Eye of Malcator MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Scry |
| Released | 2023-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Phyrexia: All Will Be One |
| Set code | ONE |
| Number | 50 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jonas De Ro |
Text of card
When Eye of Malcator enters the battlefield, scry 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom and the rest on top in any order.) Whenever another artifact enters the battlefield under your control, Eye of Malcator becomes a 4/4 Phyrexian Eye artifact creature until end of turn.
Cards like Eye of Malcator
The Eye of Malcator holds its own unique place in the pantheon of counter spells within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with classic counter options like Cancel, as both can counter any spell. Where Eye of Malcator shines is in its potential upside of surveiling 2 — allowing a peek and manipulation of upcoming draws. Cancel, by contrast, offers no additional card advantage or deck filtering.
Another comparable spell is Sinister Sabotage, which also counteracts an opposing spell while giving the player a chance to surveil. Sinister Sabotage, however, edges out slightly with its surveil 1 capability, though it costs one mana less than Eye of Malcator. Dissolve is another relative, with its scry 1 feature after a successful counter, yet it doesn’t quite provide the more potent dig that surveiling 2 does with Eye of Malcator.
Ultimately, in the vast array of interruptive tactics that Magic: The Gathering presents, Eye of Malcator is a formidable choice for control decks looking for both disruption and strategic setup, firmly inserting itself as a strong contender in the realm of counter spells.
Cards similar to Eye of Malcator by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Eye of Malcator shines in its potential to grant sizeable card advantage. Activating its ability can disrupt your opponent while padding your own hand with new options.
Resource Acceleration: This card can be a subtle yet powerful facilitator of resource acceleration. It equips players with additional resources, setting the stage for powerful plays in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: The liberating aspect of Eye of Malcator being an instant is the strategic depth it adds. This permits reactive play, skillfully weaving into the complex tapestry of game interactions as you outmaneuver your opponent on their own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Eye of Malcator asks players to sacrifice a precious card from their hand to activate its ability. For fans of card advantage, this stipulation might not always sync well with their strategy, especially if every card they hold is critical for upcoming turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Eye of Malcator’s requirement of both blue and colorless mana makes it slightly less flexible. It binds its users to a narrower color wheel, which could discourage players who aren’t piloting blue-centric decks or those who prefer a multicolored mana base with broader options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Focusing on efficiency, players might find the Eye of Malcator’s mana cost burdensome compared to other cards in its category. Granted, the power level is appreciable, but for its cost, players could potentially cast spells that advance their board presence more significantly or disrupt their opponents more immediately.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Eye of Malcator offers a flexible response to multiple types of threats on the battlefield. Its ability to exile spells or permanents makes it a dynamic asset in various deck builds, be it control or midrange decks that want to preserve their board state dominance.
Combo Potential: By leveraging the exile mechanic, Eye of Malcator synergizes with strategies that capitalize on opponents losing resources. Integrating it with cards that benefit from exile effects can turn the tides in a tightly-contested game.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where powerful spells and critical permanents dictate the pace of play, having Eye of Malcator in your arsenal ensures you stay competitive. It offers a tool to disrupt your opponent’s game plan while keeping yours on track, a necessity in continuously evolving metagames.
How to Beat the Eye of Malcator
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Eye of Malcator can be a challenging card to counter due to its powerful ability to protect its controller from losing the game. Since it’s an enchantment, effective strategies include targeting it with enchantment removal such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which directly dismantle its presence on the battlefield and restore the threat of defeat to the controller.
Artifact removal can be equally pivotal in outmaneuvering Eye of Malcator’s defense. Consider employing cards like Abrade or Return to Nature, which offer versatility by dealing with both artifacts and enchantments. In addition, countermagic plays a key role; by keeping a Mana Leak or Negate in hand, players can prevent Eye of Malcator from ever hitting the field, bypassing its protection entirely. Efficient resource management to consistently hold up the necessary mana for these counter-measures is essential for success.
Navigating around Eye of Malcator requires a measured approach, combining proactive disruption with reactive control strategies. By doing so, players can maintain the pressure on their opponent and reclaim the upper hand in their Magic: The Gathering matchups.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Eye of Malcator MTG card by a specific set like 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 Eye of Malcator 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Eye of Malcator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |