Glimmer of Genius MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 49
2020-11-12 - Number 49
2024-03-08 - Number 704
2024-03-08 - Number 176
2024-06-14 - Number 187
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Scry |
Text of card
Scry 2, then draw two cards. You get (two energy counters).
Creators live for that moment of inspiration: precious, profound, perfect.
Cards like Glimmer of Genius
Glimmer of Genius stands out in the Magic: The Gathering universe as a prime option for card advantage and energy acquisition. This instant compares to the likes of Hieroglyphic Illumination, which also offers card drawing utility. Both cards allow players to enhance their hand, but Glimmer of Genius takes it a step further by granting valuable energy counters. Hieroglyphic Illumination lacks this aspect, solely focusing on the card draw.
Another parallel can be drawn with Inspiration, a spell enabling players to draw two cards at instant speed. However, Inspiration is less synergistic, as it doesn’t offer the flexibility of energy counters that could be instrumental in activating various abilities within the game. Pull from Tomorrow is a more scalable spell in this cohort, enabling a massive card draw depending on the mana investment, yet it does not provide the energy component either.
Reviewing these cards highlights Glimmer of Genius as a multifaceted tool for decks that thrive on both instant speed interaction and the energy mechanic. It is a versatile spell that can fuel strategies reliant on both card quantity and quality, a niche that its counterparts do not fulfill as comprehensively.
Cards similar to Glimmer of Genius by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Glimmer of Genius enables card selection by drawing two cards, significantly enhancing your hand and giving you more options during play.
Resource Acceleration: Upon casting, Glimmer of Genius grants you energy counters, which can be used as an alternative resource to activate abilities or power up your other energy-based cards.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Glimmer of Genius at instant speed offers immense flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s moves or optimize the timing for your strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Glimmer of Genius shines in decks with surplus cards, but its requirement of having no discard stipulation means you might miss an opportunity to cycle through your hand more efficiently in specific scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: This instant demands both blue and colorless mana, potentially restricting its integration into multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While offering a decent draw and scry, Glimmer of Genius comes with a four-mana price tag, which could be a setback compared to lower-cost alternatives that provide similar advantages, making it less optimal in faster, more agile decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Glimmer of Genius is a staple in any deck that seeks to maximize energy counters while also providing a healthy card advantage. Its ability to slot into a variety of energy-centric builds makes it a multifaceted addition to any collection.
Combo Potential: This card’s capacity to generate energy counters opens up numerous combo possibilities, meshing well with cards that consume or get boosted by energy. It helps fuel both aggressive and control strategies, underlining its combo utility.
Meta-Relevance: Glimmer of Genius maintains relevance in formats where energy strategies are prevalent, offering a competitive edge in games where card selection and incremental advantages dictate the pace of play.
How to beat
Glimmer of Genius is a powerful card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its energy-generating mechanism and card filtering ability. It stands out due to its synergy with decks that capitalize on energy counters. The instant nature of Glimmer of Genius allows players to hold up mana for counterspells or activate abilities and then draw cards if those options are not needed.
To effectively beat Glimmer of Genius, disrupting the opponent’s energy reserves is key. Employing strategies that involve discard effects can force a player to use or lose their Glimmer prematurely. Another method is applying pressure with an aggressive strategy that doesn’t allow the opponent the time to set up their energy-based plays. Cards that offer an advantage in the form of information, like Telepathy, can be invaluable against reactive spells like Glimmer, as they reveal the optimal moment to disrupt the opponent’s plans before they can maximize the value of their card draw.
Though Glimmer of Genius can be a formidable card in the right deck, understanding when and how to challenge it will keep you one step ahead in your matches, ensuring that this burst of brilliance doesn’t overwhelm your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Glimmer of Genius MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Glimmer of Genius and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Glimmer of Genius Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tommy Arnold | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tommy Arnold | |
| 3 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 704 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 4 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 176 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Josu Hernaiz | |
| 5 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tommy Arnold |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Glimmer of Genius has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Glimmer of Genius card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They're not associated with specific permanents. (Other kinds of counters that players may have include poison and experience.) |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters aren't mana. They don't go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana “of any type” to your mana pool can't give you energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | If an effect says you get one or more , you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | Keep careful track of how many energy counters each player has. You may do so by keeping a running count on paper, by using a die, or by any other clear and mutually agreeable method. |
| 2017-02-09 | You can't pay more energy counters than you have. |
| 2017-02-09 | is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter. |