Bottle Gnomes MTG Card


Bottle Gnomes provide card advantage through conditional life gain at key moments during the game. They offer flexibility with their instant-speed sacrifice for an unexpected life boost. Due to their generic mana cost, Bottle Gnomes fit a variety of deck builds for MTG players.
Card setsReleased in 18 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Gnome
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

Sacrifice Bottle Gnomes: Gain 3 life.

"I am reminded of the fable of the silver egg. Its owner cracks it open to see what jewels it holds, only to discover a simple yellow yolk." —Karn, silver golem


Cards like Bottle Gnomes

Bottle Gnomes is an artifact creature that comes with a comforting ability – it grants you 3 life when sacrificed. Its presence is somewhat mirrored in the versatile life gain landscape of Magic: The Gathering, with Kitchen Finks being a notable comparison. Although Kitchen Finks costs more and has a slightly different mechanic called persist, which brings it back to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter, it also provides that crucial life bump upon entering, akin to the Bottle Gnomes’ exit strategy.

Another parallel can be found with the elegant Lone Missionary. It’s less of a commitment at two mana and immediately buffs your life total by 4 upon arrival. However, unlike the Bottle Gnomes, it doesn’t offer the flexibility of instant life gain since its effect is a one-time deal tied to its entrance on the battlefield.

Within the realm of MTG artifact creatures, there’s also the self-preserving Auriok Replica which, just like Bottle Gnomes, can be sacrificed for health—specifically 3 life, mirroring the Gnomes’ offering. It is a direct comparison, but the Replica requires an additional white mana to activate and is part of a cycle, appealing to those enjoying broader synergy.

Assessing these options, Bottle Gnomes stands out due to its immediate and guaranteed life gain irrespective of other variables, carving out its own niche as a reliable safeguard in the game.

Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Auriok Replica - MTG Card versions
Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Auriok Replica - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bottle Gnomes by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bottle Gnomes can be a source of effective card advantage in MTG. This artifact creature offers the ability to regain life at a critical moment, potentially negating an opponent’s attack or burn spell, effectively turning it into a wasted card from the opponent. Holding onto the Gnomes until the perfect time can swing the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While the Bottle Gnomes themselves do not directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, they can be considered a form of life gain acceleration. When sacrificed, they provide you with an immediate burst of life which can be vital for sustaining your presence on the battlefield, particularly in the face of an aggressive strategy that seeks to deplete your life total quickly.

Instant Speed: One of the key advantages of the Bottle Gnomes is their capability to be sacrificed at instant speed. This means that you can decide to use their life gain ability in response to an opponent’s actions, such as during the combat phase or in reaction to a damaging spell. This kind of flexibility can give you the upper hand in matches, making it more challenging for your opponents to predict and plan for your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bottle Gnomes doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, but its ability can be less impactful if you have to forfeit other valuable cards to keep mana up for its activation.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement of three generic mana to cast Bottle Gnomes might seem flexible, but it can compete for slots in decks that require a more streamlined mana base or that prefer cards with color-specific synergies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Bottle Gnomes can be a source of life gain, the three mana for a 1/3 creature might not be as cost-effective compared to other life gain options. In faster formats or competitive play, there might be more efficient creatures or spells to allocate your mana towards.


Reasons to Include Bottle Gnomes in Your Collection

Versatility: Bottle Gnomes offers a unique place in decks that value life gain or need reusable blockers. As an artifact creature, it slips easily into artifact-centric decks or those requiring a defensive creature that can also provide a small life boost.

Combo Potential: With their sacrifice ability, these gnomes work well in any setup that rewards you for sending your own creatures to the graveyard. They have synergy with cards that capitalize on artifact sacrifices or life gain triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies dominate, Bottle Gnomes shines by offering a recurring way to stabilize your life total. Its continual presence on the battlefield can thwart an opponent’s attempts at a quick victory, making it a prudent choice for the current metagame.


How to Beat Bottle Gnomes

When facing the durability that Bottle Gnomes offer in Magic: The Gathering, players should emphasize removal over damage. This resilience-focused artifact creature can be a headache due to its life-gaining ability upon sacrifice. It’s essential to counteract its effect with graveyard interaction or disruptive spells.

Considering Bottle Gnomes’ ability to be sacrificed at any time for life gain, instant speed removal like Tormod’s Crypt can efficiently exile it before the ability is used. Another strategy is to utilize cards like Rest in Peace, which prevent cards from hitting the graveyard altogether, negating the Bottle Gnomes’ benefit. Abilities like exile or bounce, found on cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon, offer an alternative to traditional destruction-based removal, sidestepping the life gain trigger. This maintains pressure on your opponent without giving them the extra life buffer.

In short, tackling Bottle Gnomes requires a strategic approach focusing on graveyard management and timing of removal. With a proper plan in place, this seemingly unassuming artifact creature can be overcome without letting its life-gain ability hinder your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bottle Gnomes MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Bottle Gnomes and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bottle Gnomes Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 2781997NormalBlackKaja Foglio
21998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 br278sb1997NormalGoldKaja Foglio
31999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 js278sb1997NormalGoldKaja Foglio
41999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 js2781997NormalGoldKaja Foglio
52002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 360501997NormalBlackKaja Foglio
62003-01-01Friday Night Magic 2003F03 11997NormalBlackKaja Foglio
72003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1482003NormalBlackBen Thompson
82005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 290★2003NormalBlackBen Thompson
92005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2902003NormalWhiteBen Thompson
102007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3122003NormalBlackBen Thompson
112008-11-07Duel Decks: Jace vs. ChandraDD2 72003NormalBlackBen Thompson
122014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2312015NormalBlackBen Thompson
132014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. ChandraJVC 72015NormalBlackBen Thompson
142015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 2172015NormalBlackKaja Foglio
152018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1772015NormalBlackBen Thompson
162019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15542015NormalBlackBen Thompson
172020-09-26The ListPLST TMP-2781997NormalBlackKaja Foglio
182020-09-26The ListPLST CM2-1772015NormalBlackBen Thompson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bottle Gnomes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal