Thornscape Apprentice
Creature — Human Wizard
, 
: Target creature gains first strike until end of turn.
, : Tap target creature.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- GRW
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition
- Price
- $0.33
- EDHREC rank
- #29518
Thornscape Apprentice offers two activated abilities — tap to give a creature first strike until end of turn, or pay two mana and tap to paralyze a creature — stapled onto a 1/1 body for one green mana. The kicker costs are real, and a 1/1 with no inherent value beyond its activations rarely earns a slot in competitive 100-card lists.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Thornscape Apprentice sees essentially no play in Commander — the format's 40-life totals and multiplayer dynamics demand immediate, scalable impact, and a 1/1 that taps to grant first strike or tap down a single threat just doesn't clear that bar. In Pauper, where commons compete on tight efficiency, it has never found a home; the tap-to-paralyze effect is too mana-intensive at three total to fit aggressive or tempo strategies. Legacy and Vintage are legal but irrelevant — Thornscape Apprentice was never on anyone's shortlist in either format. Oathbreaker, like Commander, rewards density and power, so the same structural problems apply.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.33 bulk tier
At $0.33, Thornscape Apprentice sits squarely in bulk territory, and that price reflects its demand accurately. Don't expect movement — this card has no competitive home and minimal casual appeal, so the floor is where it lives.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.