Tolarian Academy MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 330
2003-01-01 - Number 2020A
2014-06-16 - Number 319
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add o U to your mana pool for each artifact you control.
The academy worked with time—until time ran out.
Cards like Tolarian Academy
When looking at powerful land cards within MTG, Tolarian Academy must be mentioned. It shares similarity with mana-generating cards like Gaea’s Cradle and Serra’s Sanctum, which also tap based on a count of a specific type of permanent: creatures for Gaea’s Cradle, and enchantments for Serra’s Sanctum. Tolarian Academy, however, hinges on the number of artifacts you control. This unique twist offers massive potential in artifact-heavy decks.
Glimmervoid Basin from the Mirrodin set also resonates with Tolarian Academy’s artifact synergy, providing colorless mana or one mana of any color if you have an artifact, with less explosive potential compared to the Academy’s potentially game-ending mana surge. Similarly, Mishra’s Workshop stands as a niche card for artifact-centric strategies, allowing you to tap for three colorless mana, but only to cast artifact spells—demonstrating another way that lands can significantly boost artifact gameplay.
While each land has its individual space within the vast MTG strategy realm, it’s Tolarian Academy’s unparalleled ability to generate vast amounts of blue mana that sets it apart in older formats where artifacts dominate the scene and high-cost spells are waiting to be unleashed.
Cards similar to Tolarian Academy by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Tolarian Academy. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Oath of Druids | Vintage | Oath of Druids | Vintage League 2024-04-29 |
 | Prison Shops | Vintage | Prison Shops | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
| Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage | Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
| Jewel Shops | Vintage | Jewel Shops | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
| Other Shops | Vintage | Other Shops | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
| Grixis Underworld Breach | Vintage | Underworld Breach | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
 | Lurrus Saga | Vintage | Lurrus Saga | Vintage League 2024-04-28 |
| Grixis Tinker | Vintage | Blue Tinker | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tolarian Academy is a powerhouse when it comes to turning your artifacts into an exceptional source of card advantage. By tapping to add a blue mana for each artifact you control, it effectively converts your artifacts into cards that help you pull ahead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to transform artifacts into a burst of mana provides immense resource acceleration. This key feature can swing the game in your favor by enabling the casting of high-cost spells much earlier than usual or by powering out multiple spells in a single turn.
Instant Speed: While Tolarian Academy itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes incredibly well with spells that you can cast at instant speed. With the sudden influx of mana, you can unexpectedly unleash counterspells, draw spells, or other instant-speed interactions, catching your opponent off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For players looking at Tolarian Academy, one downside to consider is the potential setup cost which, while not a direct discard, often involves a careful crafting of the deck and potentially casting artifacts that might be better served in hand or on the battlefield at strategic times.
Specific Mana Cost: The Academy taps for blue mana, which is great for blue-centric decks but may not seamlessly fit into all deck types, especially those that aren’t artifact-heavy or those that require a diverse color pool to efficiently cast a wide array of spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Tolarian Academy itself doesn’t have a mana cost, using it to its full potential implies a deck with numerous artifacts. Achieving this, especially in the early game, comes with a considerable commitment to both deck building and mana investment in artifacts, which might not always align with a deck’s game plan or could make the deck vulnerable to artifact hate strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tolarian Academy offers unmatched mana acceleration for decks that utilize a healthy number of artifacts, easily slotting into various blue-based strategies while energizing play.
Combo Potential: The land’s ability to potentially generate vast amounts of mana pairs excellently with numerous combos, making it a catalyst for powerful and game-ending plays.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact decks shine, Tolarian Academy becomes a formidable force, capable of tipping the scales in competitive formats where it remains legal.
How to beat
The Tolarian Academy is a legendary land card known for its dynamic impact in MTG gameplay, notorious for its ability to generate copious amounts of blue mana in decks packed with artifacts. The strategic approach to countering this powerful card lies in limiting its effectiveness or removing it from play altogether.
To counteract the Tolarian Academy’s advantage, artifact removal spells are useful tools. Consider implementing cards like Shatterstorm or Vandalblast, which can sweep away multiple artifacts at once, thereby cutting off the mana supply the Academy depends on. Moreover, land destruction cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can directly target and eliminate the Academy itself, disrupting your opponent’s mana base and strategy.
Another effective strategy is using cards that restrict the number of artifacts a player can control, such as Stony Silence or Collector Ouphe, making it challenging for your opponent to fully harness the Academy’s potential. By anticipating the combo plays that enable Tolarian Academy, you can prepare your deck with answers that neutralize its threat and help maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tolarian Academy MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Vintage Championship, 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 Tolarian Academy 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 Tolarian Academy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 330 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Stephen Daniele | |
| 2 | 2003-01-01 | Vintage Championship | OVNT | 2020A | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raoul Vitale | |
| 3 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 319 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Stephen Daniele |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tolarian Academy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Premodern | Banned |
| Vintage | Restricted |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Banned |