This is largely just a worst Island, since by the time you get 12+ counters on this, you don't need Tolarian Academy
Lose a creature, gain a body, refill your hand that loop is exactly how aristocrat decks tick, and its a joy to pilot
Last updated on July 14, 2026 Gift of the Viper | Illustration by Madeline Boni Hello planeswalkers
Gist Unearth is a keyword ability on creatures that returns it to the battlefield, gives it haste, and then exiles it at the end of the turn (or if it would die before the end of the turn)
In the meantime, it looks like some folks started buying out the 9th Edition copy of Defense Grid last week
The big downside here is the additional casting cost of returning a card from exile to an opponents graveyard