Show and Tell MTG Card


Show and Tell allows a quick deployment of powerful permanents, bypassing mana costs. Its strategic value shines in enabling game-winning combos and board presence. Counterplay involves anticipation and instant-speed interaction to mitigate risks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Each player may choose an artifact, creature, enchantment, or land card in his or her hand and put that permanent into play.

At the academy, "show and tell" too often becomes "run and hide."


Cards like Show and Tell

Show and Tell is an iconic spell that allows players to quickly change the tide of the game by putting a permanent card from their hand onto the battlefield. This card is often compared to other powerful game accelerators like Eureka, which also permits players to put any number of permanent cards onto the field. The difference? Eureka invites all players to participate until none wish to put more cards into play, whereas Show and Tell concludes after each player sets one card down. Because of that, Show and Tell provides a more controlled environment.

Another cousin in this category is Sneak Attack, enabling the placement of creatures onto the battlefield at instant speed. While it only allows creatures and they get sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step, Sneak Attack offers repeated use, unlike the single-event Show and Tell. Oath of Druids also comes to mind as it cheats creatures onto the battlefield by capitalizing on the number of creatures controlled by each player. However, it’s more situational compared to Show and Tell’s straightforward approach.

By comparing these alternatives, Show and Tell stands out as a spell of instantaneous impact and strategic depth, making it a potent addition for players aiming to bring heavy-hitting permanents into play with virtually no mana cost.

Eureka - MTG Card versions
Sneak Attack - MTG Card versions
Oath of Druids - MTG Card versions
Eureka - MTG Card versions
Sneak Attack - MTG Card versions
Oath of Druids - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Show and Tell by color, type and mana cost

Volcanic Eruption - MTG Card versions
Timetwister - MTG Card versions
Baleful Stare - MTG Card versions
Déjà Vu - MTG Card versions
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Political Trickery - MTG Card versions
Time Ebb - MTG Card versions
Dream Cache - MTG Card versions
Fade Away - MTG Card versions
Tinker - MTG Card versions
Sage's Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Undo - MTG Card versions
Ingenious Mastery - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Tasha's Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
Reminisce - MTG Card versions
Fabricate - MTG Card versions
Counsel of the Soratami - MTG Card versions
Vacuumelt - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Eruption - MTG Card versions
Timetwister - MTG Card versions
Baleful Stare - MTG Card versions
Déjà Vu - MTG Card versions
Exhaustion - MTG Card versions
Political Trickery - MTG Card versions
Time Ebb - MTG Card versions
Dream Cache - MTG Card versions
Fade Away - MTG Card versions
Tinker - MTG Card versions
Sage's Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Undo - MTG Card versions
Ingenious Mastery - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Tasha's Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
Reminisce - MTG Card versions
Fabricate - MTG Card versions
Counsel of the Soratami - MTG Card versions
Vacuumelt - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Oath of DruidsOath of Druids VintageOath of DruidsVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-05
Sneak and ShowSneak and Show LegacySneak and ShowLegacy League 2024-05-12
Omni-TellOmni-Tell LegacyOmni-TellLegacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Show and Tell creates a unique card advantage by letting you put a permanent card from your hand onto the battlefield. This move can significantly tip the scales, allowing you to bypass traditional casting costs and potentially overwhelm opponents with powerful creatures or artifacts much earlier in the game.

Resource Acceleration: With Show and Tell, you accelerate your resources substantially. This card circumvents the need for accumulating the required mana to cast high-cost permanents. By simply revealing your pick from your hand, you can cheat into play some of the game’s most formidable entities, which would otherwise take several turns to summon.

Instant Speed: Though Show and Tell itself is not cast at instant speed, the very nature of placing a permanent onto the battlefield without casting it allows the same strategic flexibility. It sets the stage for instant speed interactions and surprises, as it doesn’t use the stack in the same way a traditional spell would. Opponents must be ready to face unexpected threats immediately, adapting their strategies on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Show and Tell allows placing a permanent card onto the battlefield, it also requires careful hand management, as you don’t want to be forced into a position where you have to ‘show’ a critical card better suited for another turn.

Specific Mana Cost: Show and Tell’s combination of colorless and blue mana costs may not fit seamlessly into all deck archetypes, particularly those that run on a tight mana base or are not aligned with blue mana strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a substantial mana investment of three, Show and Tell can strain your resources in the early game. This issue is especially pronounced in fast-paced formats where tempo and immediate board presence are crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Show and Tell is a card that finds a place in many high-powered formats, where getting a powerful creature or even omniscience into play quickly can be a game-changer. Its ability to bypass traditional mana costs makes it a versatile pick for any deck aiming to cheat out big spells.

Combo Potential: With Show and Tell, players can unleash some of the most impactful combos in MTG. Imagine putting a Griselbrand or an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn into play as early as turn three. The potential for game-winning plays on the spot is what makes Show and Tell a feared and respected card.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the MTG meta often includes decks that aim to maximize efficiency and speed, Show and Tell maintains relevance by allowing for explosive plays that can outpace many competitive strategies. When facing down a slower, control-oriented opponent, Show and Tell can often tilt the game in your favor before they can set up their defenses.


How to beat

Show and Tell is a game-changing sorcery card allowing players to put a creature, enchantment, artifact, or land from their hand onto the battlefield. This powerful card can change the tide of the game by bypassing conventional mana costs and summoning spells. To triumph over Show and Tell, one must employ astute strategy and anticipation. As a MTG enthusiast, it’s crucial to maintain a deck with control elements such as counterspells or instant-speed interaction to respond to threats placed with Show and Tell.

One effective method is to keep cards in hand that can remove or neutralize the opposing permanents as soon as they hit the battlefield. Instant-speed removals like Swords to Plowshares or Beast Within offer a remedy to the colossal creatures deployed through Show and Tell. Additionally, boarding in preemptive answers like Containment Priest can negate the advantage, turning an opponent’s ace card into a potential pitfall. Always remember to analyze the match and adapt your sideboard accordingly to mitigate the surprise factor and power swing that Show and Tell can introduce to the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG is a constant balance of power and precision, where cards like Show and Tell can either set you on a path to victory or serve as a lesson in the delicacy of strategy. The foresight to enlist such a card in your deck can propel you to rapid triumphs, while equipping you with the knowledge to counteract it marks the wisdom of experience. We invite you to dive deeper with us, enhance your deck-building acumen, and navigate the ever-evolving metagame. To truly master your deck’s potential and outplay your opponents, join our community where insight and strategy converge for the ultimate MTG journey.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Show and Tell MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Magic Online Promos, 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 Show and Tell and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Show and Tell Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 961997NormalBlackJeff Laubenstein
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 469302003NormalBlackZack Stella
32016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1212015NormalBlackZack Stella
42023-11-17Special GuestsSPG 212015NormalBorderlessDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Show and Tell has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 If the cards being put onto the battlefield also require choices, those choices are made after all players choose their card. The active player makes choices for their card (if any), then the other players (if any) in turn order.
2004-10-04 Players choose cards during resolution, not announcement.
2008-04-01 The current player chooses first, then each other player chooses in turn order. A player does not have to reveal the chosen card, so long as it is clear *which* card was chosen. After all choices are made, the cards are put onto the battlefield simultaneously.