially in environments saturated with auras.

Combo Potential: This creature naturally synergizes with aura cards, enhancing its power for every enchantment you control. It allows for potential explosive turns when combined with cheap auras or enchantment proliferation tactics, turning it into a formidable threat.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where enchantment-heavy decks are prevalent, Aura Gnarlid can easily become a key player. Its propensity to thrive in enchantment-rich environments while dodging many common blockers puts it high on the list for any collection focusing on metagame-specific selections.


How to beat

Aura Gnarlid, as its presence grows in green-based enchantment decks, has become a creature that demands an answer in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to avoid being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control makes it tricky, but its strength lies in the number of Auras attached to it. Dealing with Aura Gnarlid effectively involves disrupting the synergies it relies on. This could mean targeting the Auras themselves with enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Back to Nature to lower the creature’s power and leave it susceptible to damage or destruction effects.

Another strategy is altering the battlefield rules with cards like Archetype of Finality, which strips all creatures of the ability to block and ensures Aura Gnarlid cannot slip through your defenses. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can also surpass the Gnarlid’s protection, as they don’t target. In multi-player formats, encouraging your opponents to use their removal resources can also be a subtle way of handling the Gnarlid without using your spells directly. Additionally, blocking with creatures that have death-touch can be an effective deterrent to its attacking prowess. Remember, the key is to stay flexible and adapt your removal strategies to target the constellation of enchantments bolstering your opponent’s Aura Gnarlid.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the versatility of Aura Gnarlid by mastering enchantment-based strategies that can make this MTG card a pivotal part of your green deck. Whether it’s strengthening its power with a plethora of Auras or adeptly navigating through matchups where enchantments reign supreme, the Aura Gnarlid proves to be a worthy inclusion in your collection. With its scaling power and uncanny resilience in the right setup, it’s a force to be reckoned with. Keen to explore more about optimizing Aura Gnarlid in your deck and adapting your playstyle to harness its full potential? Our insights can guide you on this enchanting journey, redefining your strategy and ensuring your deck-building skills are nothing short of legendary. Let’s enhance your gameplay together.


Cards like Aura Gnarlid

Aura Gnarlid is a unique creature within the world of Magic: The Gathering, having interesting synergies with aura enchantments. Comparable in its essence to creatures like Gladecover Scout, both creatures become elusive targets. However, Aura Gnarlid distinctively benefits from every aura on the battlefield, gaining both power and toughness for each, making it potentially larger in the long term.

Another similar entity is Bassara Tower Archer, which also boasts hexproof, enabling it to dodge targeted removal. Yet, unlike Aura Gnarlid, Bassara Tower Archer does not dynamically scale its power based on the number of enchantments in play. There’s also the enchantment-loving Kor Spiritdancer, a card that grows with every aura attached not just to itself, but to creatures you control. In comparison, Aura Gnarlid offers a creature-centric approach, focused on the broader enchantment environment rather than self-enhancement.

Reflecting on their utilities, Aura Gnarlid presents a compelling choice for players crafting an enchantment-laden deck, standing as a testament to strategically positioning such synergies within the diverse strategies of Magic: The Gathering.

Gladecover Scout - MTG Card versions
Bassara Tower Archer - MTG Card versions
Kor Spiritdancer - MTG Card versions
Gladecover Scout - Magic 2012 (M12)
Bassara Tower Archer - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Kor Spiritdancer - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aura Gnarlid MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Planechase 2012, 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 Aura Gnarlid and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aura Gnarlid Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Lars Grant-West.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1752003normalblackLars Grant-West
22012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 552003normalblackLars Grant-West
32016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 552015normalblackLars Grant-West
42018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1282015normalblackLars Grant-West
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11262015normalblackLars Grant-West
62020-09-26The ListPLST C18-1282015normalblackLars Grant-West
72023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1202015normalblackLars Grant-West

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aura Gnarlid has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aura Gnarlid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2010-06-15 Aura Gnarlid's second ability counts each Aura regardless of who controls it.
2010-06-15 The power of each potential blocking creature is checked against Aura Gnarlid's power only as blockers are declared. Once a creature blocks Aura Gnarlid, increasing the Gnarlid's power or decreasing the blocking creature's power won't undo that block.

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