Scholarship Sponsor is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When this creature enters, each player who controls fewer lands than the player who controls the most lands searches their library for a number of basic land cards less than or equal to the difference, puts those cards onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffles.
Complete guide
Scholarship Sponsor is a powerful political tool in Magic: The Gathering that helps level the playing field by distributing resources. This Human Advisor ensures that no player is left behind in the race for mana, making it a staple for white decks needing ramp. By checking who has the most lands, it allows everyone else to catch up through a massive search effect.
What it Does
When Scholarship Sponsor enters the battlefield, it triggers a global search effect. It identifies the player with the highest number of lands on the battlefield. Every other player who has fewer lands than that maximum may then search their library for a number of basic land cards equal to the difference between their land count and the leader's land count.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, the ability is put on the stack when the creature enters. Upon resolution, the game calculates the land counts for all players. Every eligible player simultaneously searches their library for the specified number of basic lands (or fewer, as the card says 'less than or equal to'). These lands enter the battlefield tapped, and each player who searched then shuffles their library.
Common Mistakes
A common error is thinking only the player who cast the card gets to search. In reality, all opponents with fewer lands also benefit. Additionally, remember that the lands must be basic; you cannot search for non-basic lands like dual lands or utility lands. Finally, the calculation is fixed at the moment the ability resolves, not when it was cast.
When to Play It
This card is best used when you are significantly behind the land leader, or when you want to make allies in a multiplayer game. It is particularly effective in Commander after an opponent has used several ramp spells, allowing you and other players to regain parity instantly.
Interaction examples
If Player A has 8 lands and you have 5 lands, playing Scholarship Sponsor allows you to search for up to 3 basic land cards. These enter the battlefield tapped, bringing your total to 8 lands to match the leader.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with the chosen type 'Human', Scholarship Sponsor's ability triggers twice. If the leader has 6 lands and you have 2, the first trigger lets you find 4 lands. When the second trigger resolves, you now have 6 lands, which equals the leader's count, so the second trigger results in searching for 0 lands.
Solemn SimulacrumYou first play Solemn Simulacrum to find one basic land. If you still have fewer lands than the leader, you can follow up with Scholarship Sponsor to bridge the remaining gap. Note that Scholarship Sponsor counts the land brought in by the Golem before its own ability resolves.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Scholarship Sponsor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
For example, if you control four lands, one opponent controls six lands, and another opponent controls seven lands, you will search your library for up to three basic land cards and the first opponent will search their library for one basic land card. The second opponent won’t search their library at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Scholarship Sponsor
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.