Eyes in the Skies MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 10
2017-03-17 - Number 5
2019-11-07 - Number 103
2024-01-12 - Number 17
2020-09-26 - Number MM3-5
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Populate |
Text of card
Put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield, then populate. (Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of a creature token you control.)
"What root and branch cannot reach, our winged friends will attend to." —Zunak, Selesnya strategist
Cards like Eyes in the Skies
Eyes in the Skies carves out its niche within the realm of token-generating spells in Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with cards like Midnight Haunting, which also allows players to create two 1/1 flying creature tokens. However, Eyes in the Skies offers the added versatility of having a populate mechanic, which can duplicate an existing creature token if one is already on the battlefield. Unlike Midnight Haunting, Eyes in the Skies can potentially offer a greater board presence when timed correctly.
Scatter the Seeds is yet another spell within this segment, known for providing three 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens. Though the tokens lack flying, Scatter the Seeds features the convoke mechanism, enabling a potentially cheaper cast through tapping creatures. This contrasts Eyes in the Skies which, for a similar mana cost, provides fewer but flying-capable tokens. Skies thus presents a stronger aerial defense or offensive capability.
Analysing the landscape of token spells, Eyes in the Skies not only fits well in strategies centered around token proliferation but also provides a tactical advantage with the flying ability of the tokens it creates. Its role in deck themes that exploit creature tokens makes it a card worth considering for those particular MTG builds.
Cards similar to Eyes in the Skies by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The power of Eyes in the Skies lies in its ability to potentially increase your board presence by placing an additional creature in play. Creating a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying can provide that extra boost, especially when maintaining or trying to establish air superiority.
Resource Acceleration: Although Eyes in the Skies doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, it contributes to resource acceleration by populating. If you already have a creature token that’s more powerful on the battlefield, it allows you to duplicate that instead of the 1/1 Bird, effectively ramping up your token strategy without investing additional cards or mana.
Instant Speed: One of the card’s advantages is its instant speed, which offers flexibility and strategic depth. You can end your turn without fully tapping out, keeping mana available for counterspells or other instant effects. Then, if the coast is clear or you need to block an aerial threat, Eyes in the Skies can be casted right before your next turn to surprise your opponent or optimize your defenses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some other spells that may offer a benefit without additional costs, Eyes in the Skies requires a notable two mana plus tapping a creature, a considered investment that can slow your momentum, especially if you’re curating a hand with potentially better plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Eyes in the Skies comes with a defined cost of one white and one blue mana, making it exclusively playable in decks that support these colors. This restricts its versatility and can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana combination available at the crucial moment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you’re at the crucial turning point of a match, the cost of four mana for a single 1/1 Bird creature token with flying (even with populate) might not stack up well against other cards with lower costs or more impactful effects. Efficient deck builders will weigh the benefit of this card against others that could potentially offer more value or a stronger board presence for the same or lesser investment.
Reasons to Include Eyes in the Skies in Your Collection
Versatility: Eyes in the Skies serves as a functional choice for decks that capitalize on token generation. Its ability to create flying creatures aids in both offensive strategies and defensive postures, making it a flexible card in various game situations.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with effects that trigger upon creature or token creation. This boosts decks that rely on synergies with creatures entering the battlefield or dying, potentially unlocking powerful combinations.
Meta-Relevance: Flying creatures are often harder to block in many metas, which can make the bird tokens from Eyes in the Skies especially valuable. In formats where flyers are pivotal, having additional creatures with evasion at your disposal could significantly enhance your deck’s performance.
How to beat
Eyes in the Skies is an intriguing card found in many flying token strategies in Magic the Gathering. It offers the dual utility of creating bird tokens and potentially deterring opponents from attacking with smaller creatures. While at first glance it may seem like a card that primarily strengthens board presence, there are ways to counteract its advantages in a game.
To effectively manage the threat posed by Eyes in the Skies, removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once are highly valuable. Cards like Pyroclasm or Electrickery can swiftly clear out token creatures, negating the card’s impact. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of flying creatures your opponent can muster, disrupting their strategy. Enchantment removal spells come in handy here—disabling the enhancements that benefit those token creatures. Including cards with reach or that grant reach to your creatures can also help defend against flying tokens without having to engage in creature combat on the ground.
Overall, Eyes in the Skies can be a key component in an opponent’s strategy, but understanding the role of multi-target removal and creature abilities within your own deck will help to mitigate its effect and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Eyes in the Skies MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Eyes in the Skies 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
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Printings
The Eyes in the Skies Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by James Ryman.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 10 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 2 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | MM3-5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | ||
| 5 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Eyes in the Skies has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Eyes in the Skies card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Any “as -his creature] enters the battlefield” or “ -his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the new token will work. |
| 2013-04-15 | If you choose to copy a creature token that’s a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying. |
| 2013-04-15 | If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen. |
| 2013-04-15 | The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that put the original token onto the battlefield. |
| 2013-04-15 | The new token doesn’t copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on. |
| 2013-04-15 | You can choose any creature token you control for populate. If a spell or ability puts a token onto the battlefield under your control and then instructs you to populate (as Coursers’ Accord does), you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control. |