Stitcher's Apprentice MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 81
2018-12-07 - Number 73
2023-03-21 - Number 24
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Homunculus |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Stitcher’s Apprentice generates a 2/2 token for strategic gameplay and instant board presence.
- Effective as a sudden blocker or in response to removal, it maintains board balance.
- Demands creature sacrifice and specific mana, potentially conflicting with some deck strategies.
Text of card
, : Put a 2/2 blue Homunculus creature token onto the battlefield, then sacrifice a creature.
"Oglor create life, Oglor take it away. Oglor god! . . . until Master return."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stitcher’s Apprentice provides value in the form of a 2/2 blue Homunculus creature token whenever its ability is activated, effectively replacing the creature you have sacrificed.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly tied to mana production, Stitcher’s Apprentice allows for strategic creature transformation on the fly, which can be a form of resource acceleration by adapting to the current battlefield demands.
Instant Speed: The card’s ability can be activated at instant speed, offering a surprise blocker or enabling a sacrifice in response to an opponent’s removal, thereby preserving board presence and maintaining resource balance.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One limitation of the Stitcher’s Apprentice is its need for another creature to be on the battlefield to fully utilize its ability. This can be a challenge when your board presence is weak or after a mass removal, limiting the card’s effectiveness.
Specific Mana Cost: Stitcher’s Apprentice requires both blue mana and generic mana to play. This specific mana cost may not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks, potentially disrupting an otherwise flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its ability’s impact, the cumulative cost of using Stitcher’s Apprentice’s effect could be seen as steep. For two mana each activation, other cards might offer a more cost-effective way to generate creature tokens or other advantages.
Reasons to Include Stitcher’s Apprentice in Your Collection
Versatility: Stitcher’s Apprentice offers flexible options for any deck that thrives on creature-based strategies. Its ability to create and manipulate creature tokens can be incredibly useful in a variety of settings, from casual play to more competitive environments.
Combo Potential: The homunculus token that Stitcher’s Apprentice generates can be sacrificed for numerous in-game advantages, tying seamlessly into strategies that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard or triggering enter-the-battlefield effects.
Meta-Relevance: In the current landscape where creature-centric decks often dominate, Stitcher’s Apprentice can bolster your battlefield presence. It fits neatly into decks that need to consistently field creatures and can serve as a key piece in sacrifice-centric deck archetypes.
How to beat
Stitcher’s Apprentice is a quirky inclusion in any MTG deck that centers around creature tokens and flicker effects. This blue creature may seem harmless at first glance, inviting a simple strategy to dispatch it – remove it before it can generate value. Keeping control of the board with targeted removals or sweepers can prevent the creature’s ability from overwhelming you with an army of Homunculus tokens.
To effectively neutralize Stitcher’s Apprentice, consider timing your spells to disrupt the sequencing of your opponent’s plays. Since the Apprentice taps as part of its ability cost, taking advantage of its vulnerable state with a well-placed instant can hinder your opponent’s plans. Prioritize spells or abilities that can exile or bounce the Apprentice to their hand, as this resets any progress they’ve made toward token generation.
Counterspells serve as another line of defense against Stitcher’s Apprentice, particularly if it’s part of a combo or a key piece in your opponent’s strategy. Bide your time and deploy those counters when it can cause the most disruption. By focusing on board control and staying proactive with your resources, you can maintain the upper hand against Stitcher’s Apprentice and its ability to complicate the battlefield.
Cards like Stitcher's Apprentice
Stitcher’s Apprentice stands out as an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering, bringing a specific set of skills to the table. It mirrors cards like Coralhelm Guide in the way it can influence the board by providing utility, rather than through raw power. Unlike the Guide, which can make creatures unblockable, Stitcher’s Apprentice focuses on its homunculus-creating ability, which provides creature fodder for various uses.
Another card that echoes this utility-centric design is Emry, Lurker of the Loch. Emry impacts play with her ability to recur artifacts from the graveyard. While Emry’s effect is more potent in artifact-heavy decks, Stitcher’s Apprentice’s homunculus creation offers consistent board presence, which can be vital for sacrifice and recursion strategies. Similar to Apprentice, Forbidden Alchemy is about delving deep to select the perfect card for the moment, also synergizing well with graveyard strategies albeit in a different manner.
Ultimately, Stitcher’s Apprentice finds its niche among cards that generate value in incremental ways. Though its power isn’t immediately obvious, in the right deck, it provides a strategic advantage by consistently supplying creatures that can be leveraged for larger benefits as the game progresses.
Cards similar to Stitcher's Apprentice by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stitcher's Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Ultimate Masters, 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 Stitcher's Apprentice 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
Printings
The Stitcher's Apprentice Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 81 | 2003 | normal | black | Johann Bodin | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 73 | 2015 | normal | black | Johann Bodin | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows of the Past | SIS | 24 | 2015 | normal | black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stitcher's Apprentice has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stitcher's Apprentice card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-12-07 | Any abilities that trigger on the Homunculus token entering the battlefield will resolve after you’ve sacrificed a creature. |
| 2018-12-07 | The creature you sacrifice for the ability of Stitcher’s Apprentice could be the Homunculus you’ve just created. It could also be Stitcher’s Apprentice itself. |
| 2018-12-07 | You create a token and sacrifice a creature all while the activated ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions. |
