Cut a Deal MTG Card


Cut a Deal combines hand disruption with resource generation, making it a multi-faceted tool in MTG gameplay. Its instant speed adds significant versatility, allowing players to react dynamically to their opponent’s moves. However, its specific mana requirement and discard cost may limit its utility across all deck types.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Each opponent draws a card, then you draw a card for each opponent who drew a card this way.

"It's a win-win arrangement. I just happen to win the most." —Duke Thalamra Vanthampur


Cards like Cut a Deal

Cut a Deal is an intriguing piece in the plethora of card advantage options available to Magic: The Gathering players. In the same realm as Painful Truths, which also lets you draw three cards, Cut a Deal offers a unique twist with its added political maneuver by allowing an opponent to choose a card to discard from your hand. Painful Truths, however, comes with a flexible mana cost and life payment to reveal cards.

Another close relative is Read the Bones, which provides not only card draw but scry 2 before drawing, giving players a chance to filter their deck for desired outcomes. Cut a Deal does not have this pre-drawing advantage but compensates with potential inter-player negotiations. Concentrate, a straightforward sorcery that draws three cards without conditions or added benefits, contrasts with Cut a Deal’s strategic depth of involving an opponent in one’s decision-making.

Ultimately, Cut a Deal stands out among card advantage spells in Magic: The Gathering due to the interactive element it brings to the table, allowing not just raw card advantage but an avenue for strategic exchange and psychological play.

Painful Truths - MTG Card versions
Read the Bones - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Painful Truths - MTG Card versions
Read the Bones - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cut a Deal by color, type and mana cost

Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Repentance - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Command - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Excommunicate - MTG Card versions
Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Repentance - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Command - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Excommunicate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cut a Deal offers the benefit of peeking into an opponent’s hand, giving you valuable insight while simultaneously forcing them to discard, indirectly buffering your own card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: As you orchestrate your opponent’s discard, Cut a Deal fuels your strategy by giving you Treasure tokens. These handy assets translate into additional mana resources, potentially speeding up your gameplay and allowing for earlier deployment of your heavy hitters.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Cut a Deal being an instant cannot be overstated. This versatility means you can adapt to the unfolding game, utilizing the card when it’s most advantageous—perhaps disrupting an opponent’s strategy mid-combo or simply enhancing your own position while keeping mana open for potential threats or responses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Cut a Deal demands the discard of a card from your hand. For players already struggling with card advantage, this cost can exacerbate the issue, making it a risky play in situations where every card in hand is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Cut a Deal includes black mana, which necessitates a commitment to that color. This requirement can restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that run black or those that can easily accommodate a mana base to support black spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Cut a Deal offers a tempting proposition, its mana cost is on the steeper side for the effect it provides. Considering its four mana cost, players must contemplate whether its place in their decks could be better filled by lower-cost cards that provide similar or more targeted benefits without the discard condition.


Reasons to Include Cut a Deal in Your Collection

Versatility: Cut a Deal shines across various deck archetypes due to its direct influence on hand quality. It seamlessly slots into strategies that emphasize card selection and graveyard fueling.

Combo Potential: In decks that revolve around spell casting or graveyard synergy, Cut a Deal triggers abilities and escalates combos by cycling through your deck to find the right pieces at the right time.

Meta-Relevance: Its significance increases in environments where information is key and disrupting your opponent’s plans can turn the tide of the game, making Cut a Deal a strategic tool in interactive play.


How to Beat

Cut a Deal is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, owing to its ability to disrupt your opponent’s flow while potentially providing card advantage. When considering strategies to overcome Cut a Deal, think about minimizing the potential benefits it provides to your opponent. One efficient way is by maintaining a lean hand, thus reducing the choices for your opponent and lessening the impact of Cut a Deal’s draw effect. Another method is to employ instant-speed responses that can remove the targeted creature before the spell resolves, making it harder for the opponent to glean value from the exchange.

Control decks may find it easier to handle Cut a Deal as they have access to counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, which can outright negate the spell and maintain your board state. Additionally, you might want to consider including hand disruption cards like Thoughtseize or Duress in your deck. These cards allow you to proactively remove threats like Cut a Deal from your opponent’s hand before they can use them effectively. Timing is crucial, and by playing smart and staying one step ahead, you can mitigate the effects of Cut a Deal and maintain your competitive edge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Every card in MTG brings its own set of dynamics to the table, and understanding the nuances of each can significantly enhance your gameplay. Surveying the strengths and drawbacks of cards like Cut a Deal reveals that every play can be a pivotal moment in your magic duel. Looking to make every deck you build a well-tuned arsenal? Unearth the synergy between Cut a Deal and your deck’s strategy to harness the full potential of this potent card. Visit us to refine your deck-building skills and tactical plays. Let’s tap into the full capability of your MTG collection together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cut a Deal MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander, 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 Cut a Deal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cut a Deal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 142015NormalBlackJodie Muir
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 632015NormalBlackFajareka Setiawan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cut a Deal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cut a Deal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-06-10 Although the draws are not optional, if an opponent doesn't draw a card, perhaps because a replacement effect replaced the draw with another effect, that player is not counted when determining how many cards you draw.
2022-06-10 If an opponent drew more than one card this way due to a replacement effect, you still draw only one card for that player.