Prismari Apprentice MTG Card

Prismari Apprentice - Strixhaven: School of Mages

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Abilities	Magecraft
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	213
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

The card excels in providing card advantage, transforming spells into powerful hand-sculpting tools.
Its synergy with instant-speed spells presents a dynamic interaction, constantly keeping opponents guessing.
Yet, the card’s restrictive mana cost and discard requirements may limit its deck compatibility.

Text of card

Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, Prismari Apprentice can't be blocked this turn. If that spell has mana value 5 or greater, put a +1/+1 counter on Prismari Apprentice.

"No one ever created great art by playing it safe!"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Prismari Apprentice is designed to bolster your card flow. Once you’ve achieved Magecraft—by casting or copying an instant or sorcery spell—not only do you get a potent effect, but it also paves the way to potentially draw additional cards as you sculpt the perfect hand to outmaneuver your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This MTG card may not directly offer resource acceleration in the traditional sense of producing mana; however, by facilitating spell casting, it indirectly accelerates your resource utility. Maximizing the impact of your spells can lead to a form of acceleration through strategic play, as it can shift the pace of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: Prismari Apprentice synergizes well with instant-speed spells. Engaging with instants on your opponent’s turn not only triggers Magecraft but also keeps your adversaries on their toes, as they must account for the possibility of unexpected buffs or other effects that could shift the current game state. Additionally, this card’s ability to potentially become unblockable after casting an instant enhances its versatility on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For Prismari Apprentice to become fully effective, a player often needs to meet a discard criterion tied to the card’s abilities. This condition can put the player at a disadvantage, especially when their hand is already depleted, forcing them to lose potentially valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Prismari Apprentice demands both blue and red mana for casting, which can restrict its integration into a wide range of decks. Players without a deck that supports both colors may find it challenging to make use of the apprentice’s talents.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Prismari Apprentice might seem promising for an aggressive early game plan, its cost of two mana—one of each color—can be pricey compared to other low-drop creatures. Given this, the card might not always represent the best use of mana in the early stages of the game where establishing board presence is crucial.

Reasons to Include Prismari Apprentice in Your Collection

Versatility: Prismari Apprentice isn’t just a two-drop creature; it embodies the ingenuity of the Prismari college. Its ability to become unblockable after casting a large spell makes it a flexible threat in decks that ramp up to big spells or spellsling.

Combo Potential: When paired with instant and sorcery spells that fill your graveyard, the Apprentice’s power can be unleashed reliably. It synergizes well with cards that care about casting spells with five mana value or greater, by allowing you to swiftly chip away at your opponent’s life total.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where big plays can turn the tide, the Apprentice dovetails nicely, serving both as an early game play and a late-game enabler. It’s particularly useful in a meta where you can achieve its Magecraft trigger consistently and make it a consistent threat on the board.

How to Beat Prismari Apprentice

Prismari Apprentice is a card that can become a game-changer in Magic: The Gathering matches if not swiftly dealt with. To gain the advantage, you need to know how best to mitigate its impact on the game. If you let it go unchecked, the magecraft ability of Prismari Apprentice allows your opponent to turn it into an unblockable creature whenever they cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.

To keep this creature in check, countering key spells is a strategic start. Efficient counterspells or instant-speed removal can disrupt your opponent’s plans before they can make the Apprentice unblockable. Another approach is to apply board pressure with your own creatures, forcing your opponent to choose between defending or pushing for damage. Lastly, board-wipe spells can reset the field, erasing the advantage Prismari Apprentice might have provided. Whichever strategy you choose, timely responses are crucial for keeping the Apprentice from leading your adversary to victory.

In sum, Prismari Apprentice can be a daunting threat if left on the board, but with the right tactics and a proactive approach, you can keep this talented spellcaster under control and maintain the upper hand in your MTG duels.

Cards like Prismari Apprentice

Prismari Apprentice stands out in the realm of MTG creature cards due to its unique capabilities as both a student and a mage. It bears resemblance to cards like Wee Dragonauts, which similarly gains a power boost when you cast an instant or sorcery spell. However, Prismari Apprentice goes a step further with the ability to become unblockable when this condition is met. This feature isn’t present in Wee Dragonauts, making Prismari Apprentice a notable choice for players seeking to reliably deal direct damage.

Another card to draw parallels with is Kiln Fiend, a creature that receives an even larger power increase under the same trigger. While the boost is more significant, Kiln Fiend lacks the tactical advantage of unblockability, which can be crucial for slipping past opponents’ defenses. Enigma Drake is a noteworthy mention as well, with its power tied to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Unlike Prismari Apprentice, Enigma Drake doesn’t have the potential to act covertly, but it’s a formidable card in its own right for a late-game presence.

Examining these comparisons, Prismari Apprentice claims its place as a versatile and evasive creature, poised to make a significant impact in games that favor spell-slinging strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prismari Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Prismari Apprentice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prismari Apprentice 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 Prismari Apprentice 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	Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.
2021-04-16	For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card.
2021-04-16	If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger.
2021-04-16	If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect.
2021-04-16	Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger.