Clairvoyance MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 1995-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ice Age |
| Set code | ICE |
| Number | 63 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ken Meyer, Jr. |
Key Takeaways
- Clairvoyance provides an edge by revealing opponents’ hands, crucial for informed decision-making.
- Despite hand peeking, its discard cost and mana specificity can limit its versatility.
- Its combo potential and adaptability can make it a strategic addition to blue decks.
Text of card
Look at target player's hand. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.
"As we followed the ice wall, we had the distinct feeling of being watched. Many of the party wanted to turn back." —Disa the Restless, journal entry
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Clairvoyance offers a sneak peek at your opponent’s hand, providing valuable information that can be leveraged to anticipate their next moves and optimize your strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While Clairvoyance itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the insight gained can inform decisions that help you use your resources more effectively, such as when to play or hold back certain cards.
Instant Speed: The swift nature of this instant spell means it can be cast at any time, allowing for strategic interruptions and maintaining the element of surprise. It serves as a tool for information warfare, ready to deploy at the most opportune moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When you cast Clairvoyance, the requirement to discard another card can put you at a disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already sparse. This can make it challenging to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: While Clairvoyance’s mana cost may seem low, the need for blue mana can restrict its inclusion in decks. Decks that don’t run blue or have a limited mana base may struggle to accommodate this card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its ability to provide foresight into an opponent’s plans by revealing their hand, the cost of one blue mana for a single-use effect might not always be the optimal play. Other options exist in Magic’s vast card pool that offer more comprehensive solutions or card draw for a similar, or even lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Clairvoyance is a useful card that can be slotted into a variety of blue decks. Its ability to look at an opponent’s hand makes it adaptable for various gameplay strategies, whether it’s for hand disruption or just gaining crucial information about what to expect next.
Combo Potential: Not only can Clairvoyance provide valuable insight, but it also pairs well with cards that benefit from knowledge of the opponent’s hand, adding layers of strategy to your plays. It’s particularly potent in combo decks that aim to control the opponent’s options.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where forecast and strategy can tip the scales, Clairvoyance holds its ground. It’s a low-cost spell with the potential to disrupt opponents who rely on holding specific cards for the right moment. Aligning with the ebb and flow of the game, this card might help to navigate through complex situations and into positions of advantage.
How to beat
Clairvoyance is a blue instant spell in Magic: The Gathering that offers players a sneak peek at an opponent’s hand, granting strategic insight for upcoming plays. While not a directly threatening card, Clairvoyance can pave the way for your opponent to disrupt your game plan, making it essential to know how to navigate against such tactics.
To effectively counteract Clairvoyance, it’s vital to limit the information it provides. This can be done by employing a strategy that keeps a varied and unpredictable hand, making it more challenging for opponents to anticipate and counter your moves. Further, you can utilize cards that protect your hand, such as Witchbane Orb, which grants you hexproof, or use instants like Veil of Summer to grant you temporary protection. Playing cards that allow you to draw and play them immediately can also negate the advantage Clairvoyance offers by ensuring your hand is constantly changing and less readable. Thus, understanding your own deck and leaning on its flexibility is key to overcoming the strategic edge provided by Clairvoyance.
Considering these tactics, players can maintain the upper hand and mitigate the advantage gained by opponents using Clairvoyance, keeping their strategies hidden and their plays unpredictable. By doing so, you protect the integrity of your hand and reinforce your position on the battlefield.
Cards like Clairvoyance
Clairvoyance stands out in MTG as a unique instant that offers a sneak peek into your opponent’s hand. It’s a straightforward spell reminiscent of other cards like Peek and Gitaxian Probe, which also let players glimpse their opponent’s secrets. Unlike Clairvoyance, Peek allows you to draw a card, offering a bit more value for the same mana cost. Meanwhile, Gitaxian Probe takes it further by offering the same benefits as Peek but with the flexibility of paying life instead of mana, giving it a distinct edge for decks looking to maximize efficiency and card advantage.
Telepathy is another blue spell that shares a theme with Clairvoyance. While it doesn’t allow for card draw, Telepathy provides an ongoing effect that reveals all opponents’ hands at all times, significantly widening the knowledge available to a player for strategic plays. Although Clairvoyance is instant and Telepathy an enchantment, this ongoing effect can be far more disrupting over the course of a game.
Ultimately, Clairvoyance caters to players who value immediate knowledge to inform their next move. While it stands on its ground due to its low cost and instant speed, other cards offer incremental advantages that might make them preferable depending on a player’s strategy and game plan.
Cards similar to Clairvoyance by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Clairvoyance MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Clairvoyance and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Clairvoyance has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |