MyMemeCards editorial team
Watch the ref
Nobody has added this meme's ref yet. Got the original video or post?
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Gnom” is an epic card of the Russian Memes pack, number 2 of the collection, and the 13th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Gnom” meme mean?
It stands for the overflowing enthusiasm of first-time creators, the ones who dream of a giant game with three sprites and a folder of sketches. You send it to someone pitching a crazy project on a shoestring, more out of camaraderie than mockery. It is the brave beginner, whose mistakes make people smile because almost everyone has made them.
Where does the “Gnom” meme come from?
The meme belongs to the Runet of the 2000s and dates from 2004. The gnome is linked to the atmosphere of Russian game-making forums, where amateurs shared prototypes, grand ideas and memorable bugs. It is part of that first wave of characters travelling from forum to forum before social networks, when one image was enough to create a small shared folklore. Its strength is that it speaks to anyone who has started a project far too big for them.
How to use the “Gnom” meme
- When a friend announces they will build an MMO alone over the holidays.
- Replying to the pitch of a half-built game with the gnome.
- An old forum uses it as the emblem of its first game jams.
Also searched as
- Gnom
- Gnoum
- Gamedev gnome
- gnom meme runet
- gamedev gnome meme
- gnom russian meme
- gnom meme 2004
- russian gamedev meme
- early runet memes
The “Gnom” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 002 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Russian Memes pack |
| Fame | 78/100 · #13 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Gnom” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Gnom comes out of the Russian Memes pack as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Gnom”
More cards of the Russian Memes pack
Frequently asked questions
What is Gnom?
A Russian meme from 2004 showing a gnome tied to the beginnings of amateur video game development.
When do people use it?
To humorously cheer on a very ambitious but still rough project.
Is it mocking?
More of a friendly wink: many makers recognise their own first attempts.
How do I get the Gnom meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Gnom” is an epic card of the Russian Memes pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Gnom card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Жаргон падонков (Wikipédia russe) · checked on October 29, 2026.
Read next
Want Gnom in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.