Farsight Mask MTG Card

The Mask’s triggered draw can provide a card advantage at instant speed, enhancing your game strategy. Though valuable, it relies on opponents’ actions, which can limit its card-drawing efficacy. It’s versatile, fitting multiple decks, but has a specific mana cost and may be mana-intensive.

Mirrodin (MRD)
2003-10-02 - Number 170

Planechase 2012 (PC2)
2012-06-01 - Number 109

Farsight Mask - Planechase Anthology (PCA)

Planechase Anthology (PCA)
2016-11-25 - Number 109

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact

Text of card

Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you, if Farsight Mask is untapped, you may draw a card.

It turns the adversity of the moment into the knowledge of a lifetime.

Cards like Farsight Mask

Farsight Mask presents a unique angle on the concept of card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. Analogous to cards like Staff of Nin, the mask grants its controller an additional draw when targeted by an opponent’s spell. Yet, the nuances start to surface when considering mana cost and versatility. Staff of Nin demands a hefty investment upfront but offers consistent card draw each turn without further conditions.

Observing the realm of triggered card draws, we spot Mind’s Eye. Herein lies a direct competitor, requiring an expenditure of mana to draw when an opponent’s hand replenishes. Farsight Mask, in contrast, is passive and cost-free but reliant on your opponent’s decision to target you. Juxtaposing these two, Mind’s Eye provides control over card draw timing, while Farsight Mask plays more defensively.

Assessing the landscape of similar cards, Farsight Mask carves its niche. It stands out by converting opponent threats into opportunities—each potentially harmful spell hurls you farther ahead in card accumulation. This passive strategy could blend seamlessly in setups that incentivize opponents to interact with your board, thereby capitalizing on their actions.

Cards similar to Farsight Mask by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Farsight Mask offers a steady flow of card draw throughout the game. The ability to draw a card whenever an opponent targets you is a subtle but powerful tool, ensuring that you keep your hand replenished and options open.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana resources, the ability to draw extra cards can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. More cards mean more land drops and spells, keeping you ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: While Farsight Mask itself is not an instant, its triggered ability can produce card advantage at instant speed. This means you can benefit from opponents’ actions during their turns, creating opportunities without sacrificing your own tempo.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Farsight Mask offers potential card advantage, it necessitates a prerequisite that an opponent must cast a spell for you to draw cards. This conditional requirement can be problematic if your opponent is cautious or capable of playing around the trigger, thereby minimizing its effectiveness and reducing the card advantage you could potentially gain.

Specific Mana Cost: Farsight Mask requires a precise payment of three generic and one white mana to cast. This mana cost can be restrictive for multicolored decks that could struggle to produce the necessary white mana, especially in early turns when establishing a board presence is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four total mana investment for an initial return of zero immediate cards makes Farsight Mask a costly inclusion. When evaluated against other card advantage options available in MTG, there are alternatives that can provide more instant or guaranteed value for the same or lower mana cost, making Farsight Mask lag in terms of efficiency.

Reasons to Include Farsight Mask in Your Collection

Versatility: Farsight Mask is a unique artifact that fits into a multitude of decks, as it provides card advantage to any player who’s creatures are targeted. This allows for strategic play across various formats, especially in games where opponents rely on spot removal.

Combo Potential: This card grants card draw under specific circumstances, thereby offering synergies with decks that aim to manipulate opponents’ actions or benefit from the card draw itself. It’s a subtle tool for decks that can take advantage of opponents targeting their creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where interactive decks are common, Farsight Mask can be an under-the-radar addition that punishes opponents for targeting your creatures with spells or abilities, thus disincentivizing them from playing their removal or offering you dividends if they do.

How to beat

Farsight Mask is an intriguing piece in Magic: The Gathering, enticing players with its promise of card draw. Its ability to draw a card whenever an opponent casts a spell that targets one of your permanents offers a defensive card advantage. Yet, therein lies the clue to countering it—avoid targeting. By focusing on the use of global effects or spells that do not specifically target, you can sidestep the card bonus Farsight Mask provides. Card like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict sweep the board clean without giving your opponent the chance to replenish their hand.

Another strategy is to utilize cards that force your opponent to sacrifice permanents. Effects like those from Liliana of the Veil or Diabolic Edict bypass the Farsight Mask entirely, often leaving opponents with tough decisions to make. Lastly, consider a direct approach by including artifact removal in your deck. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can quickly dispose of Farsight Mask, ensuring your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand through its card-drawing capability.

Removing Farsight Mask from the board or diminishing its usefulness through smart play choices is key. Employ these tactics and maintain the upper hand against decks that rely on Farsight Mask for card advantage.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Farsight Mask MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Planechase 2012, 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 Farsight Mask and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Farsight Mask Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2016-11-25. Illustrated by Ben Thompson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2003-10-02	Mirrodin	MRD	170	2003	Normal	Black	Ben Thompson
2	2012-06-01	Planechase 2012	PC2	109	2003	Normal	Black	Ben Thompson
3	2016-11-25	Planechase Anthology	PCA	109	2015	Normal	Black	Ben Thompson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Farsight Mask has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-12-01	Each instance of each creature’s combat damage is counted separately. If three creatures with double strike attack you and all of them are unblocked, you may draw up to six cards.
2004-12-01	Farsight Mask must be untapped both when the damage is dealt and when you would draw the card.
2004-12-01	This triggers each time a source an opponent controls deals damage to you. If the same source deals damage more than once in a turn, it triggers for each of those times.
2004-12-01	You draw no more than one card each time a source an opponent controls damages you, no matter how much damage the source deals.