Case the Joint MTG Card

Case the Joint facilitates strategic planning by revealing cards from an opponent’s library at instant speed. Includes discard condition and strict mana requirements, which may limit its utility in some decks. Its versatility and combo potential make it a contender for decks that benefit from card and opponent hand knowledge.
Case the Joint - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
Number37
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byStella Spente

Text of card

Draw two cards, then look at the top card of each player's library.

Steel doors and iron bars are child's play for an Obscura operative.

Cards like Case the Joint

Case the Joint establishes its niche within the spectrum of card advantage options in Magic: The Gathering. Like Case the Joint, cards such as Anticipate offer players the ability to look at multiple cards from the top of their library, but Anticipate allows for more immediate selection, albeit providing fewer cards in comparison. While Anticipate is often seen in decks that value selection to find an answer or combo piece, Case the Joint leans towards raw card advantage, which is essential for decks looking to maintain high card quantity.

Peering closely at Serum Visions, we uncover another card with a similar goal – optimising future draws. Serum Visions allows for one card draw and a scry of two, letting players shape forthcoming rounds, though it lacks the sheer drawing power of Case the Joint. Furthermore, Opt presents itself as another one-mana spell enabling players to scry and draw a card instantaneously, but it does not facilitate the stocking of hand size like Case the Joint does.

Playing a vital role for those seeking to ensure a well-supplied hand, Case the Joint carves out its identity among Magic: The Gathering card advantage options by offering the anticipation of upcoming plays paired with a significant burst in card quantity, advantageous for late-game strategies.

Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Case the Joint offers a significant edge by potentially revealing essential cards from the top of an opponent’s library, enabling strategical planning and disrupting their draw sequences.

Resource Acceleration: This card sends chosen nonland cards into the graveyard, which can accelerate your strategy if it interacts with graveyard mechanics, giving you access to those cards faster than usual.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Case the Joint at instant speed gives the flexibility to react during an opponent’s turn, which can be pivotal for interrupting their strategy or making informed decisions based on their upcoming plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Case the Joint, each player must discard a card to satisfy its casting condition. This can create a scenario where you potentially lose a valuable asset from your hand, particularly if your card pool is already dwindling, making it a rather risky play in tight situations.

Specific Mana Cost: Case the Joint demands a blue mana to cast, pigeonholing it into blue-inclusive decks and possibly excluding it from various strategies that don’t typically prioritize blue mana or the intricacies of control and intelligence that blue spells often represent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, including two of any color and one blue, the cost for activating the ability of Case the Joint may seem steep when alternatively, players could opt for lower mana cost spells that provide similar or even superior benefits. This mana investment can be especially cumbersome in the early game, when players are ramping up their resources.

Reasons to Include Case the Joint in Your Collection

Versatility: Case the Joint is adaptable to numerous deck builds, fitting snugly into strategies that capitalize on surveilling or manipulating the opponent’s next moves.

Combo Potential: With its ability to look at an opponent’s hand, it can pave the way for perfectly timed counters or strategic plays, making it a key piece in combos that benefit from information advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where knowledge of the opponent’s hand gives you the upper hand, Case the Joint serves as a crucial tool to anticipate and disrupt their game plan.

How to beat

Case the Joint is a unique spell in the realm of control and disruption within Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to peek at an opponent’s hand gives strategic insight, making it a vital tool for predicting and countering an adversary’s plans. When you’re facing Case the Joint, it’s paramount to stay adaptable and have a flexible hand.

A strategy against this card would be to prioritize playing key spells before your rival’s opportunity to cast Case the Joint. This way, you protect your most important cards from being revealed. Moreover, including cards in your deck that can recover spells from your graveyard or that can cast spells at instant speed can significantly negate the effect of your opponent’s card insight. Cards like Noxious Revival or Veil of Summer add layers of resilience to your game plan and can safeguard your strategies against hand surveillance spells.

To sum up, while Case the Joint offers opponents a glimpse into your tactics, its impact can be mitigated with clever play and the right countermeasures. By adapting your strategy and deck build, you retain the element of surprise and reduce the advantage that Case the Joint provides to your opponent.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Case the Joint MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Case the Joint and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Case the Joint has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal