Inspired Idea MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 64
2021-11-19 - Number 360
2022-01-28 - Number 331
2002-06-24 - Number 95307
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Cleave |
Text of card
Cleave (You may cast this spell for its cleave cost. If you do, remove the words in square brackets.)
Draw three cards.
-our maximum hand size is reduced by three for the rest of the game.]
Stitching is an ever-evolving field, with each new advancement reaching a new height of horror.
Cards like Inspired Idea
Exploring the versatile world of combo enablers in MTG, Inspired Idea emerges as a compelling card to consider. Serving as a nod to classical blue card-draw spells, it shares common ground with iconic cards like Brainstorm, which also offers a peek at additional strategies thanks to its drawing ability. However, Inspired Idea requires the player to pay life equal to the number of cards in their hand unless it’s their turn limiting the versatility compared to Brainstorm’s immediate draw.
On the strategic landscape, there’s also an intersection with cards like Pull from Tomorrow. This spell also allows a substantial card draw with the caveat of discarding one, but it stands out with its untethered draw quantity directly tied to available mana rather than hand size, presenting an alternative for late-game scenarios. Another parallel is found with Blue Sun’s Zenith, which shuffles back into the library offering a recurring advantage, yet it does not have the life payment condition found in Inspired Idea.
In summary, Inspired Idea can prove to be a valuable tool for drawing multiple cards at a potentially low cost, aligning well with MTG’s tradition of powerful blue draw spells while offering a unique challenge in its activation cost.
Cards similar to Inspired Idea by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Inspired Idea. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WU | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024 | |
| Azorius Tempo | Standard | Azorius Tempo | BLACK - FRI - 11AM - Chicago 75K Standard Open |
| Azorius Aggro | Standard | Azorius Tempo | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Inspired Idea provides a significant boost by letting you draw three cards. This influx of options can replenish your hand, ensuring that you maintain the upper hand over your opponents by having more resources to work with.
Resource Acceleration: Although Inspired Idea doesn’t directly produce additional mana or tokens, the cards drawn could potentially lead to obtaining more lands or spells that generate resources, indirectly accelerating your gameplay and enabling more powerful moves.
Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed means Inspired Idea can be cast during your opponent’s turn, keeping your mana flexible. The ability to wait until the end of your opponent’s turn before deciding to draw ensures that you can respond appropriately to their actions before committing your resources to the card draw.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Inspired Idea necessitates discarding a card, which can be particularly taxing in situations where your hand is already depleted. This requirement can potentially place you at a disadvantage by reducing your options on future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a strict blue mana investment to cast. Consequently, it may not seamlessly integrate into decks that don’t heavily feature blue mana or multicolor decks that prioritize mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a significant casting cost, Inspired Idea’s mana investment is steep compared to other draw spells. Players may find that, despite its potential for card advantage, the upfront cost is a deterring factor, especially in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is paramount.
Reasons to Include Inspired Idea in Your Collection
Versatility: Inspired Idea, as a blue card, offers great adaptability, easily sliding into decks centered around card advantage and draw mechanics. Its ability to refill your hand makes it a valuable addition to various strategies.
Combo Potential: When paired with other cards that reward you for drawing or having a large hand size, Inspired Idea’s potential skyrockets, setting the stage for powerful plays and synergistic combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where information is power, keeping your hand stocked with options is crucial. Inspired Idea aligns well with this approach, often finding its place in environments where maintaining card advantage can tip the scales in your favor.
How to beat
Inspired Idea is a unique and cerebral card that offers players in Magic: The Gathering a tempting offer – draw three cards at the cost of reducing your hand size for the rest of the game. This trade-off can embolden a strategic player to surge forward in card advantage, but is not without its risks. To overcome the benefits that Inspired Idea bestows upon your opponent, pinpoint precision in game strategy is key.
Countering Inspired Idea effectively entails applying pressure and forcing your adversary to play cards, thus diminishing their hand size even more rapidly post-casting. Additionally, leveraging discard effects can exacerbate the reduced maximum hand size, causing your opponent to lose vital resources. Resource denial tactics, such as milling or forcing the opponent to draw excessively, could turn Inspired Idea’s advantage into a liability quickly. Moreover, negation through counterspells before Inspired Idea resolves ensures the opponent’s hand size remains unchanged.
Ultimately, tackling Inspired Idea revolves around proactively disrupting your opponent’s plans and punishing them for their smaller hand size. Observe their tactics, adjust your plan, and you will convert their inspiration into your victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Inspired Idea MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Inspired Idea 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 Inspired Idea Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Alix Branwyn.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 95307 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alix Branwyn | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 64 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alix Branwyn | |
| 3 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 360 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alix Branwyn | |
| 4 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 331 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alix Branwyn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Inspired Idea has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Inspired Idea card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | A cleave cost is an alternative cost that's paid instead of the spell's mana cost. Casting a spell for its cleave cost doesn't change the spell's mana value. |
| 2021-11-19 | If a player has more cards in their hand than their maximum hand size during the cleanup step of that player's turn, that player discards until they have that many cards. A player's maximum hand size isn't checked at any time other than their own cleanup step. |
| 2021-11-19 | If an effect allows you to “cast a spell without paying its mana cost,” you can't cast that spell for its cleave cost. |
| 2021-11-19 | If multiple effects modify your hand size, apply them in timestamp order. For example, if you are affected by Null Profusion (an enchantment that sets a player's maximum hand size to two) and then resolve Inspired Idea without paying its cleave cost, your maximum hand size would be zero. However, if Null Profusion entered the battlefield after Inspired Idea resolved, your maximum hand size would be two. |
| 2021-11-19 | If you cast a spell for its cleave cost, that spell doesn't have any of the text in square brackets while it's on the stack. |
| 2021-11-19 | If you currently have no maximum hand size, then reducing your maximum hand size by three will have no effect. If the effect causing you to have no maximum hand size ends, Inspired Idea's effect will apply at that time. |
| 2021-11-19 | You can't cast a spell for both its cleave cost and another alternative cost. For example, if an effect gives an Alchemist's Retrieval in your graveyard a flashback cost of , you can't cast it from your graveyard for its cleave cost. |