It Doesn't Add Up MTG Card


Grants hand insight and disruption, giving players a tactical advantage by thinning opponents’ resources. Enables instant speed plays, crucial for strategic flexibility and timely disruption of opponent turns. Demands careful deck building due to specific mana requirements and higher investment cost.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Suspect

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Suspect it.

"Etrata claims she has no memory of committing the murder. Somehow, I believe she's telling the truth." —Alquist Proft, case notes


Cards like It Doesn't Add Up

It Doesn’t Add Up brings a fresh twist to the scene of card advantage spells in Magic: The Gathering. It can draw a parallel with the crowd favorite, Opt, which allows for card scrying and drawing at a low cost. However, It Doesn’t Add Up comes with a unique condition of conditional card drawing based on specific criteria being met during a game, unlike the straightforward action of Opt. This nuance can turn the tide of matches, making it a card worthy of consideration for players who enjoy complex strategizing.

Another relative in terms of game mechanics is Anticipate, granting the ability to look at and select from multiple top-deck cards. While Anticipate offers greater choice, It Doesn’t Add Up places emphasis on the current board state for its effect, offering a different kind of strategic depth. Accumulated Knowledge stands out as well, with power increasing as more instances find their way into the graveyard, while It Doesn’t Add Up’s effectiveness depends more on the immediate board state than on the graveyard synergy.

Evaluating It Doesn’t Add Up against its contemporaries showcases its unique place in MTG. While it might not fit every deck, it provides intriguing tactical possibilities for players valuing adaptive playstyles and condition-based rewards.

Opt - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to It Doesn't Add Up by color, type and mana cost

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Ad Nauseam - MTG Card versions
Lash of the Whip - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Flesh to Dust - MTG Card versions
Broken Visage - MTG Card versions
Contagion - MTG Card versions
Necrologia - MTG Card versions
Hatred - MTG Card versions
Dark Triumph - MTG Card versions
Annihilate - MTG Card versions
Waste Away - MTG Card versions
Consume the Meek - MTG Card versions
Stinging Study - MTG Card versions
Szat's Will - MTG Card versions
Cruel Revival - MTG Card versions
Call for Blood - MTG Card versions
Death of a Thousand Stings - MTG Card versions
Moonlight Bargain - MTG Card versions
Traitor's Clutch - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Urge - MTG Card versions
Ad Nauseam - MTG Card versions
Lash of the Whip - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Flesh to Dust - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using It Doesn't Add Up. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formTorino Tournament - Murders at Karlov Manor
Grixis ReanimatorGrixis Reanimator StandardGrixis ReanimatorSupported by Rebound standard Supported by Rakuten Books

Card Pros

Card Advantage: It Doesn’t Add Up offers the potential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to reveal their hand, giving you valuable information and the chance to choose a nonland card from it. You not only gain insight into their game plan but also thin out their resources, providing you with a tactical edge.

Resource Acceleration: The card allows you to play an additional land on your turn, leading to an acceleration in your resource development. This can be pivotal in outpacing your opponent by deploying threats earlier or having more mana available for responses.

Instant Speed: Flexible and responsive, It Doesn’t Add Up can be cast at instant speed, offering significant strategic advantages. This timing allows you to adapt to the game’s state, potentially disrupting your opponent’s moves during their turn and keeping them off balance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One challenge with It Doesn’t Add Up is that it necessitates the player to discard a card. This condition can put the player at a significant disadvantage, particularly when card advantage is crucial or if the hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is exacting, requiring both blue and black mana. Its stringent mana needs can restrict its playability, potentially complicating its inclusion in multicolored decks that struggle with mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it offers a unique effect, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other cards that provide similar abilities. Players might opt for lower-cost alternatives that provide a more consistent return on investment within a game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The It Doesn’t Add Up card offers a unique mechanism to disrupt opponent strategies, making it an asset for decks focused on control and maintaining the game pace. It’s flexible enough to be included in various decks that aim to counteract combo plays or simply desire efficient spell interruption.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that benefit from manipulating opponent’s spells. It can be a critical piece in a deck that aims to leverage spell count, as it can unexpectedly alter the stack and the outcome of spell resolutions in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to interfere with opponents’ plays, It Doesn’t Add Up could find a place in a meta where counterplays are crucial. In environments where instant-speed interaction is key, having such a card could tip the scales, making it a noteworthy consideration for competitive play.


How to Beat It Doesn’t Add Up

Navigating the challenges presented by It Doesn’t Add Up in your MTG matches requires a methodical approach. This card disrupts plays by forcing opponents to pay for their spells according to the number of cards in their hand—Ideal in matches where hand sizes run large. To outmaneuver this taxing effect, consider adopting a strategy with a low curve, emphasizing the deployment of spells with lesser casting costs.

Incorporating efficient draw spells or utilizing abilities to play cards from other zones can also mitigate the repercussions of It Doesn’t Add Up. Cards such as Opt, which lets you scry and draw while keeping your hand lean, prove invaluable here. Additionally, look to incorporate permanents with activated abilities that don’t cast spells but achieve similar effects. This allows you to build a board presence without inflating your hand size, circumventing the deterrence created by It Doesn’t Add Up and maintaining the momentum

Ultimately, minimizing the number of cards in hand and maximizing the utility of every card played becomes crucial when facing this enchantment. It’s about smarter management of resources, leveraging the right mix of spells, and timing your plays to turn the tables on It Doesn’t Add Up.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase It Doesn't Add Up MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 It Doesn't Add Up and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The It Doesn't Add Up Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 2992015NormalBlackEliz Roxs
22024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 892015NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where It Doesn't Add Up has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal