Ian Malcolm, Chaotician MTG Card
2023-11-17 - Number 38
2023-11-17 - Number 13
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Scientist |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Whenever a player draws their second card each turn, that player exiles the top card of their library. During each player's turn, that player may cast a spell from among the cards they don't own exiled with Ian Malcolm, Chaotician, and mana of any type can be spent to cast it.
"You've heard of chaos theory?"
Cards like Ian Malcolm, Chaotician
Ian Malcolm, Chaotician, resonates with the vibe of MTG strategy and chaos manipulation, similar yet distinct from other cards. A nod to the character from Jurassic Park, this card introduces multifaceted advantages for players seeking to interact with multiple game aspects simultaneously. It bears resemblance to Ral, Izzet Viceroy, where both provide card selection and damage dealing capabilities. Where Ian Malcolm, Chaotician stands apart is its potential for controlling numerous dice roll outcomes, thus amplifying the stakes and unpredictability during gameplay.
Another counterpart in this realm is Krark, the Thumbless, which has a similar chaos-themed mechanic that relies on coin flips. Krark, the Thumbless, might offer less control than Ian Malcolm, Chaotician, but it compensates with a lower casting cost and the ability to potentially copy spells. While both cards embody the spirit of chance, Ian Malcolm, Chaotician’s flavor and multifaceted design shine in a deck built around variance and adaptability.
Overall, while specific comparisons can be drawn, Ian Malcolm, Chaotician stands unique in its design space, fostering a blend of suspense, strategy, and thematic presence that showcases versatility and innovation in card interactions within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Ian Malcolm, Chaotician by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ian Malcolm, Chaotician grants you an edge by letting you consistently sift through your library, ensuring you find the right spells for any given situation.
Resource Acceleration: This card adeptly manipulates the chaos of the game, providing an unorthodox form of ramp by potentially untapping lands or other mana sources through its unique chaos abilities.
Instant Speed: The abilities integrated into Ian Malcolm, Chaotician can sometimes be activated at instant speed, allowing for surprising and potentially game-altering plays after your opponents have committed to their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ian Malcolm, Chaotician requires a discard to activate its abilities, a sizable drawback if your hand is already depleted or you’re holding crucial cards for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Those looking to cast this card need to have both red and blue mana available, which can be restrictive and may not align with all deck types, impacting its overall flexibility on the battlefield.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of four mana, this card’s cost is on the upper end for its effects when compared to other options in the game that might provide more value or a stronger board presence for the same, or lower, mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Ian Malcolm, Chaotician in Your Collection
Versatility: With its ability to subtly steer game events, Ian Malcolm, Chaotician slides seamlessly into a variety of blue and black decks. Its unique skill set allows for manipulating both the stack and graveyard, which can be pivotal in any match.
Combo Potential: This card opens the door for ingenious combo plays, particularly in arrangements that capitalize on its chaos element. Its synergistic nature can lead to unexpected twists beneficial for strategies that thrive on uncertainty.
Meta-Relevance: The shifting dynamics of the meta often celebrate innovation, and Ian Malcolm, Chaotician fits right in. As metagames evolve, having a card that can adapt and thrive amid change is key for keeping your deck current and competitive.
How to beat
Ian Malcolm, Chaotician presents a unique puzzle when facing off against it in Magic: The Gathering. This card, with its ability to manipulate the outcomes of die rolls, can sideline standard strategies. To effectively counter this card, pinpoint precision attention to board state is essential. Applying early pressure through aggressive creatures can overrun the controller of Ian Malcolm, Chaotician before they stabilize the board with its abilities.
It’s also crucial to include instant-speed removal in your deck, ready to react to the chaos Ian Malcolm can introduce. Utilizing cards that strip your opponent’s hand of key pieces disrupts some of the synergy Ian Malcolm requires. Another approach is to employ counter spells, mitigating the initial threat by preventing its casting altogether or disrupting associated combo pieces pivotal for its effectiveness.
Subsequently, sideboard choices such as graveyard hate can impede any recursion strategies your opponent might deploy to regain momentum with Ian Malcolm. In essence, staying proactive and maintaining control over the game’s flow are key tactics in neutralizing the chaotic element Ian Malcolm, Chaotician introduces to the field.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ian Malcolm, Chaotician MTG card by a specific set like Jurassic World Collection and Jurassic World Collection, 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 Ian Malcolm, Chaotician and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Ian Malcolm, Chaotician Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-11-17 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Caio Monteiro.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-11-17 | Jurassic World Collection | REX | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Caio Monteiro | |
| 2 | 2023-11-17 | Jurassic World Collection | REX | 13 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Caio Monteiro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ian Malcolm, Chaotician has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ian Malcolm, Chaotician card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | Ian Malcolm, Chaotician's first ability can trigger only once each turn for each player. It doesn't matter if Ian was on the battlefield when the first card was drawn. If you control it when a player draws their second card in a turn, that ability will trigger. |
| 2023-11-10 | Players must follow all applicable timing rules for casting spells with the permission granted by Ian Malcolm, Chaotician's last ability. For example, if the spell is a sorcery, it can only be cast during that player's main phase while the stack is empty. |
| 2023-11-10 | The six types of mana are white, blue, black, red, green, and colorless. Snow mana is not a type of mana. Ian Malcolm, Chaotician won't let you pay a snow cost using mana produced by a nonsnow source. |