Basic Conjuration MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 315
2021-04-23 - Number 120
2021-04-24 - Number 120p
2021-04-24 - Number 120s
2002-06-24 - Number 90140
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery — Lesson |
Text of card
Look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. You gain 3 life.
Understanding Basic Conjuration’s Place
Basic Conjuration is an intriguing spell among creature-centric cards in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Commune with Nature, as both present the ability to look at the top of one’s library and select creatures out of a number of cards. Basic Conjuration edges forward with its “Learn” mechanic, adding versatility by permitting players to grab a Lesson card from outside the game or to simply loot for another card in the deck.
Comparatively, Adventurous Impulse is similar due to its lower mana cost and ability to dig for a creature or land, albeit without the added benefit of the Learn mechanic. Omen of the Hunt, though focused on fetching lands, parallels Basic Conjuration with an additional ability to trigger at instant speed, offering flexibility despite not affecting the creature base directly.
Cards like Basic Conjuration
Basic Conjuration stands out in the field of creature selection in Magic: The Gathering. Sharing space with Lead the Stampede, it allows players to look at the top few cards of their deck for creature cards. Unlike Lead the Stampede, Basic Conjuration offers the Learn mechanic as a reward, thereby providing an extra dimension to the card’s utility by allowing access to sideboard options or a draw effect. However, Basic Conjuration costs more mana, giving Lead the Stampede users an early-game advantage.
Another relative is Once Upon a Time, which allowed free casting if it’s the first spell of the game, providing an immediate upper hand in selecting the creature or land needed. Despite its ban in several formats due to power considerations, this comparison highlights the safer power level at which Basic Conjuration is set. With insight into each card’s strengths and weaknesses, players can better determine Basic Conjuration’s role within their decks.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Basic Conjuration shines in providing card advantage. Upon casting, it lets you look at the top six cards of your deck, which effectively digs deeper to find the resources you need. It then allows you to reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand, ensuring that your options in play are replenished and your hand remains primed for future turns.
Resource Acceleration: In addition to selecting a creature card, Basic Conjuration also lets you put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in a random order. This action inherently accelerates your resources by filtering your deck, reducing the chances of drawing idle cards in subsequent turns, and tailoring your draws closer to your strategic needs.
Instant Speed: The real kicker is that Basic Conjuration operates at instant speed, allowing you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. By waiting until the last possible moment to cast Basic Conjuration, you maintain the element of surprise, keeping your adversaries guessing about your next move and enabling you to react with the most appropriate creature from your deck based on the current state of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Basic Conjuration offers a peek into the library, it requires discarding a card, potentially depleting hand resources, which might be vital for your strategy, especially if your hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: This card calls for a precise combination of mana, including a dedicated green. For players running multicolored decks without a strong green mana base, this can sometimes hinder the smooth execution of their game plan.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost leaning towards the higher side for its effects, Basic Conjuration competes with other spells in the same range. This could be a setback in fast-paced matches where mana efficiency is key to outpacing an opponent.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Basic Conjuration offers flexibility in deck building with its capability to rummage through your deck for a creature card, making it a useful inclusion for decks looking to enhance consistency in drawing key creatures.
Combo Potential: With its ‘Learn’ ability, Basic Conjuration not only gets you a creature but potentially leads to advantageous combos by accessing sideboard cards (Lesson cards) that can alter the game state significantly.
Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift, the adaptability provided by Basic Conjuration means it stays relevant, able to adjust by fetching the most suitable creatures or Lessons depending on the current competitive environment.
How to Beat Basic Conjuration
Basic Conjuration from the world of Magic: The Gathering poses a unique challenge with its card selection and mana generation abilities. This card allows players to peek at the top few cards of their library, select one creature among them, and place it into their hand. This not only smoothens their draw but also comes with the added advantage of gaining life points equivalent to the chosen creature’s mana value.
To effectively counter Basic Conjuration, it’s all about disruption and timing. Counterspells, such as Negate or Mana Leak, are the direct approach as they can be used to prevent the spell from resolving, thus hindering your opponent’s plans for creature selection and the life gain. If counterspells aren’t an option, hand disruption spells like Thoughtseize enable you to get rid of Basic Conjuration before it’s even cast, provided you’re quick to apply this strategy in the early game.
Overall, while Basic Conjuration can provide your opponent significant value and give them a leg up, your choice of counterspells, hand disruption, or even graveyard tampering can be quite effective. It takes a strategic approach, a keen understanding of timing, and the ability to anticipate your opponent’s moves. Master these, and you’ll find that overcoming Basic Conjuration isn’t as daunting as it may first appear.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Basic Conjuration MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Basic Conjuration and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Basic Conjuration Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Randy Vargas.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 90140 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 315 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas | |
| 3 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas | |
| 4 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 120p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas | |
| 5 | 2021-04-24 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos | PSTX | 120s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Vargas |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Basic Conjuration has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Basic Conjuration card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | Although you may want to include Lessons in your sideboard if you’re playing with cards that instruct you to learn, Lesson cards can be included in your main deck like other instant or sorcery cards. |
| 2021-04-16 | Lesson is a spell subtype found on some instant and sorcery cards in the Strixhaven set. The Lesson subtype has no special rules associated with it. |