A-Case the Joint MTG Card


Gaining the upper hand by previewing opponents’ libraries can shift the tide of MTG matches in your favor. Instant speed allows for strategic flexibility, integrating seamlessly within various points of your turn. Though resourceful, it requires careful hand management and a balanced mana base to maximize its potential.
A-Case the Joint - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
NumberA-37
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byStella Spente

Text of card

Draw three cards, then look at the top card of each player's library.

Steel doors and iron bars are child's play for an Obscura operative.


Cards like A-Case the Joint

A-Case the Joint has carved its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a resourceful addition to any player seeking strategic advantage through card reconnaissance. Akin to the well-appreciated Peek, which also allows you to glimpse an opponent’s hand at instant speed, A-Case the Joint expands on this by enabling you to not only scrutinize an opponent’s hand but also cast the spied card using mana as though it were any type. While Peek’s lower mana cost makes it accessible early in the game, it doesn’t provide the adaptability that A-Case the Joint offers.

Gitaxian Probe is another card that shares some similarities, offering a look at an opponent’s hand at the potential cost of life rather than mana—promoting early game plays. It also draws a card, ensuring its caster maintains card parity. However, Gitaxian Probe doesn’t match the utility of being able to utilize information by casting an opponent’s spell. Furthermore, Telepathy provides consistent insight by revealing all opponents’ hands without the one-time restriction, but again, it lacks the dynamic functionality of A-Case the Joint.

Analyzing these spells underlines the unique position of A-Case the Joint in Magic: The Gathering. It combines elements of espionage with flexible mana usage, allowing players to execute surprise tactics with their opponents’ resources, which is a game-changer in the art of MTG warfare.

Peek - MTG Card versions
Gitaxian Probe - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Peek - MTG Card versions
Gitaxian Probe - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When engaging with A-Case the Joint, you’re entitled to survey the top card of each opponent’s library, a potential game-changer for plotting your next move. If it’s a nonland card, you draw a card, ensuring momentum and fortifying your position.

Resource Acceleration: This black spell delivers a twist in resource management. Not only does it potentially deflate your adversaries’ resources, but it also steers you toward seizing the upper hand by accelerating your own assets as you align your strategy toward victory.

Instant Speed: Functioning at instant speed, A-Case the Joint seamlessly incorporates into your tactics, allowing for flexible play throughout your turn. Execute it during your opponent’s end step, and presto, you’ve maintained maximum efficiency without slowing down your own tempo.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A-Case the Joint requires a player to pitch another card from their hand to sneak it into play, which could lead to a deficit in your hand especially when running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands both blue and black mana, making it a little less flexible and could prove challenging to cast on time if your mana base isn’t well-tuned.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three specific mana, A-Case the Joint sits at a higher threshold which may not align with the tempo of faster, more aggressive decks seeking to maximize each mana spent.


Reasons to Include A Case the Joint in Your Collection

Versatility: A Case the Joint provides tactical advantages in different deck archetypes. It shines in settings where intelligence about the opponent’s hand is as pivotal as the spell you are planning to cast next turn.

Combo Potential: This card adds a layer of strategy, enabling you to prepare the ground for future moves while assessing threats. Its combo potential lies in its ability to inform your upcoming plays, synergizing well with control or disruption-focused decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given that knowledge is power in the dynamic environment of MTG, A Case the Joint holds its weight against ever-changing deck trends and is extremely useful in formats where predicting and countering your opponent’s plays can determine the outcome of a match.


How to beat A-Case the Joint

A-Case the Joint is an intriguing disruption tool in the MTG arsenal, offering the ability to anticipate and undermine the strategies of your opponents. Its real strength lies in allowing players to look at an opponent’s hand and search their library, effectively giving a glimpse into potential future plays to better prepare defenses or counterattacks. Unlike other disruption cards that may only offer a peek at an opponent’s hand or require more substantial mana investments, A-Case the Joint stands out with its targeted approach.

To effectively counter A-Case the Joint, players should consider utilizing instant-speed spells and abilities that can alter their hand content in response to it being cast. Such spells include those which let you draw cards, discard cards, or shuffle your library – thereby protecting key strategies or bluffs. Moreover, strategic use of counterspells can prevent A-Case the Joint from ever resolving, ensuring your hand and library remain secret. Permission decks that operate with a wealth of counterspells and instant interactions naturally dampen A-Case the Joint’s effectiveness.

Ultimately, maintaining a flexible and responsive game plan is vital when facing off against A-Case the Joint. By adapting on the fly and capitalizing on the element of surprise, players can mitigate the impact of this disruptive card and maintain the upper hand in their MTG matches.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Case the Joint MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 A-Case the Joint and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Case the Joint has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal