Time of Need MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Time of Need excels in granting access to critical legendary creatures, enhancing deck consistency and performance.
  2. It is constrained by its green mana requirement, limiting its adaptability across all MTG deck types.
  3. In competitive MTG, this card maintains relevance, adapting well to metagame shifts and strategies.

Text of card

Search your library for a legendary creature card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

"When the kumo attacked the monks' sacred shrine, a mournful toll for help echoed through the forest. Thus began the Battle of Silk, which would last six years." —*Great Battles of Kamigawa*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Time of Need shines by fetching a legendary creature from your deck, effectively tutoring for a key component of your strategy. This is vital for keeping the momentum going and ensuring you have access to your deck’s power players when you need them most.

Resource Acceleration: While Time of Need does not directly accelerate resources in the form of mana, it accelerates your access to crucial cards. By pulling a legendary creature from your library, you’re ensuring that your next plays are more impactful, essentially skipping the wait to naturally draw into your game changers. This can lead to a more efficient and streamlined execution of your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Time of Need is a sorcery, its strategic value at just two mana means you can quickly set the stage for your following turns without committing a significant amount of resources. The ability to search your deck during your turn allows you to adapt to the unfolding game, which, while not at instant speed, still offers the element of surprise and planning that instant-speed spells provide.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Time of Need does not have a discard mechanic, but the necessity of having a legendary creature or planeswalker to utilize the card retrieved makes it less versatile. Without a relevant legendary target in your deck, it can be a dead draw.

Specific Mana Cost: Time of Need requires green mana, which means it’s primarily useful in decks that include green. This limits deck-building options and can be a hurdle for decks that do not normally run green mana, reducing its overall flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While costing only two mana may seem low, in terms of search spells, this can be a bit steep when you need to accelerate your game plan. Additionally, given that this card only searches for legendary cards, it may not always provide the value expected for its mana investment, especially when compared to other tutors or card draw spells available.


Reasons to Include Time of Need in Your Collection

Versatility: Time of Need is a powerful addition to decks that require specific legendary creatures or planeswalkers. Its ability to search your deck for just the right card and add it to your hand makes it adaptable to various situations, providing a significant advantage no matter the state of the board.

Combo Potential: In decks that center around legendary combos, Time of Need shines. It helps assemble your pieces more consistently, allowing you to enact your game-winning strategies with ease. Whether you’re aiming to bring out a devastating creature or activate a unique planeswalker ability, this card can help pave the way.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prominence of legendary creatures and planeswalkers in many high-level decks, Time of Need holds its value in competitive play. It responds well to the evolving meta, where having precise answers or threats can make the difference between victory and defeat.


How to beat

Time of Need is a unique card that can search your library for a legendary creature and put it into your hand. Overcoming this card requires a strategy that disrupts the player’s ability to capitalize on the legendary creatures being tutored. To counteract Time of Need, consider including cards in your deck that can remove threats from the opponent’s hand before they are played, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, limiting their options and reducing the impact of their tutor.

Another effective method is to employ instant-speed removal or counterspells, such as Path to Exile or Counterspell, to deal with the legendary creatures as soon as they hit the battlefield. This makes the boost provided by Time of Need less of a game-changer. You can also use graveyard manipulations, like Bojuka Bog or Tormod’s Crypt, to remove legendary creatures from the game if they end up in the graveyard, further reducing the card’s effectiveness.

Lastly, incorporating cards that restrict the casting of powerful creatures, like Damping Sphere or Rule of Law, helps to blunt the advantage gained from fetching a legendary creature. By putting these strategies into play, you can confidently navigate around the challenges posed by Time of Need and maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the intricacies of Time of Need in MTG can turn the tide of any game by bringing your legendary creatures to the forefront at crucial moments. While the card’s potency is undeniable, understanding when and how to wield this power is key to mastering your matchups. Balancing pros and cons, synergies, and countermoves is essential for any adept player. We encourage you to delve deeper into strategy articles, card analysis, and community discussions. Unlocking Time of Need’s full potential is a journey—join us to expand your knowledge and refine your playstyle to emerge victorious in your next encounter.


Cards like Time of Need

Time of Need is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to search their library for a legendary creature card and put it into their hand. Within the realm of library search cards, Time of Need holds its unique charm. Comparable cards include Eladamri’s Call, which grants even more flexibility as it lets you search for any creature card, not just a legendary one. However, Time of Need has an advantage with its lower casting cost, making it more accessible early in the game.

Another similar card is Enlightened Tutor, although it focuses on fetching an artifact or enchantment rather than a creature. Despite the difference in targets, the instant speed of Enlightened Tutor can be pivotal in tight situations. Idyllic Tutor is also part of the conversation, due to its ability to retrieve any enchantment card; however, its higher mana cost can be a hindrance when compared to the efficiency of Time of Need for legendary creatures.

Ultimately, Time of Need stands out in MTG for those looking to quickly access specific legendary creatures, which can be game-changing. Its precise yet flexible utility ensures that it remains a staple for players looking to harness the power of legendary beings.

Eladamri's Call - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Idyllic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Eladamri's Call - Planeshift (PLS)
Enlightened Tutor - Mirage (MIR)
Idyllic Tutor - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Time of Need by color, type and mana cost

Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Superior Numbers - MTG Card versions
Summer Bloom - MTG Card versions
Elven Rite - MTG Card versions
Verdant Touch - MTG Card versions
Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Growth - MTG Card versions
Nostalgic Dreams - MTG Card versions
Nylea's Intervention - MTG Card versions
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Wildcall - MTG Card versions
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Weird Harvest - MTG Card versions
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Living Wish - MTG Card versions
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Explore - MTG Card versions
Nature's Spiral - MTG Card versions
Savage Punch - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Superior Numbers - Mirage (MIR)
Summer Bloom - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Elven Rite - Stronghold (STH)
Verdant Touch - Stronghold (STH)
Rampant Growth - Fallout (PIP)
Gaea's Blessing - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Monstrous Growth - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nostalgic Dreams - Torment (TOR)
Nylea's Intervention - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sylvan Scrying - Explorer Anthology 3 (EA3)
Wildcall - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Revive - Magic 2013 (M13)
Weird Harvest - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Farseek - Doctor Who (WHO)
Living Wish - Judge Gift Cards 2008 (G08)
Channel - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Explore - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Nature's Spiral - Magic 2011 (M11)
Savage Punch - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Time of Need MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Time of Need and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Time of Need Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Dany Orizio.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-10-01Champions of KamigawaCHK 2472003normalblackDany Orizio
22021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3691997normalblackDany Orizio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Time of Need has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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