Idris, Soul of the TARDIS MTG Card


Idris provides card filtering and improves your draw, ensuring the right resources at critical moments. Its ability to ramp mana accelerates your strategy, allowing you to cast impactful spells sooner. Operating at instant speed, Idris offers unrivaled flexibility to respond swiftly to game changes.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Incarnation
Abilities Imprint,Vanishing
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Vanishing 3 Imprint — When Idris, Soul of the TARDIS enters the battlefield, exile another artifact you control until Idris leaves the battlefield. Idris has all activated and triggered abilities of the exiled card and gets +X/+X, where X is the exiled card's mana value.


Cards like Idris, Soul of the TARDIS

Idris, Soul of the TARDIS makes a captivating entry into the pantheon of legendary creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares traits with other multiverse-traveling beings such as Ral Zarek, who also manipulates time, although Idris distinguishes itself with its unique blend of abilities. Ral Zarek can untap and tap permanents and plays with chance through coin flips, yet does not offer the same game-spanning potential Idris does.

Comparable to Idris in the aspect of flickering through planes is Aminatou, the Fateshifter. Aminatou facilitates top deck manipulation and blink strategies but lacks the ability to directly cast spells from other dimensions as Idris can. The latter’s potential to pull and play cards from outside the game entirely places it on a higher tier of strategic versatility.

Assessing these extraordinary characters reveals that Idris is incredibly unique. While other cards have similar aspects of warping the rules of the game, Idris offers a distinctive advantage by allowing access to an entire external card pool during the heat of combat or critical moments, setting it apart in the realm of Magic: The Gathering’s legendary creatures.

Ral Zarek - MTG Card versions
Aminatou, the Fateshifter - MTG Card versions
Ral Zarek - MTG Card versions
Aminatou, the Fateshifter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Idris, Soul of the TARDIS by color, type and mana cost

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Frenetic Efreet - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - MTG Card versions
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - MTG Card versions
Veyran, Voice of Duality - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Gelectrode - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Noggle Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Crackleburr - MTG Card versions
Noggle Ransacker - MTG Card versions
Izzet Staticaster - MTG Card versions
Jhoira of the Ghitu - MTG Card versions
Spellheart Chimera - MTG Card versions
Jori En, Ruin Diver - MTG Card versions
Whirler Virtuoso - MTG Card versions
Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Protean Raider - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Idris, Soul of the TARDIS offers a distinct edge by filtering through your deck more efficiently. Every time you activate its ability, you delve into your collection for answers or threats, bolstering options in your hand while simultaneously setting up your future plays.

Resource Acceleration: The capability of Idris to ramp up your mana resources should not be underestimated. By facilitating access to a wider array of mana, this card allows for a smooth deployment of high-impact spells earlier than usual, potentially turning the tide of the match in your favor.

Instant Speed: The flexibility provided by Idris’ abilities operating at instant speed cannot be overstated. This characteristic empowers you to adapt to the ebb and flow of the game, making crucial decisions at the most opportune moments – be it during your turn or in response to your opponents’ actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Idris, Soul of the TARDIS, asks players to sacrifice their own cards from their hand to activate certain abilities. This can be a strategic setback if you’re battling with a dwindling hand size and you need to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Idris is not only specific but also diverse, demanding a variety of colors to cast. This can make fitting Idris into your deck a bit tricky, especially if you’re running a deck that lacks the necessary color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a larger amount of mana, Idris may require you to build up resources for several turns before you can utilize it. This can slow down your game, particularly when competing against decks that peak in the early to mid-game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Idris, Soul of the TARDIS, brings an exceptional flexibility to a player’s arsenal, capable of slotting into various deck archetypes that value temporal plays and strategic manipulations.

Combo Potential: Its ability to potentially offer extra turns or untap a plethora of permanents primed for combo setups makes it a veritable linchpin in decks that aim for explosive, game-winning sequences.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games go long and every turn counts, Idris, Soul of the TARDIS, stands out as a fundamental piece to outpace opponents by maximizing the value gained from each move made.


How to beat

Idris, Soul of the TARDIS, represents a unique challenge on the battlefield. The key to overcoming this foe is to anticipate and disrupt the cascade mechanic that defines the card’s strength. Control decks that can counter spells or forcibly remove Idris from the field before its owner can benefit are especially effective. Utilizing instant-speed removal gives players the opportunity to react during their opponent’s turn, a crucial strategy when facing down a card that can potentially bring an abundance of value and momentum to your opponent.

Graveyard hate cards are also valuable tools in this matchup. Since cascade can potentially bring back powerful spells from the graveyard, having a means to exile or remove those cards from the game can seriously hamper Idris’s impact. It’s also prudent to limit the spells one casts that Idris could benefit from. Sometimes the best way to handle such a potent threat is to wait it out and strike with precision, dismantling your opponent’s strategy piece by piece.

Every match against Idris requires a blend of foresight and flexibility. Plan carefully, react swiftly, and remember that the best defense is a good offense. Cutting off resources and keeping pressure on your opponent denies them the chance to fully utilize Idris, Soul of the TARDIS’s powerful abilities.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Idris, Soul of the TARDIS MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 Idris, Soul of the TARDIS and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Idris, Soul of the TARDIS Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Manuel Castañón.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 4192015NormalBlackManuel Castañón
22023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 1352015NormalBlackManuel Castañón
32023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10102015NormalBlackManuel Castañón
42023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 7402015NormalBlackManuel Castañón

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Idris, Soul of the TARDIS has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Idris, Soul of the TARDIS card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-10-13 Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "
-ost:
-ffect]." Some keyword abilities, like equip, are activated abilities and they have colons in their reminder text.
2023-10-13 If the exiled card has an in its mana cost, the value of X is 0 when determining that card's mana value.
2023-10-13 Triggered abilities use the word "when," "whenever," or "at." They're often written as "
-rigger condition],
-ffect]." Some keyword abilities, such as prowess, are triggered abilities and will have "when," "whenever," or "at" in their reminder text.