Forgotten Lore MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 237
2008-09-22 - Number 164
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Target opponent chooses target card from your graveyard. You may pay o G to have that opponent choose a new target that he or she has not already chosen. Put the last target card in your hand.
In ashes are the gems of history.
Cards like Forgotten Lore
Forgotten Lore is a unique spell within the world of Magic: The Gathering that allows players to recover spells from their graveyard. It can be likened to the renowned Regrowth, with both cards gifted in the art of returning a single card from the graveyard to the player’s hand. Where Forgotten Lore diverges is its scalability—based on the number of seasons that have passed—which can enhance the potency of the retrieval. While Regrowth provides a straightforward recovery option without the flourish of variability, Forgotten Lore’s flexibility shines in longer games.
Another parallel can be found in the card Recollect, which also falls under the umbrella of graveyard retrieval mechanics. Recollect has a fixed cost and doesn’t depend on a scaling factor like Forgotten Lore, making it more predictable but potentially less powerful in extended matches. Seasons Past is another card worth noting in this context, embodying the concept of recurrent seasons. It takes Forgotten Lore’s idea a step further by allowing a player to reclaim multiple cards in a single instance, albeit at a significantly higher mana cost.
Forgotten Lore may not be the go-to choice for every deck relying on card retrieval, but its unique seasonal mechanic can offer unparalleled advantages in the right scenario, placing it in a special niche in card recovery strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Forgotten Lore by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Forgotten Lore is a versatile tool that replenishes your hand by allowing you to retrieve several cards from your graveyard. Its utility shines in longer games where resources can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Resource Acceleration: By returning key cards to your hand, it effectively accelerates your resources without the need for additional mana investment. This can lead to more efficient turns and an increased pace in gameplay, keeping the momentum in your favor.
Instant Speed: The power to play Forgotten Lore at instant speed provides strategic flexibility. This means you can adapt on the fly to the changing battlefield, fortifying your position at crucial moments or responding to an opponent’s threats without sacrificing your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Forgotten Lore’s need for discarding a card might be a tough pill to swallow, especially when your hand is scarce in options. This drawback requires careful hand management, which may not synergize well with decks that rely heavily on maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires a precise mana arrangement to cast, demanding one green mana. This requirement can create a stumbling block for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency, potentially delaying the play of this card when needed most.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two and one green mana, Forgotten Lore competes with other three-mana spells that may provide immediate impact or more versatile effects. Players often weigh the benefits of recovering cards from the graveyard against other potent options in the same mana range, which can push Forgotten Lore to the sidelines in deck building.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Forgotten Lore adds a unique flexibility to your deck, with the ability to retrieve essential cards from your graveyard. This capability enables adaptive strategies throughout the game.
Combo Potential: It can be a key piece in combination with cards that benefit from graveyard interaction, amplifying your deck’s synergy and tactical options.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to recover key spells or creatures, this card can be particularly useful in a meta where card advantage and resource recursion determine the victor.
How to beat
Forgotten Lore can be a challenging hurdle for players in MTG, presenting a unique element of surprise by potentially returning several cards from the graveyard to a player’s hand. The strategy against Forgotten Lore hinges on maintaining graveyard control. Cards like Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt can remove graveyards from the equation, effectively nullifying Forgotten Lore’s potential. Leyline of the Void also offers preemptive disruption, exiling cards before they ever make it to the graveyard, ensuring that Forgotten Lore has no ammunition to work with.
Another angle is to limit the card draws itself. Hand disruption works wonders, with cards like Thoughtseize or Duress allowing you to pluck Forgotten Lore from your opponent’s grip before they have a chance to use it. Directly countering the spell with options like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can also stop it in its tracks, preserving your strategic advantage on the battlefield. Focusing on these methods can help players mitigate the advantage Forgotten Lore offers, keeping the tide of the game in your favor.
While Forgotten Lore may bring cards back from the abyss, well-prepared players can ensure those cards remain forgotten, cementing a formidable defense against this potent recovery tool.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Forgotten Lore MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition II, 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 Forgotten Lore 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
Printings
The Forgotten Lore Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Harold McNeill.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 237 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Harold McNeill | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 164 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Harold McNeill |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Forgotten Lore has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Forgotten Lore card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | The spell has no knowledge of cards chosen for other spells named Forgotten Lore. |
| 2008-10-01 | You target an opponent when you cast Forgotten Lore. The opponent chooses a card in your graveyard as Forgotten Lore resolves. After that choice is made, you’re given the option to pay . If you do, the targeted opponent must choose a different card, if there is one. (If there isn’t one, this part is skipped.) Then you’re given the option to pay again. As long as you keep paying , the process continues. As soon as you decline to pay , the last card that was chosen by the opponent is put into your hand. |