Devious Cover-Up MTG Card


Provides card advantage by retrieving key spells from the graveyard to the library. Enhances resource sustainability in control decks through strategic recycling. Allows for reactive strategy with its instant speed for optimal timing.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard. You may shuffle up to four target cards from your graveyard into your library.

First, dispose of the evidence. Then dispose of your knowledge of its disposal.


Cards like Devious Cover-Up

Devious Cover-Up, a counter spell in Magic: The Gathering, holds a niche in control decks with its unique ability to return spells from the graveyard to the library. Comparable to cards like Cancel, which also counters any spell, Devious Cover-Up shines with its late-game potential by recycling key pieces of your strategy.

Countermand, another similar card, counters a spell and mills the opposing player for four cards. Though it aids in disrupting the opponent’s deck, it lacks Devious Cover-Up’s ability to bolster your own game plan. Dissolve stands out as well, featuring both the counter spell capability and the advantage of scrying, allowing you to filter through your next draw.

In evaluating these options, Devious Cover-Up provides a strategic edge for long-term play, making it a compelling choice for players who prioritize endurance and spell recursion. Therefore, Devious Cover-Up asserts its place in the realm of counter magic in Magic: The Gathering with its blend of immediate impact and planning for future turns.

Cancel - MTG Card versions
Countermand - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Countermand - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Devious Cover-Up. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Bant ControlBant Control StandardBant ControlStandard Challenge 32 2024-02-17
Azorius ControlAzorius Control StandardAzorius ControlStandard League 2024-01-11
URUR PauperPauper League 2024-03-24
Dimir ControlDimir Control StandardDimir ControlStandard Preliminary 2024-03-06
UW CONTROLUW CONTROL StandardAzorius ControlWPNQ STANDARD GOLDEN STORE TALENTI
Azorius MindspliceAzorius Mindsplice StandardAzorius ControlBLACK - FRI - 11AM - Chicago 75K Standard Open
WUBWUB StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 5, 2024
Esper ControlEsper Control StandardEsper ControlStandard Challenge 64 2024-01-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Devious Cover-Up stands out as a clutch counter spell that goes beyond merely negating an opponent’s play. Upon resolution, it provides the distinct benefit of retrieving up to four cards from your graveyard back into your library. This cyclical mechanism ensures key spells remain accessible throughout the match, effectively extending your tactical arsenal and sustainable power in long games.

Resource Acceleration: While Devious Cover-Up doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense by generating mana or tokens, it serves as a subtle enabler of resource sustainability. By shuffling spent cards back into your library, it mitigates the depletion of vital resources, preserving them for repeated use. This subtle form of resource acceleration keeps you from running out of steam, particularly in control decks that rely on a continuous stream of answers.

Instant Speed: The power of instant speed spells in MTG cannot be overstated, particularly within the realm of counter magic. Devious Cover-Up’s instant status allows players to adopt a reactive playstyle, keeping mana available to interrupt crucial spells as they emerge. By waiting until the last feasible moment to cast Devious Cover-Up, you can efficiently manage your resources while keeping opponents second-guessing your next move, leveraging the element of surprise inherent to instant spells.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Devious Cover-Up doesn’t have a discard requirement, it does compel players to reshuffle up to four cards from their graveyard into their library. This can be a drawback if strategic graveyard management is key to your deck strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Devious Cover-Up has strict mana requirements with two blue mana in its casting cost. This may not fit comfortably in decks that are not primarily blue or that run on a tight color mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana casting cost, including two blue mana, Devious Cover-Up can be cost-prohibitive in fast-paced games. Other counter spells or disruption tools may offer similar effects with lower mana investments, which could be more advantageous in tempo or control strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Devious Cover-Up isn’t just a counter spell; it’s a strategic powerhouse in control decks. Its ability to reshuffle four cards from your graveyard into your library allows for a carefully curated game plan that adapts to various opponents and situations.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combos. As part of a loop, Devious Cover-Up can continuously recycle key pieces or even itself, creating an almost unbreakable control over the game’s flow.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta swarming with aggressive strategies, Devious Cover-Up serves as a potent disruptor. It counters crucial plays while ensuring your answers keep coming back for sustained resilience throughout the match.


How to beat Devious Cover-Up

Devious Cover-Up is a notorious counter spell in Magic: The Gathering known for its ability to foil opponents’ plans while providing a unique advantage. It doesn’t just deny an opponent’s spell, but also shuffles four cards from your graveyard back into your library. This can be especially frustrating when you’re aiming to resolve your crucial game pieces or establish a winning combo.

To effectively combat Devious Cover-Up, the key is to bait or drain the opponent’s mana before executing your main play. Using low-cost spells that must be answered can tempt your opponent into using their counter prematurely. Alternatively, playing around counter spells by holding back your important spells until your opponent is tapped out or when you have enough mana to cast a second threat in the same turn can also be a successful strategy.

Remember that patience plays a critical role here. Developing a board presence with creatures and other permanents that don’t need to be cast can gradually increase pressure on your opponent, leaving them vulnerable. Ultimately, adapting your play style to anticipate and pivot around high-value counter spells like Devious Cover-Up can be the difference between victory and defeat on the MTG battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an ever-evolving adventure, and Devious Cover-Up epitomizes the strategic depths this game offers. It’s not just about preventing an adversary’s move, but about cleverly recycling your spells for enduring dominance. As you refine your deck, contemplate incorporating Devious Cover-Up for its exceptional comeback ability, which is invaluable in long matches. If you aspire for control deck supremacy and yearn for the extra edge in your strategies, this card is a must-have. Propel your deck strategies forward and keep adversaries guessing with Devious Cover-Up. Dive deeper with us into MTG’s intricate layers and build a collection that stands the test of time.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Devious Cover-Up MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Devious Cover-Up and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Devious Cover-Up Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 352015NormalBlackMicah Epstein
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 482015NormalBlackColin Boyer
32022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 482015NormalBlackColin Boyer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Devious Cover-Up has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-10-05 A spell that can't be countered is a legal target for Devious Cover-Up. The spell won't be countered when Devious Cover-Up resolves, but you'll still shuffle cards into your library.
2018-10-05 Devious Cover-Up can't target itself at all. You can't try to counter it with itself and shuffle cards in, and you can't use its effect to shuffle itself into your library.
2018-10-05 You may target zero cards in your graveyard and still shuffle your library.