Sensei's Divining Top MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides consistent card advantage, allowing players to arrange the top three cards of their library for strategic plays.
  2. Despite its versatility, the Divining Top requires careful mana management, which can sometimes hinder instantaneous utility.
  3. Its unique abilities and low casting cost make it a staple in control and combo decks across different formats.

Text of card

: Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. : Draw a card, then put Sensei's Divining Top on top of its owner's library.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sensei’s Divining Top, known as one of the most iconic constructs in Magic, excels at providing a constant flow of card advantage. Its ability to look at the top three cards of your library and rearrange them translates into finding the best options for any scenario.

Resource Acceleration: With its low casting cost of one mana, Sensei’s Divining Top accelerates your resources by allowing you to optimize your draws. It provides the player with the power to manage their resources more efficiently without spending excess mana.

Instant Speed: By having the innate ability to spin itself to the top of your library at instant speed, Sensei’s Divining Top can protect itself from most threats. This allows players to use their mana for other spells, knowing they can activate the Top’s abilities whenever they need.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Sensei’s Divining Top requires you to pay one mana and tap the card in order to use its ability – an action equivalent to discarding a card. This can be disadvantageous in circumstances where mana is in short supply or you want to keep your card untapped for potential use against an opponent’s move.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation cost is colorless, but it has an additional cost of drawing a card then placing Sensei’s Divining Top on top of your deck. This may limit its usage in decks that rely heavily on particular colors or have limited draw power.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When taking into consideration the card’s ability to rearrange the top three cards of your deck, it offers limited immediate impact for your mana investment. There are alternatives in the game that might provide more immediate benefits or control for the same or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Sensei’s Divining Top fits into various deck types due to its unprecedented ability to control the top three cards of your deck. This gives you control over your immediate future draws, making it adaptable to almost any situation.

Combo Potential: Consider this card’s potential in combo decks. By using the Top and other cards like Counterbalance or Future Sight, you can create deadly control suites that will put your opponents to the test.

Meta-Relevance: In MTG worlds where control or combo strategies dominate, the information advantage provided by the Sensei’s Divining Top becomes incredibly valuable. You’ll always know what’s coming, enabling you to formulate strategies that will keep you ahead in the game.


How to Beat

Sensei’s Divining Top, a prominent card in MTG due to its unique ability to manipulate a player’s upcoming draws. This artifact power can significantly drive a game to your favor, providing a strategic edge. However, every card has a counteraction, and taking down Sensei’s Divining Top is no piece of cake, but it can be done.

Firstly, artifacts disruption is a key plan. Opt for cards like Smelt or Shatterstorm, knowing that they have immense potential to destroy this artifact swiftly and effectively. Secondly, the use of instant spells to counter timing is a valuable tactic. Utilize Krosan Grip, for example, it interrupts the activation and can’t be responded to, making the removal of Sensei’s Divining Top a surefire success.

Thirdly, if your aim is damage control, use cards such as Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker to suppress the Top’s activation. Ultimately, dealing with Sensei’s Divining Top lies in agile decision making and the precise application of negation and removal. Be vigilant, anticipate, adapt and overthrow the card, and you could become a formidable opponent in the arena of MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the nuances of Sensei’s Divining Top reveals its profound impact on gameplay in the MTG realm. While considering its pros, cons, and notable traits, MTG enthusiasts like you understand that this card is more than a mere tool; it’s an intricate piece that can orchestrate victories. It complements various strategies and counters diverse threats, making it a quintessential addition to your collection. However, it’s also essential to understand its vulnerabilities and adapt your play to exploit them. We invite you to expand your knowledge and strategies with us. Unravel the complexities of Sensei’s Divining Top and other pivotal cards by continuing your quest with BurnMana, where mastery meets the magic of the game.


Cards like Sensei's Divining Top

Situated amongst some of the best artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering, Sensei’s Divining Top holds its ground with a unique draw ability. It’s closely akin to cards like Crystal Ball and Soothsaying. Though these cards share a similar goal, they operate quite differently. For instance, Crystal Ball may seem like a marginally enhanced Divining Top due to scrying two cards deeper, but the ‘Top can actually look at the cards and rearrange them.

On another axis, we find Soothsaying with its unlimited scry potential. Of course, unlimited doesn’t mean free, as it does cost mana per card to scry. This is where Sensei’s Divining Top takes the route of efficiency, with no additional mana cost but limited scry options. Yet, its low cast and activation cost, along with the card draw option, give Sensei’s Divining Top a solid stability across games.

In summary, after deconstructing each card’s nuances, Sensei’s Divining Top stands firm in Magic: the Gathering’s pantheon of top-tier artifacts. Despite other contenders, its unique blend of abilities and economy of resources gives it a captivating edge.

Crystal Ball - MTG Card versions
Soothsaying - MTG Card versions
Crystal Ball - Magic 2011 (M11)
Soothsaying - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

Cards similar to Sensei's Divining Top by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Library of Leng - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Crystal Rod - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sensei's Divining Top MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Sensei's Divining Top and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sensei's Divining Top Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1023272015normalblackGreg Staples
22004-10-01Champions of KamigawaCHK 2682003normalblackMichael Sutfin
32009-08-28From the Vault: ExiledV09 102003normalblackMichael Sutfin
42016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 2322015normalblackRob Alexander
52020-09-26The ListPLST EMA-2322015normalblackRob Alexander
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3982015normalborderlessGreg Staples
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3142015normalblackMichael Sutfin
82022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5662015normalblackMichael Sutfin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sensei's Divining Top has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyBanned
ModernBanned
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelBanned
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-06-08 If Sensei’s Divining Top leaves the battlefield while its second ability is on the stack, you’ll draw a card and leave Sensei’s Divining Top in the zone it’s moved to.
2016-06-08 Sensei’s Divining Top’s second ability may be activated in response to its first ability. If so, you’ll draw a card, put Sensei’s Divining Top on top of your library, and then look at the top three cards and rearrange them.

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