Collected Company MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Collected Company offers a unique spin on acquiring card advantage. Upon casting, it enables you to look at the top six cards of your library, and then you have the potential to put up to two creature cards with converted mana cost 3 or less onto the battlefield. This not only increases the number of threats your opponent has to deal with but also effectively sifts through your deck, improving the quality of your subsequent draws.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct form of mana acceleration, Collected Company can be seen as a resource accelerator. By potentially putting two creatures into play, you’re bypassing their mana costs. This can lead to a significant tempo advantage, allowing you to use your mana elsewhere while still developing a formidable board presence. Imagine the impact of deploying two threats for just four mana at a critical juncture in the game.

Instant Speed: The true power of Collected Company lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed. This versatility allows for strategic plays during an opponent’s end phase or after they’ve committed to an action, catching them off-guard. Additionally, it offers the tactical advantage of holding back mana for other interactions while still presenting a threat that needs to be answered at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Collected Company does not have a direct discard requirement, it is worth considering that it’s a non-interactive spell. If the top six cards don’t yield creatures to put into play, those potential resources are effectively discarded, leading to a high opportunity cost especially when seeking specific answers on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Collected Company demands a strict mana cost of one green and three other mana to cast. This can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may not have the requisite green sources readily available, potentially causing delays or making it unplayable at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, Collected Company is a significant investment, especially in fast-paced games where lower-cost spells could enable quicker board development. In formats where efficiency is key, spending four mana at instant speed comes at the opportunity cost of casting potentially larger threats or holding up mana for other crucial spells.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Collected Company allows you to instantly put two creatures into play at instant speed, making it a dynamic tool in creature-based decks. Its flexibility to be cast during an opponent’s turn adds surprise and strategic depth to your gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card has immense synergy with decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or creature combinations. It can instantly assemble key pieces of a combo, potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by creature strategies, Collected Company can offer a decisive advantage. It thrives in environments where efficiency and tempo are crucial, allowing players to maintain board presence while still holding mana for other instant-speed interactions.

How to beat

Collected Company stands out as a potent instant in Magic: The Gathering, famed for its ability to cheat creatures into play at an unexpected pace. To counter this, players need to strategize effectively. The key lies in timing disruption and pinpoint graveyard management. One approach is to utilize instant-speed removal or counter spells when Collected Company is cast, thereby eliminating the chance for creatures to hit the battlefield. Implementing cards like Scavenging Ooze can help to manage graveyards, reducing the pool of creatures available for Collected Company’s effect.

Torpor Orb can be a silver bullet against Collected Company, as it nullifies creature-based enter the battlefield triggers, often the linchpin of Collected Company decks. Another tactic is to apply pressure with aggressive strategies that challenge the Collected Company player before they can establish control with their creature combo. Permission-based control decks can also keep the board in check, and efficiently answer the spell before it resolves or diminish its impact. Ultimately, staying ahead in card advantage and board presence can turn the tables against Collected Company’s surprise element.