Dovin's Acuity MTG Card


It provides a recurring draw mechanism and maintains hand size, key for control strategies. Demands careful planning due to its discard activation and specific mana needs. Worth collecting for its versatility, combo potential, and meta relevance.
Dovin's Acuity - Ravnica Allegiance
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set nameRavnica Allegiance
Set codeRNA
Number168
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBastien L. Deharme

Text of card

When Dovin's Acuity enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life and draw a card. Whenever you cast an instant spell during your main phase, you may return Dovin's Acuity to its owner's hand.

Dovin ticked the Planeswalkers off on his fingers: himself, Domri, Kaya, Ral, Vraska . . . and Bolas made an even six.


Cards like Dovin's Acuity

Dovin’s Acuity injects a subtle yet potent edge into the control decks of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to trigger upon casting an instant during your main phase, allowing you to return it to your hand and draw a card, invites comparisons. Absorb shares this space, where it counters a spell, but also provides life-gain without the card draw advantage.

Next in the comparison lineup is Opt, which, like Dovin’s Acuity, can shape your game’s direction by controlling your draws. While Opt operates at a low cost and is an instant, it does not offer the recurrence that Dovin’s Acuity does. Then there’s Chemister’s Insight, a standout for its Jump-start ability, granting a semblance of Dovin’s Acuity’s card advantage while discarding a card for another round of drawing.

When examining Dovin’s Acuity alongside its counterparts, it’s clear that it offers a unique blend of recurrent card draw and potential board control, which can be pivotal for players looking to sustain momentum and resource advantage throughout the game.

Absorb - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Insight - MTG Card versions
Absorb - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Insight - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dovin’s Acuity lets you draw a card upon entering the battlefield and whenever you cast an instant spell during your main phase, which helps refill your hand and maintain momentum against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana, the card’s ability to return to your hand provides an indirect repeatable advantage, essentially reducing the cost of your instants by working in synergy with your spells.

Instant Speed: The card’s triggered ability encourages playing at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond on your opponent’s turn while still reaping the benefit during your own phase. This adaptability helps keep your strategy a step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dovin’s Acuity necessitates an instant spell to be cast to activate its return to hand ability. This requirement can occasionally necessitate discarding a valuable instant during your main phase, which could significantly disrupt your strategy if not managed properly.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mana setup to cast, specifically requiring white and blue mana. This condition can limit the range of decks Dovin’s Acuity can be harmoniously incorporated into, especially for decks that run three or more colors or have a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, which includes two specific colors, Dovin’s Acuity might be considered costly for the effect it provides. In a game where tempo is crucial, playing it may set you back on other potential plays, which could be more impactful in the early game stages.


Reasons to Include Dovin’s Acuity in Your Collection

Versatility: Dovin’s Acuity fits seamlessly into control and instant-heavy decks. The card’s ability to return to your hand when casting instants not only ensures recurring value but also supports strategies aimed at maintaining card advantage.

Combo Potential: This enchantment synergizes with spell casting strategies, activating abilities and effects that reward you for playing instants. This interaction can repeatedly generate incremental gains that compound over the course of a game, making it a linchpin in decks designed around casting numerous spells.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks are prevalent, Dovin’s Acuity’s ability to grant you life and draw additional cards offers you essential staying power. The consistent life gain can be critical in maintaining a foothold against aggressive strategies, while the perpetual card draw keeps your hand replenished to counter key threats.


How to beat

Dovin’s Acuity is an intriguing instant that rewards players in the strategic card game Magic: The Gathering by returning to their hand whenever they cast an instant during their main phase, thus ensuring they continually draw cards and gain life. This creates a challenge for opponents who may feel overwhelmed by the sustained card advantage and lifegain.

When it comes to dismantling the effectiveness of Dovin’s Acuity, the key is to disrupt the synergy it creates. By countering instants, employing discard strategies, or using removal for enchantments, players can mitigate the card’s influence. It’s critical to prevent the loop from starting or to break it once underway, ensuring the Acuity’s owner doesn’t accumulate overwhelming value. Enchantment removal spells like Disenchant, or multipurpose ones like Assassin’s Trophy, provide a direct approach to handle Dovin’s Acuity before its benefits become too great.

In essence, responding quickly to Dovin’s Acuity and prioritizing its removal can significantly weaken strategies built around it. This allows a player to regain control and prevent their opponent from leveraging the incremental advantages offered by this distinctive MTG card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dovin’s Acuity presents itself as a formidable card for those who value consistent card advantage and resource acceleration in their Magic: The Gathering battles. Its unique interaction with instant spells elevates strategic play and rewards meticulous deck building. However, its restrictions in mana requirements and potentially high casting cost suggest a tailored approach to its inclusion. Whether you’re reinforcing your control deck or seeking to exploit its combo potential, understanding the nuances of Dovin’s Acuity is essential. Dive deeper with us and explore the metagame dynamics and deck-building strategies that could turn this card into the cornerstone of your next victory. Embrace the challenge, harness the Acuity, and transform your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dovin's Acuity MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Dovin's Acuity and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dovin's Acuity has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-01-25 The second ability of Dovin’s Acuity resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2019-01-25 The second ability of Dovin’s Acuity triggers only if it’s on the battlefield. It won’t return from your graveyard.