Call a Surprise Witness MTG Card


Offers card advantage and tempo at instant speed, crucial for outmaneuvering opponents in game. Demands careful deck building with dual-color and discard considerations to maximize potential. Versatile and meta-relevant; enriches decks through seamless integration and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Return target creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put a flying counter on it. It's a Spirit in addition to its other types.

"Honestly, the real surprise would be if a powerful member of the Orzhov *didn't* hang around after their demise." —Alquist Proft, case notes


Cards like Call a Surprise Witness

Call a Surprise Witness is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering that offers instant-speed interaction by allowing you to investigate, a mechanism where you create a Clue token that can be sacrificed to draw a card. This compares to cards like Cathartic Reunion which offers direct card draw but requires discarding two cards as part of its cost. Call a Surprise Witness, being instant speed, provides more flexibility by letting you create the Clue on your opponent’s turn.

Another parallel is found in Think Twice, an instant that draws a card upon casting and has the flashback potential, allowing it to be cast from the graveyard. However, Call a Surprise Witness has the advantageous Clue artifact that can be leveraged with artifact synergies in your deck, adding a layer of strategic depth. Then there’s Artificer’s Assistant, a creature that not only can chump block but also scrys when you cast a historic spell, which includes artifacts like Clue tokens, aligning nicely with the productivity of Call a Surprise Witness.

While each card offers unique benefits within the realm of MTG, Call a Surprise Witness stands out for its instant-speed utility and synergy with decks that capitalize on artifacts and clues, marking its stance as a versatile spell in the current metagame.

Cathartic Reunion - MTG Card versions
Think Twice - MTG Card versions
Artificer's Assistant - MTG Card versions
Cathartic Reunion - MTG Card versions
Think Twice - MTG Card versions
Artificer's Assistant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Call a Surprise Witness by color, type and mana cost

Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Call a Surprise Witness. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free form86#CS
Mono-White Death & TaxesMono-White Death & Taxes GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024
5c Control5c Control Standard5c ControlTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 18, 2024
Four-color MillFour-color Mill GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024
Azorius TempoAzorius Tempo StandardAzorius TempoCCG Standard 1K
Azorius ControlAzorius Control StandardAzorius Tempo~~ Izzet Explosive Experiment Event
Sealed DeckSealed Deck LimitedMurders At Karlov Mansion Pre-release

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Call a Surprise Witness provides the player with an additional card upon resolving, ensuring that you stay ahead in the resource battle against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: As a bonus, this card has the potential to enhance your resources extraordinarily quickly, allowing you to outpace your adversary in both tempo and development.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Call a Surprise Witness at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to react swiftly to your opponent’s moves or surprise them when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Call a Surprise Witness card demands that you discard another card to utilize its full potential. This stipulation can strain your hand if you’re not prepared or running low on cards, hindering your late-game performance.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both white and blue mana, this card necessitates a commitment to two colors. This can be restrictive for players wanting to build a more flexible, mono-colored deck or those who prefer not to rely on dual lands or mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of three mana, including two specific colors, might seem steep compared to other instant spells in the game. Players may find other cards in the same mana range that offer more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Call a Surprise Witness in Your Collection

Versatility: Call a Surprise Witness is a card that seamlessly slots into various deck builds. Its ability to provide card draw upon entering the fray makes it a flexible addition, perfect for decks that are aiming to stay ahead in card advantage.

Combo Potential: The card also offers combo potential with its Investigate mechanic, which creates a Clue artifact token that can be sacrificed for more draws. This naturally synergizes with strategies that benefit from artifacts or aim to assemble powerful draw engines.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic nature of the MTG landscape, a card like Call a Surprise Witness maintains relevance due to its capability to provide an immediate impact on the board state. In a meta dominated by midrange decks or strategies that require a deep hand, this card could turn the tides in your favor.


How to beat

Call a Surprise Witness is a versatile Instant card that can provide players with unexpected advantages in MTG. When facing this card, it’s important to be mindful of not only its ability to draw a card but also its contribution to the investigation mechanic by creating a Clue token which can be sacrificed for additional card draw later in the game. To counter this, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can disrupt your opponent’s creatures before they have the chance to use them for generating Clue tokens. Additionally, strategies involving graveyard disruption can help to mitigate the value your opponent gets from recurring cards with Flashback or other similar effects. Lastly, integrated into your game plan should be the presence of counter spells that can prevent Call a Surprise Witness from resolving, thereby denying your opponent both the card and the Clue token. By anticipating and preparing for this card, you can maintain control of the game flow and edge out your opponents who rely on the advantages it provides.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Call a Surprise Witness MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Call a Surprise Witness and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Call a Surprise Witness Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 2892015NormalBlackGreg Opalinski
22024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 62015NormalBlackJulia Metzger

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Call a Surprise Witness has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal