Summon the School MTG Card

Summon the School generates a flow of creature tokens, enhancing your battlefield presence significantly. The card can be cast by tapping Merfolk, which optimizes your resources and maintains tempo. Works in concert with cards that permit sorceries at instant speed, allowing unpredictable plays.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Tribal Sorcery — Merfolk
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Number	42
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Dorman

Text of card

Put two 1/1 blue Merfolk Wizard creature tokens into play. Tap four untapped Merfolk you control: Return Summon the School from your graveyard to your hand.

"When merrows talk, listeners grow fins." —Kithkin saying

Cards like Summon the School

Summon the School is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that lets players dive deep into the strategy of token creation. It shares similarities with other cards in the realm of creature generation, such as Raise the Alarm, which creates two soldier tokens instantaneously. Yet, what has players particularly intrigued about Summon the School is its ability to recycle itself for repeated utility by tapping four untapped Merfolk you control.

Looking at Kinship with the faerie-themed Notorious Throng, another card with token-making capabilities, provides an interesting comparison. While Notorious Throng can potentially provide an extra turn if its prowl cost is paid, it lacks the reusable nature of Summon the School. Furthermore, there is Murmuring Mystic, which produces a bird token whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell. While Mystic creates the potential for more tokens over time, it is dependent on the other spells a player casts, unlike the self-sustaining mechanism of Summon the School.

Each card offers distinct benefits fitting various playstyles. However, the strategic value and repeated token creation potential of Summon the School can certainly elevate a Merfolk deck’s tide, making it a cornerstone in any strategy it’s part of.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Summon the School provides a steady stream of creature tokens, which translates into a sustained card presence on the battlefield, bolstering your chances of maintaining superiority over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s mechanic can effectively reduce its casting cost, as it allows for the tapping of untapped Merfolk you control rather than paying the mana cost. This accelerates your resource allocation, enabling you to deploy other strategies without compromising board development.

Instant Speed: Although this card is a sorcery, it synergizes well with cards that allow you to cast sorceries as though they had flash. This can surprise opponents by amassing a defensive line-up or preparing for a strong offensive move at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in battles with Summon the School requires a strategic discard from your hand, potentially depleting valuable cards that could be decisive in later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Summon the School demands a precise blend of blue mana, making it potentially restrictive and less flexible in multicolored decks that cannot consistently provide the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is notably high for its class of effects, players might find other spells that bring creatures to the field more efficiently, thus questioning the card’s utility in fast-paced matches.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Summon the School slips effortlessly into tribal fish decks, bolstering creature counts and fostering a robust board presence essential for go-wide strategies in casual and commander formats.

Combo Potential: This card naturally synergizes with Merfolk tap-and-untap mechanics, potentially unlocking infinite combos or rapidly fueling synergistic abilities that keep opponents on their toes.

Meta-Relevance: As a tool against control decks, Summon the School keeps the pressure high by consistently replenishing your side of the battlefield, demanding answers and exhausting opponent’s resources.

How to beat

Summon the School is a unique card that generates creature tokens, allowing players to quickly populate the battlefield. But how does one tackle this wave of students from the deep? To counteract this card, control tactics are essential. Removal spells that can wipe out multiple creatures at once are particularly effective. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep away the tokens before they become an overwhelming force. Alternatively, spot removal spells can keep the tokens at bay, although this is less mana-efficient.

Another strategy is to outpace Summon the School with aggressive decks that can win before the tokens establish board presence. Fast, low-cost creatures or burn spells can pressure the opponent early on, steering the game to your favor. Moreover, employing cards with exile effects can prevent the tokens from returning to the battlefield, a key consideration when facing recurring threats.

Overall, while Summon the School can create a formidable army, there are various ways to disrupt this strategy. Board control, aggression, and exile-focused removal are effective approaches to ensure that the school stays out of session and you maintain the upper hand in your game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Summon the School MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Summon the School and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Summon the School has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal