Experimental Overload MTG Card


Provides card advantage by returning a spell and creating a creature based on graveyard content. Speeds up resources with a potential instant-speed interaction and strategic token use. Demands careful deck-building due to specific mana needs and discard requirement.
Experimental Overload - Core Set 2021
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2021
Set codeM21
Number218
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLie Setiawan

Text of card

Create an X/X blue and red Weird creature token, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Then you may return an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. Exile Experimental Overload.

Explosions aren't necessarily failures, just a different kind of success.


Cards like Experimental Overload

When diving into the dynamic world of spells in Magic: The Gathering, Experimental Overload stands out for its ability to retrieve an instant or sorcery from the graveyard while simultaneously creating a creature token. Its affinity is with spells like Spelltwine and Mizzix’s Mastery, both of which also recycle spells from the graveyard. Spelltwine, with its dual spell retrieval capability, can be seen as a relative but lacks the token generation feature. On the other hand, Mizzix’s Mastery excels by offering the chance to cast multiple instants and sorceries from the graveyard for a considerable mana investment.

Delving further, we see how Past in Flames gives your graveyard spells flashback, allowing them to be played again within that turn, similar to Experimental Overload’s aim to recast spells. However, it doesn’t leave a presence on the battlefield after. Lastly, Pull from the Deep deserves a mention, able to fetch both an instant and a sorcery from the depths of the graveyard to your hand, yet it doesn’t match the immediate board impact that Experimental Overload’s token creature presents.

In essence, while comparable in the graveyard recursion theme, Experimental Overload’s unique attribute of creating a potentially powerful creature token based on the instants and sorceries in your graveyard places it in a unique position within MTG’s myriad of spell-crafting cards.

Spelltwine - MTG Card versions
Mizzix's Mastery - MTG Card versions
Past in Flames - MTG Card versions
Pull from the Deep - MTG Card versions
Spelltwine - MTG Card versions
Mizzix's Mastery - MTG Card versions
Past in Flames - MTG Card versions
Pull from the Deep - MTG Card versions

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

Quenchable Fire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Retrieval - MTG Card versions
Collected Conjuring - MTG Card versions
Truth or Consequences - MTG Card versions
Brazen Boarding - MTG Card versions
Ill-Timed Explosion - MTG Card versions
Quenchable Fire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Retrieval - MTG Card versions
Collected Conjuring - MTG Card versions
Truth or Consequences - MTG Card versions
Brazen Boarding - MTG Card versions
Ill-Timed Explosion - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Experimental Overload provides the player with not just a new instant or sorcery from the graveyard, but also creates a sizable creature whose power and toughness are proportional to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. This dual benefit ensures that you’re never down a card after casting it.

Resource Acceleration: By putting an instant or sorcery back into your hand, Experimental Overload effectively accelerates your resource availability, granting you more options for your next moves and increasing the chances of having the right response at the right time.

Instant Speed: While Experimental Overload is a sorcery, the card it returns can be an instant, providing you the strategic advantage of instant-speed interaction. Additionally, the card’s ability to produce a token immediately means that it can also be used as a blocker or an aggressive threat without waiting for summoning sickness to wear off.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks of Experimental Overload is its discard prerequisite, compelling players to discard a card upon casting. While this can be used strategically, it may result in resource depletion, particularly if your hand is already running low.

Specific Mana Cost: Experimental Overload’s unique mana requirement of both blue and red can potentially restrict its inclusion to specific two-color or multicolor decks that can accommodate the mana base. Players with a deck focused on a different color combination may find it challenging to integrate this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that stands on the higher side, players might find that Experimental Overload competes with other staple four-mana spells that either advance the board state more aggressively or offer more immediate card advantage. This can sometimes make it a less favorable choice during deck construction, particularly in formats where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Experimental Overload in Your Collection

Versatility: Experimental Overload shines in decks that focus on instants and sorceries, with its ability to return a spell from the graveyard to your hand while creating an X/X creature token, reflecting your spells’ power in the yard.

Combo Potential: This card opens up avenues for spell-based synergies, enabling you to repeatedly cast valuable spells by retrieving them after use or combo off with spells that benefit from casting multiple sorceries or instants in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: Against a field filled with various control or combo decks, Experimental Overload serves as a persistent threat by recurring key pieces while developing your board state, staying relevant in ever-changing game dynamics.


How to beat

Conquering Experimental Overload in your matchups is a strategic endeavor akin to navigating traditional burn or spell-slinger decks. This card thrives in an environment packed with instants and sorceries. Disrupting your opponent’s graveyard can mitigate the impact of Experimental Overload. Delve into using graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void. These cards are effective at neutralizing the benefits that Experimental Overload provides.

Another route is to counter the spell directly. Since Experimental Overload costs four mana, it leaves opponents vulnerable to counter spells on the turn it’s played. Counters such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent it from having any effect. Additionally, keeping board clear of creatures limits the strength of the tokens it creates. Instant removal spells can deal with the tokens generated or prevent them from dealing significant amounts of damage in the first place.

Lastly, beating Experimental Overload involves the principle of pacing. Outrace your opponent by applying pressure early on, thus making the cost of playing Experimental Overload a setback for them. Focus on swift aggro decks that can win before Experimental Overload can turn the tide. Implementing these strategies ensures that the card becomes more of an experimental hiccup than an overwhelming overload.


BurnMana Recommendations

As devoted MTG players searching for that competitive edge, it’s evident that Experimental Overload has its pros and cons. This card can be a game-changer for players who love to harness the power of instants and sorceries. It adds both board presence and strategic depth to your matches. Whether it’s maximizing card advantage or building resource acceleration, it’s a unique addition to two-color decks. Remember though, to play to its strengths and be wary of its limitations. Delve into our detailed insights, where we unpack strategies and deck adjustments to ensure that Experimental Overload works to your advantage. Upgrade your gameplay and embrace this spell-slinging powerhouse for impactful victories. Learn more with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Experimental Overload MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Overload and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Experimental Overload 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 Experimental Overload card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-06-23 Because Experimental Overload is still on the stack while it's resolving, it doesn't count towards the value of X.
2020-06-23 The value of X is determined only as Experimental Overload resolves. The Weird's power and toughness don't change if the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard changes.
2020-06-23 You exile Experimental Overload even if you don't return a card to your hand.