Ancestral Memories MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 52
1997-05-01 - Number 40
1999-04-21 - Number 57
2001-04-11 - Number 59★
2001-04-11 - Number 59
2020-09-26 - Number POR-40
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at the top seven cards of your library. Put two of those cards into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
"Even the ancient storytellers proclaimed Zhalfir to be dominant over all Jamuraa. Kaervek's invasion shocked us all." —Hakim, Loreweaver
Cards like Ancestral Memories
Ancestral Memories stands out as a unique presence among card draw effects in Magic: The Gathering. At a glimpse, it may remind seasoned players of Ancestral Recall, one of the game’s most iconic cards, which also allows a considerable draw. However, Ancestral Memories invites players to draw three cards, then put two cards from their hand on top of their library, demanding strategic decision-making similar to Brainstorm.
Conversely, we can look to Telling Time for parallels, which lets a player look at the top three cards of their library, put one into their hand, one on the bottom of their library, and one on top. Both involve manipulating the top of the library but differ in the number of cards added to the hand. Then there’s Strategic Planning, where you look at the top three cards of your library, put one in your hand and the rest in your graveyard, presenting a different avenue for utilizing your deck’s resources.
Ultimately, Ancestral Memories offers a fascinating blend of card draw and library manipulation, providing players with the ability to sculpt their upcoming draws and offering a strong advantage in the game if played with foresight.
Cards similar to Ancestral Memories by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ancestral Memories allows players to look at the top seven cards of their library, selecting any three and adding them to their hand. This makes it a powerful tool for pulling ahead in terms of available resources during a match.
Resource Acceleration: While Ancestral Memories itself does not directly accelerate resources, the ability to dig deep into your deck and select the most useful cards can effectively streamline your game plan and lead to quicker access to your key spells and assets.
Instant Speed: The card can be cast at instant speed, which provides flexibility, allowing players to wait until the most opportune moment to utilize it, potentially during an opponent’s end step or in response to actions that would diminish your hand size or library.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ancestral Memories forces players to pitch two cards upon resolution. This drawback compounds in situations where your hand is already dwindling, potentially setting you back by limiting your options.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a stringent mana commitment of three blue, the card can be challenging to cast outside of mono-blue or heavily blue-weighted decks, reducing its flexibility in multi-colored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For five mana, Ancestral Memories may not be the most mana-efficient card-draw spell available. Given its steep price, players often weigh other options in their deck-building that could provide more immediate or cost-effective card advantage.
Reasons to Include Ancestral Memories in Your Collection
Versatility: Ancestral Memories offers a powerful card-drawing ability, allowing deck builders to dig deep for answers or combo pieces. This makes it a flexible addition to any blue-focused deck strategy that values card advantage.
Combo Potential: With the ability to look at the top seven cards of your library, Ancestral Memories can set up game-winning combinations by selectively drawing into key cards. It synergizes well with library manipulation and graveyard strategies.
Meta-Relevance: Given the constantly shifting MTG metagame landscape, having a tool that can adapt to various opponents is invaluable. Ancestral Memories can provide that edge, keeping your hand filled with responses to the ever-evolving threats on the battlefield.
How to beat Ancestral Memories
Ancestral Memories is a blue sorcery card that delves deep into your library, allowing you to look at the top seven cards and put two of them into your hand. This card offers a significant advantage in card selection, which can be critical for setting up a winning strategy. To counteract Ancestral Memories, a player should consider the timing of its play. Since it’s a sorcery, it can’t be cast during an opponent’s turn, which leaves room for strategic planning.
One effective method to handle Ancestral Memories is through the use of counter-spells. Countering it before it resolves will prevent your opponent from gaining card advantage. Additionally, applying pressure with an aggressive deck can also be efficient. By presenting threats that demand immediate answers, you force the opponent to use mana on dealing with your board state instead of casting Ancestral Memories. Graveyard disruption is another avenue to explore. Cards that exile cards from the opponent’s graveyard can indirectly reduce the effectiveness of Ancestral Memories by limiting potential future recursion opportunities which some strategies might rely on.
Understanding the value provided by Ancestral Memories and employing disruption, countering tactics, or aggressive strategies are key to negating the card’s potential impact in the game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ancestral Memories MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Portal, 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 Ancestral Memories and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Ancestral Memories Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 52 | 1997 | Normal | Black | William Donohoe | |
| 2 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 40 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 57 | 1997 | Normal | White | William Donohoe | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 59★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 59 | 1997 | Normal | White | Rebecca Guay | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | POR-40 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ancestral Memories has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ancestral Memories 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 there are less than 7 cards in the library, look at all of them. Put two into your hand, and the rest in the graveyard. |
| 2004-10-04 | This is not considered a draw or a discard. |