Body of Knowledge MTG Card


Body of Knowledge turns your life total into a resource, enhancing your strategic options significantly. This card’s compatibility with instant speed spells enables a more responsive playstyle in MTG. Despite a high mana cost, its ability to boost card advantage makes it a robust addition to decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Avatar
Power *
Toughness *

Text of card

Body of Knowledge's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand. You have no maximum hand size. Whenever Body of Knowledge is dealt damage, draw that many cards.


Cards like Body of Knowledge

Body of Knowledge stands out in the realm of creative creature design in Magic: The Gathering. It draws an interesting parallel with cards like Toothy, Imaginary Friend, which accumulates power and toughness as cards are drawn. While Toothy has the potential to grow incredibly large over time, Body of Knowledge sets itself apart with its base power and toughness directly reflecting the number of cards in a player’s hand at any given moment without the need for setup or triggers.

Another card to consider in conjunction with Body of Knowledge is Psychosis Crawler, which not only grows with the size of your hand but also pings opponents whenever you draw a card, perfectly marrying creature threat with direct damage. Body of Knowledge, however, lacks this punishing aspect but compensates with the ability to be an instant large blocker or attacker, dependent on your hand size.

When assessing the unique traits of card-draw-dependent creatures, Body of Knowledge brings to the table an instantaneous impact and a dynamic presence that can adapt quickly to the ever-changing battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity to become an immediate force makes it a valuable asset in decks that ensure a consistently full grip of cards.

Toothy, Imaginary Friend - MTG Card versions
Psychosis Crawler - MTG Card versions
Toothy, Imaginary Friend - MTG Card versions
Psychosis Crawler - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Body of Knowledge by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Body of Knowledge card becomes an asset to your deck by transforming your life total into a formidable library size. This unique capability can provide a significant card advantage as it can potentially increase the number of cards you have access to, opening up a broader range of strategic options during play.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to potentially draw additional cards equal to your life points during your upkeep, Body of Knowledge can act as a catalyst for resource acceleration. This uptick in accessible resources can be pivotal in outpacing your opponent, as it gives you the tools needed to respond to threats or establish a dominant board presence swiftly.

Instant Speed: While Body of Knowledge itself doesn’t have an instant timing, it synergizes well with spells cast at instant speed. This allows you to react to opponents’ actions by refilling your hand, making it easier to maintain a responsive stance throughout the game and effectively utilize your freshly gleaned information at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Body of Knowledge requires a player to discard a card, which could put them at a disadvantage, especially in situations where card advantage is crucial or if they’re holding onto key pieces of their strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost includes blue mana, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck builds, potentially restricting it to blue-centric or multicolor decks that can accommodate the mana base needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Body of Knowledge offers a unique ability to make its toughness equal to the number of cards in your hand, its mana cost is significant. There are alternative options in the game that could provide a player with more immediate board impact or advantage at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Body of Knowledge in Your Collection

Versatility: Body of Knowledge offers a unique take on card advantage. As a creature whose power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand, it naturally fits into decks that prioritize a full grip of cards. Its flexibility shines in both control and combo decks seeking to capitalize on hand size.

Combo Potential: With the ability to absorb damage by drawing cards, Body of Knowledge can be a linchpin in strategies that cycle through the deck rapidly. Combining it with cards that allow you no maximum hand size turns it into a formidable threat that also protects your life total by replenishing your options.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games can swing based on card advantage and player resources, Body of Knowledge stands out as a valuable asset. It matches well against attrition-based strategies, giving deck builders a card that can swing the tide in prolonged matches.


How to beat

Body of Knowledge is a unique card that can certainly pose a challenge on the battlefield. At the core of its strength is its ability to swell in power and toughness in alignment with a player’s hand size, making it a formidable creature in the late game. One effective strategy to diminish its threat is to limit your opponent’s hand size. Employing discard effects can chip away at their card advantage, thereby shrinking the Body of Knowledge. Instants like Thoughtseize or agonizingly disruptive spells such as Mind Rot can help achieve this.

Additionally, control decks that rely on counter spells can prevent Body of Knowledge from ever hitting the board. If the card does manage to make a presence, removal spells that bypass its stat scaling, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can provide a clean and mana-efficient answer. Another angle of attack would be to employ effects that restrict or negate abilities. With such enchantments as Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, you can effectively nullify the card’s benefits regardless of your opponent’s hand size. Remember, keeping pressure and responding to threats smartly while managing resources is paramount to overcoming formidable cards like Body of Knowledge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into MTG, every card and strategy plays a pivotal role in crafting victories. Body of Knowledge is no exception, offering an intriguing twist to deck dynamics with its ability to turn your life total into a vast wellspring of strategic possibilities. It’s essential to understand both its strengths and its limitations to harness its potential. If your deck thrives on maintaining a full hand, Body of Knowledge can be a game-changer, especially when paired with no-maximum-hand-size cards or instant-speed synergies. Ready to enhance your deck with nuanced tactics and navigate the seas of resourcefulness? Explore deeper insights and advanced strategies with us and empower your gameplay with the multifaceted Body of Knowledge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Body of Knowledge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Body of Knowledge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Body of Knowledge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 859902015NormalBlackClint Cearley
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 592015NormalBlackClint Cearley
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6312015NormalBlackClint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Body of Knowledge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Body of Knowledge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-11-10 As long as Body of Knowledge is in your hand, its ability will count itself.
2020-11-10 Creatures may be dealt damage greater than their toughness. For example, if Body of Knowledge is a 3/3 creature and a source deals 5 damage to it, you'll draw five cards. Note that if Body of Knowledge is dealt lethal damage, it dies before the cards are drawn, meaning they won't raise Body of Knowledge's toughness in time to save it.
2020-11-10 The ability that defines Body of Knowledge's power and toughness applies in all zones, not just the battlefield.