Careful Study (minigame) // Careful Study (cont'd) MTG Card
2021-02-05 - Number 4
2021-04-23 - Number 3
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Type | Card |
Text of card
2-6 players | 1 pack | 5 minutes OBJECTIVE: Take turns memorizing _Magic_ cards and trying to stump your opponent with questions! GET READY: Split up into two teams of one or more players. Randomly determine which team goes first, and then open a pack and remove any remaining land cards and any cards without _Magic_ card backs. Each team then picks a card and puts it face down on the table without looking at it. LET'S PLAY: On your turn, your team has 30 seconds to examine your card before handing it over to the opposing team. Then they ask your team five questions about your card. Once you've answered them all, note your score. Now it's your team's turn to ask the questions! Questions can be about anything on the card.
Cards like Careful Study (minigame) // Careful Study (cont'd)
Careful Study has established itself as a staple in Magic: The Gathering for players who favor strategies involving card selection and graveyard manipulation. This blue sorcery allows the caster to draw two cards and then discard two cards, a mechanic that aligns closely with the effects of Faithless Looting. Albeit the latter enables the draw and discard at a faster instant speed and has the added benefit of flashback, permitting a second use from the graveyard.
Another similar spell is Thought Scour, which targets a player to mill two cards directly into the graveyard and then draw a card. Thought Scour’s ability to fuel graveyard-based strategies with potentially less cost to the hand can be a crucial difference for certain decks. Chart a Course is also comparable, rewarding the player with two cards for two mana, but only requiring a discard if the player hasn’t attacked with a creature during that turn.
Each of these cards offers unique advantages for different game plans. While not as versatile as some alternatives, Careful Study’s particular combination of card filtering and graveyard set-up has proven invaluable in enabling powerful combos and synergies in various MTG formats.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unlocks the potential for card advantage by enabling you to look at the top two cards of your deck, giving you the flexibility to shape your hand for future turns.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, by filtering your hand, it accelerates your game plan, allowing you to dig for the resources or land drops you need more efficiently.
Instant Speed: Careful Study’s sorcery speed encourages strategic planning, demanding you carefully select the ideal moment in your turn to set the stage for powerful plays and combo setups.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Careful Study mandates that you discard two cards upon casting, which can be a costly payment, especially when your hand contains valuable resources that you’re not willing to lose. This aspect requires strategic planning to ensure maximum benefit without sacrificing essential cards.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a single blue mana to play, making it exclusive to decks that run blue mana or have a sufficient mana base to accommodate blue spells. This can restrict the card’s versatility across different deck types that may not support blue mana as readily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though one blue mana might not seem exorbitant, for the effect of drawing two cards and then discarding two, there are alternatives that provide more efficient card filtering or draw for a similar or lower mana investment. This could make Careful Study a less optimal choice in situations where mana economy is crucial.
Reasons to Include Careful Study in Your Collection
Versatility: This card seamlessly integrates into various deck types, particularly those seeking to enhance their card selection and graveyard synergy.
Combo Potential: When employed strategically, Careful Study unlocks potent combos by discarding key cards that operate from the graveyard, setting the stage for powerful turns.
Meta-Relevance: Given its influence in enabling swift archetype strategies, Careful Study maintains a solid presence in environments where setting up the right pieces quickly is crucial.
How to beat Careful Study
Challenging Careful Study in Magic: The Gathering requires a strategic approach due to its utility in filtering a player’s hand and fueling graveyard strategies. It’s a potent tool, allowing players to dig for answers or set up powerful cards in the graveyard. To gain the upper hand, consider leveraging cards that target the graveyard, such as Tormod’s Crypt or Rest in Peace, which can remove the advantage Careful Study provides by emptying the graveyard.
Hand disruption spells, like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, are also effective. These spells can preemptively remove Careful Study from an opponent’s hand before it’s played, disrupting their game plan. Additionally, countering the spell with cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak ensures that it never hits the table, keeping your opponent’s strategy in check. Remember to play proactively and anticipate the pivotal moments when denying Careful Study can lead to a more favorable game state for you.
Ultimately, understanding your opponent’s deck and the role Careful Study plays in it can greatly inform your decision on when and how to effectively counteract its impact on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Careful Study (minigame) // Careful Study (cont'd) MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim Minigames and Strixhaven: School of Mages Minigames, 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 Careful Study (minigame) // Careful Study (cont'd) and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Careful Study (minigame) // Careful Study (cont'd) Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by 0 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim Minigames | MKHM | 4 | 2015 | Double Faced Token | Black | ||
| 2 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages Minigames | MSTX | 3 | 2015 | Double Faced Token | Black |