Booster Tutor MTG Card
2004-01-01 - Number 11
2004-11-19 - Number 51
2020-02-29 - Number 33
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Open a sealed Magic booster pack, reveal the cards, and put one of them into your hand. (Remove that card from your deck before beginning a new game.)
Make your judgment wisely: The right pack will let you defeat your nemesis, but a poor choice can only end in torment. And *Homelands*.
Cards like Booster Tutor
Booster Tutor stands out within the realm of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique ability to introduce an element of chance and card choice. It’s often measured against cards like Demonic Tutor, which straightforwardly allows a player to search their library for a card and put it into their hand. Where Booster Tutor differs is in its creation of a mini-game, having you open a booster pack and choose a card from it, adding an exciting layer of unpredictability and potential value to each play.
Another card worthy of comparison is Gamble, which offers a similar level of risk and reward. Gamble entails searching your library for a card, then discarding one at random, potentially losing the very tool you needed. While this card certainly aligns with the risk-taking aspect of Booster Tutor, it lacks the novelty of integrating sealed product into gameplay.
Considering the distinct experience that Booster Tutor brings to the table, it holds a special place in MTG. It encourages innovative strategies and can turn the tides of a game by giving access to cards outside conventional deck building. Thus for players who enjoy a mix of strategy and chance, Booster Tutor is an exemplary choice.
Cards similar to Booster Tutor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Booster Tutor shines in scenarios where card advantage is key. It allows you to access an additional booster pack worth of cards, potentially pulling exactly what you need to turn the tide in a match.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources like other cards might, it opens the possibility of selecting a card that could. Be it a land or a ramp spell, Booster Tutor increases your chances of hitting that crucial resource boost.
Instant Speed: The real tactical versatility of Booster Tutor stems from its instant speed. This lets you wait until the last possible moment to decide whether you need to bolster your hand or if you can coast by on your current resources—keeping opponents guessing and maximizing your strategic options in a tight game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Booster Tutor card demands that you discard another card, which could be a setback when your hand is already dwindling. This requirement may force players to make difficult decisions about resource management, potentially compromising their game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: While the flexibility of the Booster Tutor spell is intriguing, it does necessitate one black mana. This cost can restrict the card’s inclusion in decks, especially those that are not configured to generate black mana efficiently or are centered around multicolor themes where black is not a primary color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the unique ability of Booster Tutor to access cards outside of the current game, its mana cost sits at the higher end compared to other tutor cards. Players may consider this a disadvantage when seeking quicker or less resource-intensive alternatives to optimize their deck’s performance and streamline their strategies throughout a match.
Reasons to Include Booster Tutor in Your Collection
Versatility: Booster Tutor adds a layer of unpredictability and excitement to gameplay. Its ability to pull from an unused booster pack means it can fit into any build, especially those that thrive on casting spells at instant speed.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that manipulate the top cards of your library or cards that care about the number of spells you’ve cast in a turn, Booster Tutor can become an unexpected game-changer, offering new synergies and interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Players who maintain a diverse and frequently updated collection will appreciate Booster Tutor’s relevance in a shifting meta. This card allows you to adapt to opponents on the fly, pulling in solutions or threats right when you need them most.
How to beat
Understanding how to navigate around Booster Tutor in your MTG matchups can significantly tilt the scales in your favor. This unorthodox card allows a player to open a sealed booster pack and select any card from it to put into their hand, injecting an element of surprise and potential power swing into the game. To counter this, it’s essential to disrupt the Tutor’s synergy. Strategies include pressuring your opponent’s life total aggressively so they have less time to benefit from their new card, or leveraging discard effects that force the card out of their hand before it can be used.
Furthermore, being mindful of the timing when your opponent might cast Booster Tutor can enable you to hold up counterspells or instant-speed removal. This is particularly effective if the Tutor is likely to dig for a creature or an artifact that could turn the tide. Cards like Thoughtseize can also give you foresight into your opponent’s hand, helping you prepare or even prevent them from successfully casting Booster Tutor by stripping it from their hand preemptively.
In essence, while Booster Tutor presents a unique challenge, a combination of aggressive play, strategic hand disruption, and precise timing with counterspells will help you maintain control and ultimately claim victory in the face of this wildcard.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Booster Tutor MTG card by a specific set like Arena League 2004 and Unhinged, 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 Booster Tutor 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Booster Tutor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-01-01 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-01-01 | Arena League 2004 | PAL04 | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Silver | Heather Hudson | |
| 2 | 2004-11-19 | Unhinged | UNH | 51 | 2003 | Normal | Silver | Christopher Rush | |
| 3 | 2020-02-29 | Unsanctioned | UND | 33 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Heather Hudson |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Booster Tutor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-02-29 | You can open booster packs that contain cards not legal in the format you’re playing. |
| 2020-02-29 | You can use any sealed Magic booster pack, including promo packs. As long as it hasn’t previously been opened and you don’t know the contents beforehand, you’re good. |