Time Sieve MTG Card


Time Sieve can drastically alter game progression, granting additional turns for significant card and resource advantage. A precise mana arrangement and artifact-heavy strategy are essential to unlock Time Sieve’s turn-warping potential. Strategic counterplays exist to neutralize Time Sieve, including artifact removal and disruption of combo setups.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

, Sacrifice five artifacts: Take an extra turn after this one.

"I pray that I am never considered useless or old." —Sharuum the Hegemon


Cards like Time Sieve

Time Sieve stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a potent artifact with the unique ability to grant extra turns. In comparison, other cards that allow extra turns often come to mind, such as Time Warp, which straightforwardly gives a player an additional turn for five mana. However, unlike Time Sieve, Time Warp is a one-time effect with no additional requirements or recurring potential.

Likewise, Magistrate’s Scepter shares the theme of accruing extra turns, accumulating counters that can eventually be cashed in for an extra turn. This card, though, demands a longer setup to achieve a similar effect. Meanwhile, Time Sieve shines in decks that can reliably produce artifacts to sacrifice, offering a more immediately impactful if conditional, extra turn effect.

To sum up, while Time Sieve requires a specific board state to optimize its extraordinary ability, it can repeatedly alter the course of the game in ways few cards can. Its synergistic nature with artifact-heavy decks makes it a formidable choice for players who can consistently meet its activation conditions.

Time Warp - MTG Card versions
Magistrate's Scepter - MTG Card versions
Time Warp - MTG Card versions
Magistrate's Scepter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Time Sieve by color, type and mana cost

Dimir Signet - MTG Card versions
Talisman of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Thoughtcutter Agent - MTG Card versions
Puppet Conjurer - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Strix - MTG Card versions
Mask of Riddles - MTG Card versions
Baleful Strix - MTG Card versions
Dimir Signet - MTG Card versions
Talisman of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Thoughtcutter Agent - MTG Card versions
Puppet Conjurer - MTG Card versions
Tidehollow Strix - MTG Card versions
Mask of Riddles - MTG Card versions
Baleful Strix - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Asmo FoodAsmo Food ModernAsmo FoodModern Preliminary 2023-12-14 (1)
Esper WhirzaEsper Whirza ModernThopter Combo2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open
Urza ThopterSwordUrza ThopterSword ModernThopter ComboEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Modern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Time Sieve offers a unique avenue for card advantage, potentially granting extra turns where more cards can be drawn and played. While it does not directly allow you to draw, the additional turns can lead to a significant advantage over your opponents who are confined to the natural progression of turns.

Resource Acceleration: Using Time Sieve effectively can translate into an acceleration of resources. By taking extra turns, you get additional land drops and untap steps, considerably speeding up your resource development while leaving opponents behind.

Instant Speed: Although Time Sieve itself is not an instant, it operates well with strategies that utilize artifacts at instant speed. This synergy allows players to deploy their artifacts or set up their board and then activate Time Sieve, all within a tight window, typically at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to actions that threaten your strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Time Sieve’s powerful ability, you must sacrifice five artifacts, a tall order that demands a consistent presence of expendable artifacts or otherwise can severely deplete your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Time Sieve demands a precise mana arrangement of one blue and one black to be cast. This specificity can be restrictive, requiring a dedicated mana base that may not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks looking to capitalize on a broader color palette.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While being able to take an extra turn is intrinsically powerful, the combined cost of tapping and sacrificing resources means the true cost goes beyond the initial two mana investment. Cards requiring fewer resources or offering instant value without a recurring cost might provide a more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Time Sieve offers flexibility across different decks by providing a unique way to take extra turns. Its synergy with strategies that generate artifact tokens makes it a powerful addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Time Sieve can create infinite turns, partnering well with cards that produce a multitude of artifacts to fulfill its activation cost. This potential enables game-winning combos that are both fun and effective.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where the battle can shift in a single turn, having the ability to take extra turns can be pivotal. Time Sieve holds relevance as players utilize its capabilities to outpace opponents in the race for board dominance.


How to beat

Time Sieve is a unique artifact in the realm of MTG, providing players with the powerful opportunity to take extra turns by sacrificing five artifacts. However, crafting your strategy to dismantle this card’s potential is crucial. The key is to limit your opponent’s artifact count, impeding their ability to activate Time Sieve’s ability. Employing artifact removal spells like Abrade or Shatterstorm can swiftly clear the board of smaller artifacts. Additionally, countering Time Sieve when it’s on the stack through counterspells such as Counterspell or Negate will prevent it from ever becoming a threat. For a more proactive approach, Lean on cards that restrict the ability to play artifacts or employ Stony Silence to turn off the functionality of artifacts altogether. This way, you’ll stop Time Sieve before it starts warping time in your opponent’s favor.

Taking into account the synergies that Time Sieve thrives on, it’s also strategic to disrupt combo pieces. Utilize hand disruption tactics with cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek to dismantle your opponent’s setup preemptively. By carefully managing the board and staying vigilant of potential combo enablers, you can keep Time Sieve from ever unleashing its full potential in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the depths of multi-turn strategies and artifact dynamics, Time Sieve emerges as a card with formidable potential. Understanding its intricacies can catapult your MTG gameplay to new heights, allowing you to navigate turns that leave opponents grappling with the pace you set. For players eager to excel in utilizing this unique game-changer, refining strategies that amass artifacts and combining them with effective countermeasures against potential counters is key. Beyond a card, Time Sieve is a journey through MTG’s strategic battlefield. Keen to unveil the full extent of its power and integrate it into your deck-building arsenal? Explore with us and turn the tides in your favor, one extra turn at a time.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Time Sieve MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Mystery Booster, 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 Time Sieve and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Time Sieve Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 312003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14972003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2232015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
42020-09-26The ListPLST ARB-312003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Time Sieve has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 You may sacrifice Time Sieve as one of the artifacts to pay the cost of its own ability.