Lost Hours MTG Card


Lost Hours merges hand disruption with the option to cast at instant speed, offering strategic flexibility. It’s a situational card, demanding hand management and a carefully designed mana base. Despite its cost, Lost Hours’ potential in specific decks makes it a valuable addition.
Lost Hours - Future Sight
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2007-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameFuture Sight
Set codeFUT
Number69
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJon Foster

Text of card

Target player reveals his or her hand. Choose a nonland card from it. That player puts that card into his or her library third from the top.

"Your thoughts do not interest me nearly as much as the absence thereof." —Gorghul, augur of skulls


Cards like Lost Hours

Lost Hours stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its unique take on temporal manipulation. If we draw parallels, we might look at similar cards like Time Ebb, which also controls the flow of the game by putting a creature on top of its owner’s library. Although Time Ebb doesn’t force the discard of a card like Lost Hours, it does set back the opponent by repeating a draw.

Temporal Spring and Griptide also create setbacks by putting creatures on top of their owner’s library. Yet, Lost Hours differentiates itself with the added disruption of penetrating an opponent’s hand, potentially disrupting their next draw phase. This can be more impactful than the tempo loss caused by other spells since it not only delays the creature but might also void an opponent’s next draw.

Analyzing each card’s potential impact on the game’s course, Lost Hours can be seen as an intriguing option in a Magic: The Gathering player’s strategy. Its combination of delaying opponent tactics and hand disruption provides a tactical advantage that’s distinctive within the range of similar MTG cards.

Time Ebb - MTG Card versions
Temporal Spring - MTG Card versions
Griptide - MTG Card versions
Time Ebb - MTG Card versions
Temporal Spring - MTG Card versions
Griptide - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lost Hours by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Cruel Edict - MTG Card versions
Macabre Waltz - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Cruel Edict - MTG Card versions
Macabre Waltz - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lost Hours plays into the strategy of controlling your opponent’s future draws, effectively setting them back and potentially disrupting their plans while simultaneously giving you a glimpse of their resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly increasing your mana pool, the knowledge gained from Lost Hours can be crucial in strategizing the best use of your available resources, effectively accelerating your game plan by making more informed decisions.

Instant Speed: The versatility of casting Lost Hours at instant speed allows for reactive playstyle. You can wait until the most opportune time to disrupt your opponent’s next turn, all while keeping mana open for other responses or threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Lost Hours means you’ll have to say goodbye to a card from your hand. This can put you at a disadvantage, particularly when your hand size is dwindling and every card counts. Strategic hand management becomes essential when including this card in your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Crafting the right mana base is crucial when integrating Lost Hours into your deck. With its distinct black mana requirement, it’s tailored for decks that harness the power of Swamps. However, this specificity can be limiting for multicolored decks or those that don’t focus heavily on black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you’re planning your game strategy, the mana investment for Lost Hours is worthy of consideration. Though it can disrupt your opponent’s draw, there are other cards available that can achieve similar or greater impact for a lesser mana commitment, potentially giving those other options the edge in deck construction preference.


Reasons to Include Lost Hours in Your Collection

Versatility: Lost Hours slots into a diverse array of decks that revolve around disrupting opponents’ strategies. Its ability to meddle with an opponent’s hand lends itself to control and discard-based archetypes, broadening its utility across different playstyles.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that capitalize on an opponent’s depleted resources. When paired with cards that monitor an opponent’s hand or graveyard, Lost Hours can become a cog in a more extensive combo machine, paving the way for calculated win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players often rely on having key cards in hand to execute their game plans, Lost Hours can play a pivotal role. By proactively hindering an opponent’s tactics, this card can shift the balance in your favor, asserting its importance in ever-changing competitive play scenarios.


How to beat

Lost Hours is an intriguing card known for its ability to meddle with an opponent’s strategies by forcing them to lose valuable time. Finely tuned to disrupt the crucial pacing of a match, Lost Hours may appear daunting at first glance. To circumvent the detrimental effects of this card, consider focusing on deck resiliency. Employing cards that allow you to recover from hand disruption and efficiently manage your own turns can be key.

Strategies involving graveyard retrieval or card draw acceleration ensure that even if you’re hit by Lost Hours, you’re able to bounce back swiftly. Cards like Eternal Witness or Stream of Thought can mitigate the impact on your game plan. Additionally, instants that untap your lands or cards with flash allow you to maintain mana availability, ensuring that you can execute your own plays even after losing a couple of turns to the disorienting effects of Lost Hours. Through preparation and tactical play, you can sidestep the potential setbacks and regain control of the tempo, essentially turning the tables and nullifying the card’s advantage.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lost Hours MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight, 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 Lost Hours and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lost Hours has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2007-05-01 If the player has zero or one card left in their library, the card is put on the bottom of that library.
2014-02-01 If you target yourself with this spell, you must reveal your entire hand to the other players just as any other player would.