Cartographer's Survey MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 190
2022-01-28 - Number 457
2021-11-19 - Number 51
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at the top seven cards of your library. Put up to two land cards from among them onto the battlefield tapped. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
She monitors the roads in every province, mapping safe routes through hunting grounds and haunting grounds alike.
Cards like Cartographer's Survey
Cartographer’s Survey joins the lineup of land-fetching spells in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It echoes effects seen in powerful cards such as Explosive Vegetation, which enables players to search for two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield. Cartographer’s Survey ups the ante by allowing you to potentially put into play more lands based on the number of opponents you have, thus optimizing its efficiency in multiplayer settings.
Another related card is Circuitous Route, which provides flexibility in land selection by including the option to search for Gate lands, a nuance that broadens deck-building strategies. While Cartographer’s Survey is more limited in land type selection, it compensates with the potential for a high land yield. Skyshroud Claim also shares the theme of fetching lands, but it leans towards Forest cards specifically and puts them onto the battlefield untapped, offering an immediate boost in mana resources for the turn.
Assessing Cartographer’s Survey against its counterparts, it holds a unique position, especially in games with numerous adversaries. Its capability to potentially ramp up one’s mana base significantly fits well into strategies that thrive on casting high-cost spells swiftly and turning the tide of multiplayer bouts.
Cards similar to Cartographer's Survey by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Cartographer's Survey. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Scapeshift | Modern | Gruul Scapeshift | Modern Challenge 32 2024-05-09 |
 | Domain | Standard | Domain | Standard Challenge 32 2024-05-04 (1) |
 | Naya Dinosaurs | Standard | Naya Dinosaurs | Standard Preliminary 2024-05-06 |
| Naya Scapeshift | Modern | Naya Scapeshift | Modern Preliminary 2024-05-08 (1) |
| Gruul Dinosaurs | Standard | Gruul Dinosaurs | Standard Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cartographer’s Survey lets you look at the top seven cards of your library, potentially putting multiple lands onto the battlefield, thus increasing your hand’s value by not having to play lands from it.
Resource Acceleration: By placing extra lands onto the battlefield, Cartographer’s Survey can significantly ramp up your mana availability, giving you a lead in casting more impactful spells earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Cartographer’s Survey offers flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s moves or end-of-turn decisions, potentially making unexpected plays and keeping you in control of the game tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cartographer’s Survey asks players to discard at the beginning of the upkeep. This could be a setback if your hand is filled with key cards necessary for executing your game strategy or if you have an already depleted hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates green mana, which implies it’s only optimally used in green or multicolored decks. Having a green-centric mana demand makes it less versatile for inclusion in decks that don’t support green mana or have a green mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the ability to scout for land cards is desirable, Cartographer’s Survey comes with a substantial mana investment. You would need to tap four mana, including two green, which might be cumbersome early in the game or when you’re in need of a more immediate impact on the board.
Reasons to Include Cartographer’s Survey in Your Collection
Versatility: Cartographer’s Survey is a card that offers flexibility in deck building. Its ability to potentially ramp and provide land consistency makes it a solid choice for various deck archetypes, especially in formats where land manipulation is key.
Combo Potential: The land-fetching capability of Cartographer’s Survey opens up numerous combo opportunities. It can be used to assemble land-based combos or to simply ensure you have the right mana for a pivotal play, providing an edge in both casual and competitive scenes.
Meta-Relevance: Cartographer’s Survey’s value can increase in a meta that favors long games and complex board states. Ensuring land drops keeps you on par with opponents and strengthens your position, making it a relevant addition to many decks that want to stay competitive.
How to beat
Cartographer’s Survey presents itself as a potent tool for ramping within the MTG universe, much akin to spells like Cultivate and Kodama’s Reach that also provide land acceleration. This specific card allows players to look at the top seven cards of their library and put two land cards onto the battlefield tapped, propelling their mana growth. It excels in decks that favor a high count of lands, maximizing its potential payoff.
However, overcoming Cartographer’s Survey can be pivotal during a match. One strategy is to limit the targets for the card by depleting an opponent’s library of lands. Spells that shuffle lands back into a deck, such as Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter, can disrupt the card’s efficiency. Capitalizing on land disruption tools not only hinders Cartographer’s Survey but stymies an opponents’ ability to reach higher mana thresholds necessary for their game-defining plays.
Ultimately, while Cartographer’s Survey can significantly accelerate an opponent’s game plan, employing proactive land disruption and graveyard manipulation techniques can efficiently nullify this threat, maintaining an even playing field.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cartographer's Survey // Cartographer's Survey MTG card by a specific set like Crimson Vow Art Series and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Cartographer's Survey // Cartographer's Survey 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
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Printings
The Cartographer's Survey // Cartographer's Survey Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 51 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Donato Giancola | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 190 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 457 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cartographer's Survey has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |