Scalesoul Gnome MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact Creature — Gnome
Abilities	Conjure,Discover,Haste,Trample
Released	2023-12-05
Set symbol
Set name	Alchemy: Ixalan
Set code	YLCI
Power	3
Toughness	5
Number	28
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Svetlin Velinov

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage and momentum through additional card access during gameplay.
Enables quicker casting of high-cost spells by generating extra mana efficiently.
Offers strategical flexibility with its instant-speed action capability in a match.

Text of card

Trample, Haste Whenever Scalesoul Gnome deals combat damage to a player, discover X, where X is that damage. Whenever you play a card from exile, conjure a duplicate of it into your hand.

Understanding Scalesoul Gnome’s Strengths

Card Advantage: Playing Scalesoul Gnome can offer players an edge by enabling access to additional cards. This advantage keeps the hand well-stocked and can shift the momentum in your favor during tight matches.

Resource Acceleration: This gnome isn’t just a quaint creature; it’s a powerhouse when it comes to ramping up your resources. With its ability to potentially generate extra mana, it allows you, the player, to cast more costly spells earlier in the game or deploy multiple threats in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The capacity to perform actions at instant speed can’t be undervalued in MTG. Scalesoul Gnome provides flexibility, enabling you to adapt to the unfolding game and outmaneuver opponents with strategic plays that they might not see coming.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Scalesoul Gnome necessitates discarding a card, which could deplete your hand, especially detrimental when seeking to maintain card advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Scalesoul Gnome requires a precise mana arrangement, making it potentially awkward in multi-colored decks that might struggle to meet the mana demands consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana value, the Gnome’s impact on the board may not align with its cost, particularly when assessed against other utility creatures within the same mana range.

Reasons to Include Scalesoul Gnome in Your Collection

Versatility: Scalesoul Gnome is not only a valuable asset in artifact-centric builds but its ability to adapt to different board states makes it a flexible inclusion in numerous deck archetypes. Its synergies with equipment and enchantments also allow for varied playstyles.

Combo Potential: The card’s intrinsic capacity to gain various keywords based on the artifacts and enchantments controlling players possess enables it to become a lynchpin in intricate combos, enhancing its interaction within a strategy-focused deck.

Meta-Relevance: As the current meta shifts and evolves, the Scalesoul Gnome remains pertinent, offering both early defense and late-game utility. It thrives in environments where there’s a blend of creature-based aggro and value-generating control decks, providing nimble and reactive plays.

How to beat

Scalesoul Gnome presents a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its flexibility in size and potential card advantage. To effectively neutralize this card, players should consider strategies that deal with creatures of variable size. One approach is using spells that ignore creature size or provide unconditional removal, such as “Doom Blade” or “Path to Exile.” Timing is also crucial; it’s advantageous to take action before the opponent can bolster the gnome with additional enchantments or equipment.

Another strategy is undermining the card advantage gained from the gnome’s ability, which can be achieved with hand disruption tactics. Cards like “Thoughtseize” or “Inquisition of Kozilek” can preemptively remove key cards from your opponent’s hand, thus weakening the gnome’s impact. Additionally, countering key spells with cards like “Cancel” or “Mana Leak” can stop your opponent’s strategy in its tracks, making it a less daunting foe.

Overall, staying one step ahead and employing removal or hand disruption at the right moment is critical when facing a creature like Scalesoul Gnome. With the right approach, you can prevent this card from tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor.

Cards like Scalesoul Gnome

The introduction of Scalesoul Gnome to the MTG universe brings a unique dynamic to creature cards. With similarities to cards like Silvercoat Lion, Scalesoul Gnome shares the same mana cost and is a solid choice for early gameplay. However, it deviates with an enchantment synergy, gaining a boost when enchantments enter the fray. Contrast that with Silvercoat Lion, which possesses a static power and toughness without any additional perks.

Another card it echoes is Goblin Piker, both offering a vanilla two power creature for two mana. Yet Scalesoul Gnome’s aforementioned enchantment affinity provides it an edge in decks that leverage auras and enchantments. This nuance can make a noticeable difference in gameplay, offering strategic value beyond a simple creature placement. Furthermore, examining Torch Courier reveals a similar mana cost creature, but its ability to grant haste to another creature sets it apart, showcasing a different axis of utility compared to the enchantment-focused Gnome.

It’s the subtle intricacies that define a card’s place within MTG. Scalesoul Gnome epitomizes this, with its situational strength in enchantment-rich environments. Its potential to outshine similar creatures demonstrates the depth and tactical considerations that players cherish in the game.

Cards similar to Scalesoul Gnome by color, type and mana cost

Alibou, Ancient Witness - MTG Card versions

Optimus Prime, Inspiring Leader - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scalesoul Gnome MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Ixalan, 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 Scalesoul Gnome and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scalesoul Gnome has restrictions

Format	Legality
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Timeless	Legal