Inventor's Apprentice MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 120
2020-11-12 - Number 131
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Artificer |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts board presence early, becoming more powerful with each artifact played.
- Its red mana requirement may restrict its use to certain deck types.
- Removal spells or artifact control can effectively counter its strengths.
Text of card
Inventor's Apprentice gets +1/+1 as long as you control an artifact.
"Everyone starts off making garbage. If you finally make something halfway decent, it'll be the best day of your life." —Nehra, inventor
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Inventor’s Apprentice shines in aggro strategies where the player needs efficient creatures. Although it doesn’t directly offer card advantage such as drawing cards, the Apprentice rewards players for running a high artifact count, thus potentially creating virtual card advantage by making each artifact drawn more impactful on the board state.
Resource Acceleration: This nimble creature may not directly provide mana or treasure tokens, but it accelerates your resources by being a low-cost creature that can potentially lead to faster wins. With more artifacts in play, you enable more explosive turns and pressure on your opponents, optimizing the resources you already have on the board.
Instant Speed: Inventor’s Apprentice, while not an instant itself, synergizes well in decks that have instant speed interaction. With a board presence established early, you’re free to hold mana up for timely responses, knowing you’ve already started your offensive with this quick-footed human artificer.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Inventor’s Apprentice is a reliable card for those playing artifact-centered decks, it’s worth noting that without an artifact on the battlefield, the Apprentice is just a humble 1/2 creature. This requirement can be a setback in decks that aren’t consistently dropping artifacts or don’t have one readily available to maintain the power boost.
Specific Mana Cost: Though its mana cost is low, requiring a single red mana can limit its inclusion to decks with a red mana base. Decks that operate on a tight mana curve or those tailored to multi-color synergies might find it challenging to accommodate this red commitment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: One might argue that for a card that relies on another card type – in this case, artifacts – to be truly effective, a cost of one red mana could be a bit steep, especially during the early stages of the game. Cards of similar mana cost can offer independent strengths without reliance on other card types, presenting a possibly more versatile option for those crucial early plays.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Inventor’s Apprentice is a card that can be seamlessly incorporated into a variety of red aggro or artifact-centric decks. With its low mana cost, it’s an excellent early play that can quickly become a bigger threat on the board.
Combo Potential: When used in conjunction with artifact synergies, this card’s prowess can significantly increase its power, making it a great contender for combos in aggressive strategies that revolve around artifacts.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speedy creature-based strategies are dominant, Inventor’s Apprentice can play a pivotal role. Being a 1-drop with the potential to become stronger as you play more artifacts makes it a relevant choice for competitive play.
How to beat
Inventor’s Apprentice is a notable creature in Magic: The Gathering with the potential to quickly grow stronger on the battlefield when supported by artifacts. This card stands out as it becomes more of a threat with the increase in artifact count, potentially setting up for significant early game pressure on an opponent.
Overcoming this aggressive red creature requires a tailored strategy. Efficient removal spells are highly effective here; consider using low-cost options like Fatal Push or Shock to remove Inventor’s Apprentice before its power can be enhanced. Alternatively, boarding in artifact removal like Abrade can reduce Inventor’s Apprentice’s power indirectly by targeting the artifacts boosting it. It’s also sensible to control the flow of artifacts onto the opposing side of the board, thereby keeping the Apprentice’s potential in check.
Awareness of these tactics can ensure that Inventor’s Apprentice does not overrun you. Deny its synergy and manage the threats judiciously, and you can mitigate the Apprentice’s impact and maintain an even footing in your Magic: The Gathering matches.
Cards like Inventor's Apprentice
Inventor’s Apprentice is an interesting card that sets a bar for 1-drop creatures in Magic: The Gathering. As a red Human Artificer, it shares design space with other notable low-cost cards like Toolcraft Exemplar. Comparably, both cards gain benefits from the presence of artifacts, with the Exemplar potentially growing stronger than the Apprentice. Yet, Inventor’s Apprentice claims a spot in decks with its immediate power boost and being part of the aggressive red archetype.
The Apprentice also echoes the mechanics of Bomat Courier, albeit in a reverse direction. While Bomat Courier accumulates card advantage over time through attacks, Inventor’s Apprentice offers a solid battlefield presence right from the start for artifact-heavy decks. The Courier can refill your hand, but the Apprentice can consistently apply pressure early on. Goblin Welder is another peer, famed for its ability to swap artifacts in the graveyard and battlefield, though the Apprentice is more straightforward in terms of offense.
To sum up, Inventor’s Apprentice asserts its place in the roster of MTG creature cards that flourish alongside artifacts, providing unique synergy and aggressive strength for players who wish to kickstart their game swiftly.
Cards similar to Inventor's Apprentice by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Inventor's Apprentice MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Inventor'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 MTG Products
Printings
The Inventor's Apprentice Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 131 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Inventor's 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 |
