Flash of Insight MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Flashback |
| Released | 2002-05-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Judgment |
| Set code | JUD |
| Number | 40 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ben Thompson |
Text of card
Look at the top X cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. Flashback—o1o U, Remove X blue cards in your graveyard from the game. (You can't remove Flash of Insight to pay for its own flashback cost.)
Cards like Flash of Insight
Flash of Insight is a noteworthy entrant among the pool of card selection options available to Magic: The Gathering players. It draws a comparison with other cards like Telling Time, which also allows players to look at the top cards of their library and select from among them. However, Flash of Insight offers a unique twist with its ability to be flashed back, giving players a valuable second use of the card from their graveyard.
Peek is another similar instant card which lets players see the opponent’s hand and draw a card. While it doesn’t offer selection from the top of the library, it compensates by being a lower-cost option that provides immediate hand information. Then there’s Impulse, which provides a deeper look into the library and lets the player pick the best out of the top four cards. Though it lacks Flash of Insight’s flashback feature, it’s stronger in the initial card quality it offers.
In conclusion, Flash of Insight carves out its own niche in library manipulation and strategic depth, delivering card selection with a reusable advantage that can be instrumental in outmaneuvering opponents in MTG.
Cards similar to Flash of Insight by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Flash of Insight. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Flash of Insight grants you the ability to delve deep into your library, potentially drawing multiple cards. This attribute is instrumental in securing the upper hand by increasing the options available to you during crucial turns.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to filter through your deck and retrieve key spells or lands, you effectively streamline your plays. This translates to potentially faster execution of your strategy, thereby accelerating your resource deployment.
Instant Speed: The instant nature of Flash of Insight provides flexibility, allowing you to adapt to the game’s unfolding narrative. You can respond to opponents’ threats or optimize your plays based on their actions at the end of their turn, keeping them guessing about your full capacity to react.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Flash of Insight requires you to drop cards from your hand as part of its flashback cost, which might not always align with your game strategy, especially if your hand is filled with key spells or if you’re already struggling with card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both blue and generic mana to be played, making it a better fit in mono or dual-colored blue decks, but potentially awkward in multicolored or colorless builds where mana flexibility is crucial.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its base effect, the mana cost of Flash of Insight might seem steep compared to other instant-speed card selection tools in the game. This can be particularly noticeable when resources are tight, or you need to maintain mana availability for other crucial plays in your turn.
Reasons to Include Flash of Insight in Your Collection
Versatility: Flash of Insight offers a flexible approach to deck building, easily slotting into strategies that prioritize digging through the deck for specific answers or increasing the volume of options available in hand.
Combo Potential: With its ability to repeatedly sift through numerous cards in your library, Flash of Insight becomes a powerful tool for assembling combo pieces or setting up game-winning conditions with surgical precision.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where knowledge and adaptation can turn the tides of battle, Flash of Insight’s capacity to fill your hand with the right cards at the right time makes it a significant addition for staying one step ahead of the competition.
How to beat
Flash of Insight is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that offers flexible card selection by allowing a player to look at a number of cards equal to the mana spent and then pick an instant or sorcery card. What sets it apart is its reusability from the graveyard, which can pose a challenge if you’re up against it. To effectively counter this card, one must employ strategies that target the player’s graveyard. Cards such as Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt remove the advantage by exiling cards from the graveyard, neutralizing Flash of Insight’s potential for card advantage.
Another tactic is to apply hand disruption methods. Thoughtseize and Duress are excellent tools to extract Flash of Insight before it can be activated, thus preventing any immediate or future value from it. Alternatively, instant-speed counterspells like Negate or Dispel can directly counter it on the stack, ensuring that Flash of Insight never gets the chance to impact the game. By anticipating your opponent’s strategies and having a clear plan to disrupt their game plan, you can diminish the effectiveness of Flash of Insight in any match.
Overall, while Flash of Insight can be a formidable tool in the right deck, it can be effectively mitigated with proper graveyard management, hand disruption, and precise counterspelling. Knowing when and how to deploy these answers is key to overcoming the challenge it represents.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flash of Insight MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Flash of Insight 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flash of Insight has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.