Temporal Machinations MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Number | 271 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Zack Stella |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage and tempo disruption come from bouncing nonland permanents and potential card draw.
- Instant speed allows for reactive plays and increases the card’s strategic flexibility.
- Specific conditions for optimal use include running blue mana and managing discard requirements.
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand. If you control an artifact, draw a card.
The Cabal soldier blinked and found day had become night, he had a face full of thistle seeds, and the old man was nowhere to be seen.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Temporal Machinations enables players to return a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand while also offering the option to draw a card, should you control a historic permanent. This dual functionality ensures you’re not falling behind in card economy.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, the bounce effect can indirectly accelerate your resources by disrupting an opponent’s tempo, giving you a window to play more impactful spells without pressure.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Temporal Machinations at instant speed is a significant advantage, giving you the flexibility to react dynamically to threats or opportunities during your opponent’s turn without committing during your own.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Temporal Machinations demands that players discard a card, potentially depleting their hand and impacting their strategy, especially in a tight game where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires blue mana, meaning only those MTG decks that run blue or have a mana base flexible enough to accommodate blue spells can optimally utilize it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the steeper side, players might find that using Temporal Machinations puts them at a tempo disadvantage, as there are alternative cards that could be played for less and still provide substantial value.
Reasons to Include Temporal Machinations in Your Collection
Versatility: Temporal Machinations offers flexibility in gameplay, fitting seamlessly into decks that capitalize on card bounce mechanics and tempo plays. It can be a critical piece in maintaining board control.
Combo Potential: The card’s ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand can work well with cards that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects, allowing for repeated value and interaction.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies dominate, Temporal Machinations helps to mitigate opposing threats and disrupt your opponent’s momentum effectively.
How to beat
Temporal Machinations provides a unique twist within the control card spectrum of Magic the Gathering. The card offers a combination of tempo gain and card draw, a beneficial concoction that can present a real headache for opponents. Its ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand while enabling you to draw a card if you possess another historic card turns it into a strategic advantage.
To counteract Temporal Machinations successfully, the key lies in resource management. Utilize instants that can protect your creatures from being bounced or employ counter spells to negate the Machinations’ effect altogether. Alternatively, pacing your creature plays to avoid overcommitment can minimize the impact of this sorcery. Be mindful of your opponent’s historic cards too, as reducing their potential to draw will inhibit their ability to gain a further edge.
Ultimately, adept anticipation and strategic play are your best tools when it comes to overcoming Temporal Machinations. Pay close attention to the match’s tempo, and be ready to adjust your tactics on the fly. With the right approach, you can neutralize this potential threat and maintain control over the game’s pace.
Cards like Temporal Machinations
Temporal Machinations is an intriguing choice for players looking to gain an edge in control within Magic: The Gathering. Like Unsummon, it returns a target creature to its owner’s hand, providing a temporary but potentially game-altering setback to opponents. However, it stretches beyond the basic function of Unsummon by offering a conditional card draw – a feature only activated if you own another historic card. This adds value potentially absent in Unsummon’s more straightforward approach.
A card that echoes this utility is Into the Roil. It not only bounces creatures or other nonland permanents but also offers the kicker ability, which, if paid, allows you to draw a card without the historic caveat. Although it gives a broader choice for targets and guarantees card draw, it demands a higher mana investment compared to Temporal Machinations’ straightforward cost and condition.
To conclude, Temporal Machinations holds its ground when compared to similar bounce-and-draw spells. It potentially adds strategic depth to decks that leverage historic cards, providing a blend of disruption and card advantage that’s tailored to synergize with a player’s board state.
Cards similar to Temporal Machinations by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Temporal Machinations MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Temporal Machinations and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Temporal Machinations has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Temporal Machinations card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Temporal Machinations tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t draw a card. |
| 2018-04-27 | Whether you control an artifact is checked only after returning the target creature to its owner’s hand. If the target creature is the only artifact you control, you won’t draw a card. |
