Gruul commander

Toph, Hardheaded Teacher

Legendary Creature — Human Warrior Ally · Avatar: The Last Airbender

When Toph enters, you may discard a card. If you do, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Whenever you cast a spell, earthbend 1. If that spell is a Lesson, put an additional +1/+1 counter on that land. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)

$0.69price

#2,862popularity rank

4mana value

Plays well with: +1/+1 Counters, Graveyard, Spellslinger, Lands, Value engine, Recursion

Buy this card: TCGplayer · Cardmarket

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Decklists on EDHREC View on Scryfall More Gruul commanders

📖 How to build Toph, Hardheaded Teacher

Toph, Hardheaded Teacher is a Gruul commander that rewards you for casting spells. Each spell you cast triggers earthbend 1, turning a land you control into a hasty creature with a +1/+1 counter. Lessons add an extra counter. When Toph enters, you can discard a card to return an instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand. The plan is to cast many spells and build an army of growing land creatures.

Build around cheap spells that let you trigger Toph often. Ramp like Rampant Growth, Farseek, Nature's Lore, and Three Visits is a natural fit, since each cast adds a counter while you develop your mana. Instants and sorceries such as Beast Within, Chaos Warp, and Blasphemous Act become good targets for Toph's recursion. Lessons and counter-themed cards fit best.

Your creatures are lands, so removal and sweepers can set you back. Earthbent lands do return tapped when they die or are exiled, but that still costs tempo. Toph's triggers only happen on casting, so you need a steady stream of spells.

Deck guide written with AI assistance based on the card's rules text.

🔗 +1/+1 Counters synergy

**The Great Henge**Card advantage · Ramp · Value engine
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**Inspiring Call**Card advantage · Interaction
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**Avenger of Zendikar**Tokens · Value engine
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🔗 Graveyard synergy

**Faithless Looting**Card advantage · Recursion
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**Scavenger Grounds**Ramp · Board wipe
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**Bala Ged Recovery // Bala Ged Sanctuary**Ramp · Recursion
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**Guardian Project**Card advantage · Value engine
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🔗 Spellslinger synergy

**Storm-Kiln Artist**Ramp · Tokens · Value engine
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**Guttersnipe**Multiplayer · Value engine
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**Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak**Ramp · Value engine · Recursion
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**Coruscation Mage**Multiplayer · Tokens · Value engine
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🔗 Lands synergy

**Boseiju, Who Endures**Ramp · Removal
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**Chromatic Lantern**Ramp · Fits any deck
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**Wayfarer's Bauble**Ramp · Fits any deck
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🧩 Top staples for this deck

✔️ Auto-includes (you probably already run these): Sol Ring, Command Tower, Arcane Signet, Exotic Orchard, Reliquary Tower, Swiftfoot Boots, Lightning Greaves, Path of Ancestry.

⚙️ Colorless all-stars

**The One Ring**Card advantage · Interaction · Fits any deck
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🪙 Budget picks (under $2€2)

**Garruk's Uprising**Card advantage · Value engine
0

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{3} — **Xenagos, God of Revels** Gruul · $9.09
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**Atarka, World Render** Gruul · $0.38
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{5} — **Atarka, World Render** Gruul · $0.38
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**Tannuk, Memorial Ensign** Gruul · $1.03
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{1} — **Tannuk, Memorial Ensign** Gruul · $1.03
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**Halana and Alena, Partners** Gruul · $0.38
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{2} — **Halana and Alena, Partners** Gruul · $0.38
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Staples are based on how often cards are played in Commander overall (popularity data via Scryfall/EDHREC) and filtered to this commander's colors. Synergy picks match the commander's rules text.