Emmessi Tome MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 284
2015-05-06 - Number 221
2016-06-10 - Number 221
2019-11-07 - Number 1579
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-221
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
o5, oc T: Draw two cards, then choose and discard a card.
It is like life and destiny: we think we know the story, but we have read only half the tale.
Cards like Emmessi Tome
Emmessi Tome is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that provides players with a powerful card advantage. It has parallels to other artifacts like Jayemdae Tome, which also allows for drawing a card at a cost of mana and an additional action. However, the Emmessi Tome stands out by granting the ability to draw two cards and then discard a card, offering a filtering mechanic that can shape your hand more effectively.
Another similar card, Mazemind Tome, offers flexibility with its scrying ability before drawing cards. While it doesn’t require discarding, the Emmessi Tome’s potential to churn through the deck more quickly can be a significant advantage in the right deck. Accursed Witch, though not an artifact, can be looked upon as a worthy contender. It transforms into Infectious Curse that lets you draw cards whenever your opponents cast spells, making it a more passive yet potent draw engine depending on the game state.
Assessing these options, Emmessi Tome holds a respectable position among card advantage tools, balancing immediate impact with longer-term planning via its distinct filtering capability. This evaluation highlights its utility and reveals how it could be an asset in strategic deck building within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Emmessi Tome by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Emmessi Tome shines by offering consistent card advantage. By tapping and sacrificing it, you draw two cards, securing a stronger hand and propelling you forward in the game.
Resource Acceleration: This artifact allows you to tap into additional resources. When discarded during your draw phase, it transforms into a land that taps for any color, accelerating your mana base and smoothing out your plays.
Instant Speed: The beauty of Emmessi Tome is its activation at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. Hold up mana for potential interaction and, if unnecessary, use the Tome to further your own strategy during their end step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Emmessi Tome demands a card to be discarded each time you want to utilize its effect, which can be a steep price, particularly when your hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Emmessi Tome is not only specific, but also somewhat restrictive, requiring two generic and one blue mana, which makes it less flexible and more challenging to incorporate into multicolored decks that aren’t blue-dominant.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of three mana and an activation cost of three mana as well, Emmessi Tome’s cumulative six-mana investment can slow down your gameplay, especially when cheaper alternatives are available for drawing cards or generating card advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Emmessi Tome is a useful accessory for a variety of deck archetypes. Its capacity to draw cards can give any player an edge, making this card a versatile addition, suited for decks that thrive on maintaining a full hand.
Combo Potential: With the ability to accumulate knowledge counters and eventually transform into Emmessi Writings, this artifact can synergize with strategies focusing on transformation or utilizing counters for beneficial effects, enhancing your deck’s combo potential.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its ability to draw cards and transform for added benefits, the Emmessi Tome aligns well with decks looking to hold their ground in shifting metagames, offering the adaptability to outmaneuver various opponent strategies.
How to beat
Emmessi Tome presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering, as it offers players a consistent way to draw additional cards, potentially granting them a significant advantage. To effectively counter this artifact, it’s essential to focus on two primary strategies: artifact removal and game pace acceleration. Cards such as Disenchant or Abrade are highly effective tools for directly removing Emmessi Tome from the battlefield, neutralizing its card advantage capability.
Speeding up your deck’s play can also disrupt an opponent relying on Emmessi Tome. Fast, aggressive creature strategies can overwhelm a player before they benefit from the Tome’s card draw. Leveraging a quicker deck can force an opponent to use their mana for defense rather than spending it on drawing extra cards, which shifts the game in your favor. In this way, maintaining pressure is key to limiting the Tome’s impact on the game.
Ultimately, defeating an opponent wielding Emmessi Tome boils down to quick, decisive actions and the clever use of removal spells. Successfully disrupting their game plan before the card advantage tilts in their favor is the surest path to overcoming the challenge posed by this artifact.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Emmessi Tome MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Emmessi Tome and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Emmessi Tome Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 284 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 221 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 221 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1579 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | EMA-221 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Emmessi Tome has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |