Stern Proctor MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 1998-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Saga |
| Set code | USG |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 99 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Randy Gallegos |
Key Takeaways
- Stern Proctor can shift game momentum by returning nonland permanents to an opponent’s hand.
- Its abilities support tempo play and can recycle your own artifacts and enchantments.
- Smart utilization of Stern Proctor can improve board control and disrupt strategies.
Text of card
When Stern Proctor comes into play, return target artifact or enchantment to owner's hand.
"I preferred the harsh tutors—they made mischief all the more fun." —Teferi, third-level student
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stern Proctor can disrupt an opponent’s tempo by bouncing back nonland permanents to their hand. This can lead to a situational card advantage if it targets an artifact, enchantment, or other key pieces that have already generated value for your adversary.
Resource Acceleration: While Stern Proctor doesn’t directly produce additional resources for you, effectively rebalancing the battlefield can set your opponent back, giving you more time to develop your mana base and deploy your own threats without pressure.
Instant Speed: Though Stern Proctor is a creature, its enter-the-battlefield ability can be akin to instant speed effects when played judiciously. With the right timing, you can deploy Stern Proctor to bounce an opponent’s permanent right before a crucial turn, functioning similarly to having an instant-speed interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stern Proctor’s utility comes with a trade-off, necessitating the discard of another card at times. This could be detrimental in situations where your hand size is already dwindling, potentially causing you to lose other strategic plays or valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Navigating the mana curve is key in MTG, and Stern Proctor’s blue mana requirement means it might not find a home outside of blue-centric or blue-inclusive decks. This can limit the card’s versatility across the myriad of deck types that players concoct.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While being able to bounce an artifact or enchantment back to its owner’s hand is advantageous, Stern Proctor’s casting cost may seem steep for such a targeted effect. In metagames where speed and efficiency reign supreme, players might opt for lower-cost alternatives or cards that provide a broader range of effects for a similar investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stern Proctor brings utility to a wide array of blue-based decks. As a creature that can bounce enchantments or artifacts back to the owner’s hand, it aids control decks in maintaining a clear board or combo decks in resetting their own permanents for repeated use.
Combo Potential: With a simple yet effective enter-the-battlefield effect, Stern Proctor can serve as a cog in intricate combos. Its ability to disrupt opponent’s setups or recycle your beneficial artifacts and enchantments for additional uses makes it a valuable combo piece in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of strategies leaning heavily on artifacts and enchantments, Stern Proctor assumes a role as a countermeasure in the current meta. Its presence in your collection ensures readiness against such strategies, allowing flexibility in deck construction and adaptation to the evolving gameplay landscape.
How to beat
Stern Proctor offers a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature has a deceptive ability that may cause your opponents to reconsider their strategy. When Stern Proctor enters the battlefield, it bounces an enchantment or artifact back to its owner’s hand. This ability to disrupt your opponent’s board can shift the momentum of the game.
Beating Stern Proctor often relies on minimizing the value it can extract from this enter-the-battlefield ability. Strategies to overcome this card include maintaining a low reliance on artifact or enchantment permanents that are crucial to your game plan. Alternatively, using instants that can protect your key permanents or counter spells can nullify the effect of Stern Proctor. Keep in mind, removal spells are effective before it triggers its ability, so be ready to act fast. The key is to manage your resources judiciously and stay one step ahead.
To ensure Stern Proctor doesn’t disrupt your setup, it’s also a good idea to force your opponent to play it when it has the least impact. By controlling the tempo and the board state, you can render Stern Proctor less intimidating and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Stern Proctor
Stern Proctor enters the collection of Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing utility creature. It draws parallels to the likes of Man-o’-War, which also offers the ability to return a target creature to its owner’s hand. Stern Proctor differs in that it targets not creatures but nonland permanents, lending flexibility in handling artifacts, enchantments, and even pesky planeswalkers that your opponents control.
Another card akin to Stern Proctor is Uktabi Orangutan, which focuses on the destruction of artifacts upon entering the battlefield, though it lacks the broad targeting range of Stern Proctor. Exemplar of Strength is worth mentioning too, as it features a similar mana cost and provides a body on the field while also manipulating counters as it enters the battlefield. However, it does not affect other permanents like Stern Proctor does.
Considering their places in a player’s arsenal, Stern Proctor provides a unique blend of board control and versatility. Its capacity to unsettle an opponent’s strategy by bouncing back their key permanents is a strategic advantage. While not as directly impactful as the removal effects of some similar creatures, the subtle tempo swing it can enforce may just turn the tides in your favor during the game.
Cards similar to Stern Proctor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stern Proctor MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Stern Proctor and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stern Proctor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stern Proctor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If there is an artifact or enchantment on the battlefield (even your own) when this card enters the battlefield, you must return one to owner’s hand. If not, then simply ignore the “enters the battlefield” ability. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can cast this card if there are no artifacts or enchantments on the battlefield. |
