Experimental Augury MTG Card


Card advantage is optimized by selecting critical spells from the top six cards revealed. Experimental Augury accelerates resources by casting a costly spell for free. Its instant speed offers flexibility, ensuring mana efficiency each turn.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Proliferate

Text of card

Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)


Cards like Experimental Augury

Experimental Augury marks its ground as an intriguing utility card offering both flexibility and foresight in Magic: The Gathering. In relation to similar spells, such as Brainstorm or Ponder, which are stalwarts for deck manipulation, Experimental Augury allows a deeper dig into the deck. While Brainstorm and Ponder shape the immediate draw, Experimental Augury’s ability to reveal the top four cards places a greater amount of information at the player’s disposal, which can influence longer-term strategic decisions.

Particularly akin to Experimental Augury is Impulse, another spell that looks beyond the top card of the library. Although Impulse doesn’t place the non-chosen cards into the graveyard like Experimental Augury, which could potentially be beneficial for graveyard-based strategies. Another notable cousin in function is Anticipate, which presents a choice from the top three cards, but it’s the added grave interaction where Experimental Augury gains the advantage for decks that thrive on graveyard play.

Pairing deck manipulation with strategic grave placement, Experimental Augury offers a unique twist on library exploration and positions itself as an asset for players valuing deep deck insights coupled with a touch of graveyard synergy in their MTG strategies.

Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Experimental Augury by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Updraft - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Response - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Snap - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Updraft - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Response - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Snap - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Experimental Augury. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UBGUBG PauperPauper League 2024-03-25
Esper TempoEsper Tempo VintageBlue TempoVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-21
URGURG PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-14
Bant PoisonBant Poison StandardBant PoisonTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024
Bant ToxicBant Toxic StandardBant PoisonStandard $1k RCQ Invite Cyphacon MTG Weekend
Simic RampSimic Ramp GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024
Esper PoisonEsper Poison StandardEsper PoisonStandard League 2024-03-27
Dimir PoisonDimir Poison StandardDimir PoisonTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024
Simic HeroicSimic Heroic StandardSimic HeroicTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Experimental Augury shines in providing card advantage by revealing the top six cards of your library, allowing you to put a nonland card from among them into your hand. This selectivity ensures you have access to vital spells when you need them most.

Resource Acceleration: This spell goes beyond just drawing a card; it facilitates resource acceleration by letting you cast a card with mana cost 5 or less from among the revealed cards without paying its mana cost, potentially leading to a significant tempo boost.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Experimental Augury grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. You can end your turn with mana untapped, keeping options open for counterspells or removal, and cast Experimental Augury if those aren’t needed, thus optimizing your mana usage each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Experimental Augury necessitates pitching a card from your hand into the graveyard to activate its ability. This could set you back, particularly if your hand is already depleting and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands a blend of blue and red mana, which could be restrictive if your deck does not support these colors adeptly. Decks not focused on these colors might find it challenging to cast this spell consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Experimental Augury comes with a high mana cost. Considering it takes four mana to deploy, players may find themselves weighing its potential benefit against other spells that might yield immediate impacts on the game state for a similar, or even lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Experimental Augury is a powerhouse in decks that thrive on manipulating the top of the library. Its ability to selectively dig into the future and set up advantageous draws makes it a strong candidate for a diverse array of blue-inclusive builds, from control to combo.

Combo Potential: With the specific manipulation of the deck’s top cards, Experimental Augury can effectively orchestrate the right conditions for powerful combo plays. It aligns crucial components to unleash game-winning sequences, ensuring your strategic setups are ready to deploy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowledge and prediction can tip scales, this card gives insight into upcoming threats and opportunities, helping you stay a step ahead. Whether the meta favors slow, strategic play or fast aggro matches, Experimental Augury has a place, providing adaptability and intel that can pivot a player’s position from reactive to commanding.


How to beat

Experimental Augury is a unique card in MTG that intertwines deck manipulation with an element of chance. Unlike other predictability-enhancing cards, Experimental Augury has a notable twist — allowing a player to look at the top four cards of their library and cast a nonland card for free. This powerful effect echoes the surprise factor of spells like Aetherworks Marvel yet requires no energy resource.

To counter this, strategies involve disrupting your opponent’s library setup or denying the casting of the discovered spell. Using instant-speed removal in response to nonland cards played without paying their mana cost is effective. Cards with abilities that shuffle the opponent’s deck, like the classic effect of Field of Ruin destroying a nonbasic land, can disrupt the setup. Another route would be the inclusion of counter spells to directly oppose any unexpected threats played at no cost. Furthermore, pitting against Experimental Augury requires a keen sense of timing, making strategic plays when your opponent is least prepared to capitalize on their deck manipulation.

Overall, minimizing the impact of Experimental Augury demands anticipation and precise disruption, ensuring that the advantage swings back into your favor and maintains the equilibrium of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

The journey to mastering MTG is paved with strategic card selection and deck optimization. Experimental Augury is a card that offers a blend of foresight and on-the-fly strategy, making it a worthy addition to your arsenal. Embrace the ability to peek into the future of your library and cast impactful spells without their mana cost. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this card could shape the outcome of your duels. Dive deeper with us, refine your strategies, and unlock the full potential of your MTG experience. Discover more insights and elevate your deck to victory!


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Experimental Augury MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Experimental Augury and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Experimental Augury Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 492015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 2782015NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Experimental Augury has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-02-04 An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
2023-02-04 If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
2023-02-04 If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
2023-02-04 Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
2023-02-04 To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
2023-02-04 You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.