Keen Sense MTG Card


Keen Sense potentially turns every creature hit into a card draw, significantly boosting card advantage. It’s restricted by green mana and may be less useful in multi-color decks not focused on green. Combining Keen Sense with creatures having damaging tap abilities can create a reliable draw engine.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature deals damage to an opponent, you may draw a card.

Crovax sensed that Mirri wasn't ready for the curse taking hold of her. Weeping in his heart, he fled.


Cards like Keen Sense

Keen Sense is an intriguing green enchantment spell that has found its niche in MTG decks emphasizing on card draw triggers. With an ability very similar to that of Curiosity, which also enables a card draw upon dealing damage to an opponent, Keen Sense offers a parallel advantage for green decks that Curiosity does for blue ones. However, Keen Sense is specifically designed for creatures you control, allowing for tactical plays in green-centric strategies.

Another card worth comparing is Sixth Sense, which has an identical effect. It stands out due to its lower rarity and recent print, making it more accessible. What sets Keen Sense slightly ahead for some players is its original printing in the Planar Chaos set, which holds a certain prestige and nostalgia. Lastly, Ophidian Eye brings a twist to the concept, offering not only the card draw but also granting the enchanted creature flash, making it a flexible option for surprise plays.

Evaluating these spells in the context of their usability and how they mesh with different strategies is essential. Keen Sense particularly shines in scenarios where the focus is on maximizing the draw potential of green’s creature-focused economy.

Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Sixth Sense - MTG Card versions
Ophidian Eye - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Sixth Sense - MTG Card versions
Ophidian Eye - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Keen Sense. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
BoglesBogles ModernBoglesGrand Open Qualifier Barcelona 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Keen Sense provides ongoing card draw as it rewards you whenever the enchanted creature successfully deals damage to an opponent. This continual resource can prove critical in outpacing your opponent over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly creating additional mana, the extra cards drawn from Keen Sense can lead to a smoother flow of lands and spells, indirectly increasing your resources and giving you more options every turn.

Instant Speed: Keen Sense can be attached at sorcery speed, but its card draw effect triggers during any player’s turn, making it react at an instant’s pace. This allows players to maximize their draw by targeting creatures likely to deal damage on either turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Keen Sense offers the potential for card draw, one downside is the necessity for the enchanted creature to deal damage to an opponent. This can be a significant obstacle if your creature is unable to break through an opponent’s defenses, effectively nullifying the benefit of the card in certain game states.

Specific Mana Cost: The card requires green mana, which means its usage is confined to green decks or those with a mana base capable of producing green. This mana specificity can restrict the card’s utility in multi-color decks that might straddle various other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential for repeated card draw, Keen Sense carries a mana cost that may be considered on the high side for an Aura of its kind. In the fast-paced nature of many games, players might find more immediate value in other cards with lower mana requirements or those that provide additional effects beyond card draw.


Reasons to Include Keen Sense in Your Collection

Versatility: Keen Sense offers flexibility by being an inexpensive enchantment that you can attach to any creature. This card can seamlessly fit into a variety of green decks, enhancing their ability to draw more cards and maintain momentum.

Combo Potential: With its ability to draw a card whenever the enchanted creature deals damage, it pairs well with creatures that have tap abilities to deal damage or with those that can attack unblocked, enabling consistent card draw.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games are decided by who has more resources, Keen Sense can ensure you keep a full hand. Keeping pace with your opponent’s plays makes it a relevant choice in many matchups, keeping your deck resilient and responsive.


How to Beat Keen Sense

Keen Sense is a versatile Aura in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to draw a card whenever the enchanted creature deals damage. This card can quickly become a source of card advantage for your opponent, making the creature it enchants a high-priority target. Tackling this situation effectively means immobilizing or removing the creature from the battlefield. Tools like removal spells, counterspells, or even sacrificing effects are effective in ensuring your opponent can’t capitalize on the advantage granted by Keen Sense.

Strategies such as board wipes or targeted creature removals like Path to Exile ensure that the Aura goes to the graveyard along with the creature, halting the card-draw engine. If the creature is hexproof or untargetable, cards that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can bypass those protections. Enchantment removal spells can directly target Keen Sense if it becomes too much of a threat. In combination with efficient threat management, your game plan should involve pressuring your opponent so they have less opportunity to use Keen Sense to its full potential.

Ultimately, managing the board and maintaining control over the flow of the game are key to overcoming the card advantage Keen Sense can provide. With timely disruption and strategic plays, you can neutralize its impact and keep the gameplay to your advantage.


BurnMana Recommendations

If Keen Sense has caught your eye, you understand the power of sustained card draw in MTG. With its ability to turn any creature attack into a potential card advantage, it can be a game changer. Balancing your deck to capitalize on its strengths while mitigating its downsides is crucial. Whether your strategy involves sneaking in unblockable creatures or just ensuring your creatures endure on the battlefield, Keen Sense can be a pivotal addition to your collection. Curious about optimizing your playstyle and integrating Keen Sense seamlessly into your deck? Dive deeper with us for insights and advanced tactics that could give you the winning edge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Keen Sense MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Time Spiral Remastered, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Keen Sense and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Keen Sense Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 1522003NormalBlackJim Nelson
22021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 2132015NormalBlackJim Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Keen Sense has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Keen Sense card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-03-16 If this Aura enchants an opponent’s creature, you won’t draw a card when that creature damages you. The creature has to deal damage to one of your opponents for the ability to trigger.
2018-03-16 You draw one card each time the enchanted creature deals damage to an opponent, no matter how much damage it deals or whether it was dealt in combat.