Snapping Gnarlid MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 190
2022-12-02 - Number 730
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Landfall |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Snapping Gnarlid gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
All of Zendikar's beings sense the upheaval that accompanies the Eldrazi.
Cards like Snapping Gnarlid
Snapping Gnarlid is an interesting creature card in Magic: The Gathering, attracting attention among players who favor landfall-centric strategies. It can be likened to the likes of Steppe Lynx, another creature that benefits from landfall, receiving a temporary boost in power whenever a land enters the fray under your control. Unlike Steppe Lynx, Snapping Gnarlid does not rely on lands entering as plains, offering a broader synergy with various deck builds.
Turning our focus to Brushfire Elemental, we find another relative. Like Snapping Gnarlid, it gets pumped from landfall triggers, but with added resilience provided by its invulnerability to damage from your opponents on your turn. However, it trades this advantageous resilience for a higher converted mana cost. Lastly, Scythe Leopard presents another parallel, boasting a cheaper mana cost but offering a smaller frame and lesser growth potential in the late game compared to Snapping Gnarlid’s consistently beneficial landfall trigger.
All things considered, Snapping Gnarlid holds its own as a solid choice for players looking to maximize the interaction between playing lands and creature performance. Its balanced power growth and landfall versatility make it a compelling option for MTG enthusiasts engaged in the dynamic battlefield of land-based tactics.
Cards similar to Snapping Gnarlid by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Snapping Gnarlid’s presence on the battlefield can become more pronounced with landfall triggers. Every land drop not only bolsters your mana resources but also turns the Gnarlid into a larger threat, indirectly contributing to your card efficacy by increasing board pressure without expending additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the Snapping Gnarlid works harmoniously with decks that focus on putting lands into play rapidly, indirectly benefiting from any form of mana ramp. This can result in a formidable creature early in the game, pushing the game tempo in your favor.
Instant Speed: Although Snapping Gnarlid itself isn’t an instant, its landfall ability shines when lands are played at instant speed through effects like fetch lands or instant-speed land plays. Doing so during an opponent’s turn can unexpectedly increase its power, potentially turning the tide by enabling favorable blocks or surprise attacks on your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Snapping Gnarlid doesn’t require you to discard cards directly, its dependence on landfall triggers means any hand without lands can diminish its effectiveness, akin to an implicit discard cost when you aren’t drawing or playing lands regularly.
Specific Mana Cost: Snapping Gnarlid’s casting cost, including green mana, makes it exclusive to green decks or multicolored decks that feature green. This specificity can pose a deck-building constraint, limiting its versatility in a broader range of strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared to other two-mana creatures, Snapping Gnarlid’s base stats are average. Its reliance on landfall for power boost requires a constant flow of lands to be effective, which may not be sustainable in every match, especially against decks that quickly ramp up the board presence with more cost-efficient threats.
Reasons to Include Snapping Gnarlid in Your Collection
Versatility: Snapping Gnarlid is a solid addition to any deck that capitalizes on landfall mechanics. Its ability to get a power boost with each land played makes it adaptable to both aggressive and ramp strategies.
Combo Potential: This card’s strength lies in its synergy with decks that rapidly play lands or fetch them directly to the battlefield, ensuring consistent growth turn after turn.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where speed is key, Snapping Gnarlid can be a low-cost threat that scales well into the late game, making it a relevant choice for a variety of metas.
How to beat
Snapping Gnarlid presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature thrives in decks packed with lands, especially those that utilize the landfall mechanic to bolster its power with every new terrain played. To effectively counter Snapping Gnarlid, players should focus on denying landfall triggers, thereby reducing its effectiveness. Land destruction or control tactics can limit the number of lands entering the battlefield and ensure the Gnarlid remains a manageable threat.
Another strategic approach involves removing the creature swiftly before it can capitalize on the landfall ability. Instant-speed removal spells are highly prized in these scenarios for their ability to disrupt the opponent’s plans on their turn. Cards such as Fatal Push and Path to Exile are perfect examples, offering quick and efficient answers to the growing threat posed by a Snapping Gnarlid.
Lastly, keeping a robust defense is essential. Since Snapping Gnarlid lacks built-in evasion such as flying or trample, a player can easily block it with creatures of ample size. As such, establishing a strong line of defense can keep this creature at bay, letting you focus on executing your strategy while neutralizing its landfall advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Snapping Gnarlid MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Snapping Gnarlid 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 Snapping Gnarlid Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 190 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 730 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Snapping Gnarlid has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Snapping Gnarlid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | A landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability puts a land onto the battlefield under your control. |
| 2015-08-25 | If the ability has an additional or replacement effect that depends on the land having a certain basic land type, the ability will check that land’s type as the ability resolves. If, at that time, the land that entered the battlefield is no longer on the battlefield, use its types when it left the battlefield to determine what happens. |
| 2015-08-25 | When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one to resolve. |