Agonizing Memories MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 60
1999-04-21 - Number 111
2001-04-11 - Number 117
2001-04-11 - Number 117★
2007-07-13 - Number 126
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at target player's hand. Choose two of those cards and put them on top of his or her library in any order.
"An innocent man died because of my anger. That knowledge will haunt me for all eternity." —Karn, silver golem
Cards like Agonizing Memories
Agonizing Memories serves as an intriguing piece in the puzzle of hand disruption mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. This four-mana sorcery compels an opponent to reveal their hand, allowing the caster to select any two cards seen to be placed on top of the owner’s library. It shares thematic territory with cards like Hymn to Tourach, albeit with a gentler impact, as Hymn to Tourach forces the discard of two random cards for half the mana cost.
Another similar card is Thoughtseize, a more surgical approach that also targets an opponent’s hand for disruption. Thoughtseize allows the caster to choose and discard a nonland card at the very low investment of one mana – though at the cost of 2 life. Despite the life loss and its limitation to only one card, its lower casting cost makes it exceedingly more playable than Agonizing Memories.
Analyzing the efficacy of these spells, it is clear that while Agonizing Memories may not be the top choice for competitive play, it provides a unique option for players who wish to disrupt and plan ahead by mediating an opponent’s draws, rather than aggressively discarding their resources. Its distinctive place within Magic: The Gathering’s variety of hand disruption spells grants it a niche, strategic role in certain decks.
Cards similar to Agonizing Memories by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Agonizing Memories is a strategic addition to decks looking to disrupt their opponent’s plans. By enabling you to peek into an opponent’s hand and choose two cards to put on top of their library, it effectively delays their access to key resources, giving you an edge in controlling the flow of the game.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, the ability to meddle with your opponent’s draws can indirectly accelerate your resources. You can stifle their development while advancing your board state uninterrupted, creating an implied acceleration in your favor.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Agonizing Memories can be tactfully played alongside instant-speed spells in your deck. Planning the use of this sorcery at a critical juncture, when your opponent is most vulnerable, can amplify the impact of your instant-speed interactions by ensuring their hand is weakened at a pivotal moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Agonizing Memories, you must select and discard cards from your hand, which might deplete your options and decrease your strategic flexibility during the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Agonizing Memories comes with a particular mana requirement, demanding both black and generic mana, making it a card that might not easily fit into decks that aren’t tailored for such a color combination.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires four mana, including two black, Agonizing Memories can be seen as a somewhat costly investment for the effect it procures, especially when compared to newer cards offering similar effects with either lower mana requirements or additional benefits.
Reasons to Include Agonizing Memories in Your Collection
Versatility: Agonizing Memories offers strategic depth as it can be incorporated into control decks that aim to disrupt opponents’ plans. Its ability to look at and discard two cards from an opponent’s hand makes it a flexible choice in matches that require precise disruption.
Combo Potential: This card has the capability to synergize with cards that capitalize on opponents’ discarded cards or graveyard interactions, offering unique combinations that can strengthen your overall game plan.
Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting metagames, Agonizing Memories could potentially shine in environments where hand disruption is key to undermining opponent strategies, thereby giving you a clear advantage in both casual and competitive play.
How to beat
Agonizing Memories is a unique spell in Magic: The Gathering, which allows a player to look at an opponent’s hand and choose two cards that are then placed on top of their library. It disrupts opponents by delaying their plans and effectively causing a loss of draws. This card can exert significant pressure, but there are strategies to mitigate its impact on your game.
To combat the effectiveness of Agonizing Memories, consider employing cards with shuffle effects to reorganize your library and negate the placement of the chosen cards. Moreover, utilize instant-speed card draw to pull the selected cards before your draw step or insert redundancy in your deck so the card selection is less impactful. Additionally, you can implement discard protection or hand concealment mechanics, such as Leyline of Sanctity, which offers a blanket defense against targeted hand disruption.
Ultimately, preemptive measures and swift reactions are key to overcoming the setbacks posed by Agonizing Memories. A deck well-versed in recovery and one that can adjust to the top-decking scenario will find itself less hindered by such control tactics. Insight into your deck’s composition and having a plan B is crucial for staying ahead in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Agonizing Memories MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Agonizing Memories and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Agonizing Memories Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 60 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mike Dringenberg | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 111 | 1997 | Normal | White | Mike Dringenberg | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 117 | 1997 | Normal | White | Adam Rex | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 117★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Adam Rex | |
| 5 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Adam Rex |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Agonizing Memories has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |