Imperial Seal MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Search your library for any one card. Shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. You lose 2 life.
"If Heaven has placed it in your hands, it means that the throne is destined to be yours."
Cards like Imperial Seal
Imperial Seal is a powerful tutor card from Magic: The Gathering that allows players to search their library for a card and then place that card on top of their library at the expense of 2 life. Its functionality draws parallels to the iconic Vampiric Tutor, which similarly lies within the category of powerful one black mana tutors. However, unlike Imperial Seal, which is a sorcery, Vampiric Tutor is an instant, offering a significant timing advantage by allowing for more flexibility during either player’s turns.
Diabolic Intent is another card that shares a resemblance with Imperial Seal. Although both cards enable the player to choose a specific card from their library, Diabolic Intent requires the additional cost of sacrificing a creature. The sacrifice can be a hindrance or be leveraged as an advantage, depending on the deck’s strategy. Then we compare Imperial Seal to Demonic Tutor – a potent tutor without life loss but at the slight increase in mana cost, demanding two mana of any color alongside the black mana.
Therefore, while Imperial Seal is a sought-after card for its ability to precisely sculpt the player’s upcoming draw, each tutor card offers unique benefits and downsides, which must be measured against the strategic requirements of a player’s deck. The meticulous balance between cost, speed, and additional effects is what defines the best tutor match for a player’s MTG strategy.
Cards similar to Imperial Seal by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Imperial Seal. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oath of Druids | Vintage | Oath of Druids | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Vintage Mainevent | |
Jeff | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | ||
B/W Mid | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | ||
Oops! All Spells | Vintage | Oops! All Spells | Vintage Preliminary 2024-01-23 | |
Doomsday | Vintage | Doomsday | 2023 Asia Vintage Championship | |
Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage | Paradoxical Outcome | Vintage Preliminary 2024-02-02 | |
Mono-Black Combo | Vintage | 2023 NA Vintage Champs | ||
Sultai Flash | Vintage | 2023 Asia Vintage Championship |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Imperial Seal paves the way for controlled card selection by letting you pick any card from your deck to place on top. It ensures you get the right tool for your upcoming turn, enhancing hand consistency throughout the match.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly adding mana, Imperial Seal functions as a resource accelerator by fetching crucial combo pieces or land tutors to streamline your game plan, effectively quickening your deck’s performance.
Instant Speed: Although Imperial Seal is a sorcery, the card you select can be anything, including an instant. It sets up potential plays for your next turn, keeping you agile and prepared to respond to opponents’ moves with a precisely curated hand.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Imperial Seal has a defined mana requirement, necessitating black mana in your pool, which could restrict its inclusion in multicolor decks that might struggle with mana fixing.
Discard Requirement: While not requiring an actual discard, using Imperial Seal effectively diminishes hand advantage by placing the chosen card on top of the library instead of into your hand, delaying immediate impact.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being just one black mana, the hefty secondary cost of paying 2 life can be significant in formats where life totals are under constant pressure, especially considering alternative search options that do not have this life loss.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Imperial Seal offers unparalleled utility in fetching crucial pieces from your library. This ability to search for any card ensures it can find a place in numerous deck archetypes, from control to combo.
Combo Potential: As a powerful tutor, Imperial Seal can be the linchpin in setting up game-winning combinations. It can search for missing pieces of a combo, enabling consistent execution of your strategy.
Meta-Relevance: Given the competitive nature of various formats, having Imperial Seal in your arsenal can provide a significant edge. Its relevance in shaping early game tactics or recovering from disruption makes it a valuable tool in any strategic framework.
How to beat
The Imperial Seal card is an exceptional tutor card in MTG, enabling players to search their library for any card and place it on top. This powerful ability to shape your next draw can give a player a strategic advantage, securing just the right tool for coming turns. To effectively counter this, disrupting your opponent’s deck becomes a key tactic.
One approach involves using cards that force shuffles, like Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter, after they cast Imperial Seal. By doing so, you can dilute the advantage gained by ensuring the carefully selected card gets lost in the shuffle. Another strategy could be employing counterspells to neutralize the Seal’s effect entirely. If the game progresses beyond this point, cards with hand disruption abilities, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can help mitigate the Seal’s impact by removing the key card before it’s played.
Ultimately, beating Imperial Seal largely comes down to timing, deck awareness, and having the right disruption tools at your disposal. By anticipating your opponent’s moves and responding with precise control, you can turn the tide in your favor despite their initial upper hand.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering the art of deck construction in MTG is pivotal for any player looking to dominate the game. Imperial Seal can be a cornerstone in honing that mastery. It offers a reliable way to sift through your deck and pinpoint the perfect card for your next move, cementing its status as a key strategic asset. Embrace the opportunity to sculpt your hand with precision and reinforce your deck’s consistency. If you’re eager to dive deeper and luxuriate in the strategic depths MTG offers, join us as we uncover more insights and bolster your arsenal for the ultimate gameplay experience. Your journey of strategy, consistency, and control continues here.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Imperial Seal MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Magic Online Promos, 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 Imperial Seal and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Imperial Seal Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 78 | 1997 | Normal | White | Li Tie | |
2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 102253 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | ||
3 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 96 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Li Tie | |
4 | 2016-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2016 | J16 | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Li Tie | |
5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran | |
6 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 354 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Mark Tedin | |
7 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 439 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Imperial Seal has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Predh | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Banned |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Restricted |
Duel | Banned |