Prodigal Sorcerer MTG Card


“Tim” offers steady board control, slowly whittling down opponents and creatures turn by turn. Instant speed damage from the Sorcerer adds strategic depth and flexibility to blue decks. Despite mana specificity and cost, its utility makes it a worthy contender in various matchups.
Card setsReleased in 25 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Tap to do 1 damage to any target.

Occasionally a member of the Institute of Arcane Study acquires a taste for worldly pleasures. Seldom do they have trouble finding employment.


Cards like Prodigal Sorcerer

The Prodigal Sorcerer has been a staple figure in Magic: The Gathering, earning the nickname ‘Tim’ amongst experienced players. It has inspired a lineage of creatures with ‘tap-to-deal-damage’ abilities. Phyrexian Ironfoot, for instance, echoes this ability, with the added advantage of being a stronger creature in terms of power and toughness. However, this comes with the downside of a snow mana upkeep cost, limiting its flexibility compared to the more straightforward Prodigal Sorcerer.

Comparably, Cunning Sparkmage steps into the arena with the same tap ability but carries the benefit of being able to target not just creatures but players as well, offering additional versatility. Though it’s worth noting that it belongs to a different color identity, which can impact deck-building decisions. Then, there’s Zuran Spellcaster, essentially a carbon copy of the original ‘Tim’, which provides players with an alternative artwork choice without affecting gameplay.

Evaluating each card’s utility and adaptability, it’s clear that Prodigal Sorcerer remains a foundational piece, demonstrating how such a simple effect can be remarkably effective across various strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Phyrexian Ironfoot - MTG Card versions
Cunning Sparkmage - MTG Card versions
Zuran Spellcaster - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Ironfoot - MTG Card versions
Cunning Sparkmage - MTG Card versions
Zuran Spellcaster - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Prodigal Sorcerer by color, type and mana cost

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Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Svyelun of Sea and Sky - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Prodigal Sorcerer may seem straightforward, but it has the ability to incrementally chip away at an opponent’s life total or pick off small creatures turn after turn. This continuous utility can eventually translate into card advantage by reducing the effectiveness of your opponent’s board without expending extra cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Prodigal Sorcerer itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its presence can lead to a resource advantage. By threatening to take out key utility creatures on the other side, players may be forced to use removal spells on the Sorcerer or think twice before deploying creatures, potentially slowing down their game plan and indirectly accelerating yours.

Instant Speed: The capability to deal damage at instant speed grants significant flexibility. Whether it’s removing a creature at a critical moment, sneaking in that last point of damage to win, or simply being able to pass the turn with the option open, Prodigal Sorcerer provides a level of control and adaptability to how you play out your turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Prodigal Sorcerer does not directly necessitate a discard, but its low impact on the board may indirectly lead to discarding cards for better options, potentially depleting your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Prodigal Sorcerer requires a precise blend of mana, including blue, to cast. This could restrict its inclusion only to decks that can consistently produce blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although not exorbitant, the casting cost for the abilities Prodigal Sorcerer offers can be considered high, especially when there are more cost-efficient creatures that can provide similar or greater utility in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Prodigal Sorcerer in Your Collection

Versatility: The Prodigal Sorcerer, affectionately known as “Tim” after Python’s enchanter, brings flexibility to any blue-based deck. With the ability to ping any target for one damage, it aids in removing pesky creatures, enables a player to finish off opponents, and can be a strategic asset in maintaining board control.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with cards that untap creatures to create a powerful damage-dealing engine. Pair it with cards like “Freed from the Real” or “Pemmin’s Aura” to tap and untap it multiple times for consistent damage output, transforming it into a continuous threat.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta rich with x/1 creatures or when incremental damage can shift the tides of battle, the Prodigal Sorcerer remains a relevant choice. Its persistent threat to opponents’ life totals and creature-based strategies can make it a low-cost inclusion with high-impact results in your game.


How to beat

Prodigal Sorcerer, often dubbed ‘Tim’ by the MTG community, is a classic card that permits players to ping any target for one damage every turn. Although it can be a nuisance, overcoming this card is very manageable. To neutralize the Sorcerer, consider using cards that can remove creatures at instant speed, as this can disrupt your opponent’s strategy, especially if they rely on Tim to control the board.

Another effective strategy against Prodigal Sorcerer is to employ creatures with higher toughness. This makes the damage from Tim less relevant as he can only deal one point of damage at a time. Additionally, having creatures with abilities or spells that grant hexproof or indestructible can help protect your key creatures from being picked off.

Last but not least, simply applying pressure with an aggressive deck can overwhelm the Sorcerer’s control effect. The key lies in deploying threats that must be answered more urgently than the marginal damage output of the Sorcerer. By forcing your opponent to respond to your threats, Prodigal Sorcerer’s impact becomes minimal and manageable.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Prodigal Sorcerer stands as a testament to the nuanced play that fans of MTG appreciate. Whether you’re drawing up the blueprints for your next cunning strategy or seeking to refine your current deck’s dynamics, including this classic card could be the tweak your deck needs. Its ability to disrupt opponents and control the board is a subtle yet powerful tide-turner in many situations. Should you wish to gain more insight and discover how ‘Tim’ could become a cornerstone in your next triumphant deck, or just desire more tips for optimizing your MTG experience, dive deeper with us. Embrace the lore, learn the combos, and perfect your gameplay with our expert guidance.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prodigal Sorcerer MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Prodigal Sorcerer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Prodigal Sorcerer Magic the Gathering card was released in 23 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 731993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 741993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 741993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 741993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 741993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 751993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 751993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 751993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 941993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 941993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1121997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
121999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 881997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
131999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 541997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
142000-01-01Friday Night Magic 2000FNM 91997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
152001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 94★1997NormalBlackTony Szczudlo
162001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 941997NormalWhiteTony Szczudlo
172001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab94sb1997NormalGoldTony Szczudlo
182002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 359381997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
192006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 291997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
202011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 581997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
212016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 672015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
222019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4612015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
232020-09-26The ListPLST EMA-672015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
242022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 732015NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
252022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3701997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prodigal Sorcerer has restrictions

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