Spellbook MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Spellbook enhances MTG gameplay by granting extensive card advantage, allowing players access to more strategic options.
  2. Resource acceleration through Spellbook enables rapid strategy execution and dynamic play in the MTG card game.
  3. Utilizing Spellbook at instant speed affords MTG players flexibility, maintaining mana for opportune moments and reactive plays.

Text of card

Skip your discard phase.

"Everything the wise woman learned she wrote in a book, and when the pages were black with ink, she took white ink and began again." —Karn, silver golem


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The spellbook in MTG is renowned for its unique capacity to generate a prolific card advantage. With the potency to draw multiple cards in one turn, the Spellbook magnifies an opportunity for the player to get ahead in the game by accessing an array of tactical gameplay elements.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is another pro of the spellbook. By leveraging the Spellbook in MTG, players can accumulate a significant assortment of resources at a faster pace, unleashing an opportunity for rapid-fire gameplay and strategic maneuvers that would ordinarily have been unattainable.

Instant Speed: Besides card advantage and resource acceleration, the spellbook can be utilized effectively at instant speed. This card allows players to withhold mana for spell casting purposes and only utilize the spellbook if no better alternatives surface throughout the opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spellbook’s effect, while powerful, doesn’t come without drawbacks. In order to take advantage of the ‘no maximum hand size’ ability, you often need to have a hand full of cards while staying ahead on the board. This frequently requires you to discard cards at the end of your turn, reducing your options and sometimes making valuable cards easy prey for opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Spellbook is without color, which at first glance seems like a great advantage for deck diversity. But, when it comes to performance, this means that you can’t take advantage of any color-specific mana acceleration or cost reduction effects, potentially slowing your game plan down.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: It costs zero to cast a Spellbook. While this seems advantageous, the opportunity cost can be significant. When considering your game strategy, there may be other cards that offer better utility, synergy or board impact for the same slot in your deck. The decision to include Spellbook, therefore, needs to fit within the overarching strategy of your deck build, where you’ve considered the balance between cost and reward of each card choice.


Reasons to Include Spellbook in Your Collection

Versatility: Spellbook is a nonuple threat in any MTG deck. Its function of removing your maximum hand size allows you greater flexibility in game strategies. No matter the deck, every magic player can benefit from having more options.

Combo Potential: Spellbook works seamlessly with card-drawing engines, enabling a massive increase in potential card combinations and strategies. Run it alongside cards like “Jace’s Archivist” or “Consecrated Sphinx” to capitalize on your limitless hand.

Meta-Relevance: In a game meta that favors control and long haul games, Spellbook is a star. The ability to hold more answers to threats in your hand as the game goes long cannot be undervalued. The Spellbook is a potent tool in a carefully constructed control deck.


How to beat

Spellbook is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, known for its unique ability to provide its controller with an unlimited hand size. As valuable as this may sound, beating a Spellbook card isn’t as daunting as it seems, especially if you know the right cards to play.

Strategically, countering the Spellbook is a proactive move. For instance, consider cards like Disenchant or Disallow, which can effectively remove the Spellbook or negate its effects. Also, discard-oriented decks can be useful against an opponent relying heavily on Spellbook. The player can inflict damage for the number of cards in an opponent’s hand, thus making the unlimited hand size a double-edged sword.

Another tactical approach involves the use of card draw punishment effects. Spells like Underworld Dreams or cards like Price of Knowledge can punish opponents for having a large hand size and thus, restrict the advantage of using Spellbook. In the larger scheme, understanding your deck’s strengths and recognizing your opponent’s vulnerabilities are key aspects in overcoming a Spellbook.

The takeaway here is that Spellbook, while offering an interesting play dynamic, can be defeated with robust deck-building strategies, clever card choice, and astute play.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG enthusiasts know the value of maintaining a sizeable hand throughout a game, with the Spellbook providing unlimited hand size potential and driving card advantage forward. However, as you consider integrating Spellbook into your MTG arsenal, it’s important to ponder how it complements your deck’s overall strategy. Think about synergies with other cards and whether its benefits outweigh deck slots that might go to alternates with immediate board impact. With careful inclusion, Spellbook can pave the way to victory. Dive deeper with us into MTG strategy and enhance your gameplay, deck construction, and tactical prowess.


Cards like Spellbook

Spellbook is an interesting asset amongst the array of artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its foremost counterparts are Venser’s Journal and Reliquary Tower, both with effects that revolve around having no maximum hand size. Spellbook, free of any mana cost, removes the hand size limit, thus giving players an edge by offering an expanded strategic scope for game turns.

A competitor that deserves mention is Library of Leng, as it too eliminates the card limit in your hand. However, it includes an additional condition, that players discard at the top of their library. Spellbook, on the flip side, is purely a liberating play ensuring your hand is never forced to discard.

Yet another comparison would be Graceful Adept, an enchantment with similar no maximum hand size effect. However, Graceful Adept demands two mana, a cost Spellbook notably dodges. The decision between the two becomes a balancing act of resource management and match strategy.

After comparing their distinct traits, it’s evident that Spellbook holds a significant strategic advantage in Magic: The Gathering, with its no cost entry and unrestricted hand size, enhancing the prospects of game play immensely.

Venser's Journal - MTG Card versions
Reliquary Tower - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Graceful Adept - MTG Card versions
Venser's Journal - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Reliquary Tower - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Library of Leng - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Graceful Adept - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Spellbook by color, type and mana cost

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Fountain of Youth - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Welding Jar - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Lotus Petal - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Chimeric Mass - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - Alchemy: Dominaria (YDMU)
Ornithopter - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tormod's Crypt - Friday Night Magic 2008 (F08)
Jeweled Amulet - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Zuran Orb - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Fountain of Youth - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Phyrexian Marauder - Visions (VIS)
Claws of Gix - Urza's Saga (USG)
Mana Crypt - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Mox Opal - Double Masters (2XM)
Chalice of the Void - Judge Gift Cards 2019 (J19)
Welding Jar - Mirrodin (MRD)
Chrome Mox - Double Masters (2XM)
Orochi Hatchery - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Lotus Petal - The List (PLST)
Mox Diamond - From the Vault: Relics (V10)
Everflowing Chalice - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Memnite - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
Engineered Explosives - Modern Masters (MMA)
Chimeric Mass - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spellbook MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Seventh Edition, 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 Spellbook and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spellbook Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2009-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 1381997normalblackCiruelo
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 3181997normalwhiteAndrew Goldhawk
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 318★1997normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 3142003normalwhiteAndrew Goldhawk
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 314★2003normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
62005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 3092003normalwhiteAndrew Goldhawk
72005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 309★2003normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
82007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3432003normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
92009-07-17Magic 2010M10 2202003normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
102020-09-26The ListPLST 10E-3432003normalblackAndrew Goldhawk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spellbook has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 If multiple effects modify your hand size, apply them in timestamp order. For example, if you put Null Profusion (an enchantment that says your maximum hand size is two) onto the battlefield and then put Spellbook onto the battlefield, you’ll have no maximum hand size. However, if those permanents entered the battlefield in the opposite order, your maximum hand size would be two.

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