Knowledge and Power MTG Card


Knowledge and Power - Journey into Nyx
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2014-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameJourney into Nyx
Set codeJOU
Number101
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJung Park

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables card selection and future planning by scrying the top three deck cards and conserving the best.
  2. The versatility at instant speed lets players interact during an opponent’s turn, maintaining a surprise edge.
  3. While powerful, its higher mana cost and discard requirement may limit its application in some deck strategies.

Text of card

Whenever you scry, you may pay . If you do, Knowledge and Power deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

"Information is a powerful weapon." —Cymede, queen of Akros


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grants you the edge by offering a peek at the top three cards of your deck, enabling you to keep the one you need and setting you up for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: Efficiently sifts through your deck to potentially reveal additional mana sources, propelling your game plan forward at an accelerated pace.

Instant Speed: Provides the flexibility of responding to your opponent’s moves on their turn, keeping you one step ahead and preserving the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of Knowledge and Power card is the necessity to discard other cards in order to trigger its abilities. This can strain your hand, especially if you’re playing a strategy that relies on maintaining a variety of options to respond to an opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: While the effects can be potent, the card requires a specific combination of mana to cast. This stipulation can potentially restrict its incorporation into multicolored decks that may struggle to consistently produce the necessary mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its casting cost is on the higher side in relation to its immediate impact on the game. Players often assess the efficiency of a card by the immediate advantage it provides upon being played, and there are other options in Magic that may yield a quicker or more pronounced effect for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Knowledge and Power is a card that can adapt to numerous strategies, seasoned players find it useful in decks that capitalize on both spellcasting frequency and game insight.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergistic interactions, bolstering decks that revolve around casting prowess or those that reward drawing or revealing cards.

Meta-Relevance: Amidst a meta dominated by spell-heavy decks, Knowledge and Power could play a pivotal role, offering strategic advantage and fueling powerful plays against the competition.


How to Beat Knowledge and Power

Understanding the dynamics of Knowledge and Power in MTG is crucial for developing a winning strategy against it. This enchantment capitalizes on scrying to turn mere foresight into tangible gains, with the potential to convert knowledge into damage. However, every card in MTG has a counter, and Knowledge and Power is no exception.

To effectively counteract this spell, consider employing instant-speed enchantment removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize, disrupting the setup before your opponent can harness its power. You can also thwart their plans by incorporating Pithing Needle to disable their activated abilities, or use control elements to limit scrying opportunities.

Additionally, hand disruption tactics are an excellent way to pre-empt the Knowledge and Power strategy. Tools like Thoughtseize or Duress can extract key pieces from your opponent’s grip, essentially dismantling their engine before it revs up. By staying a step ahead with these strategies, you can undermine the Knowledge and Power synergy and steer the game in your favor.


Cards like Knowledge and Power

Knowledge and Power is an intriguing card with an ability that delves into the synergy between scry and damage in Magic: The Gathering. Akin to Knowledge and Power, there is Flamespeaker Adept, which boosts its power and toughness whenever you scry. While both cards benefit from scrying, Knowledge and Power can deal direct damage to any target, providing a broader range of tactical applications. Meanwhile, the Adept requires a more combat-centric approach to take advantage of its scrying synergy.

Another comparable card is Sigiled Skink. Although it provides a scry benefit whenever it attacks, the key difference is the lack of payoff in the form of direct damage or any immediate board impact, which Knowledge and Power offers. Nivix Cyclops also deserves a mention as it grows stronger with every instant or sorcery spell cast, not solely reliant on scrying, but it shares the principle of capitalizing on spellcasting to generate a powerful effect.

Keeper of the Lens exemplifies a more passive use of the scry mechanic, granting you better visibility of the top card of your library but without the aggressive element of Knowledge and Power. Each of these cards provides a unique take on utilizing scry, but Knowledge and Power allows a more direct and potentially game-altering use of the scrying information.

Flamespeaker Adept - MTG Card versions
Sigiled Skink - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Lens - MTG Card versions
Flamespeaker Adept - Theros (THS)
Sigiled Skink - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Nivix Cyclops - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Keeper of the Lens - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Cards similar to Knowledge and Power by color, type and mana cost

Conquer - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
Aether Charge - MTG Card versions
Gratuitous Violence - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Curse of Bloodletting - MTG Card versions
Pyroconvergence - MTG Card versions
Possibility Storm - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunt - MTG Card versions
Blood Rites - MTG Card versions
Burning Anger - MTG Card versions
Conquer - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Burning Sands - Odyssey (ODY)
Unpredictable Cyclone - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Court of Ire - Commander Legends (CMR)
Dictate of the Twin Gods - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Double Vision - New Capenna Commander (NCC)
Aether Charge - Onslaught (ONS)
Gratuitous Violence - Onslaught (ONS)
Confusion in the Ranks - Mirrodin (MRD)
Yet Another Aether Vortex - Unsanctioned (UND)
Where Ancients Tread - Commander 2013 (C13)
Rumbling Aftershocks - Worldwake (WWK)
Heretic's Punishment - Innistrad (ISD)
Curse of Bloodletting - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Pyroconvergence - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Possibility Storm - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Witch Hunt - Commander 2013 (C13)
Blood Rites - The List (PLST)
Burning Anger - Commander Legends (CMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Knowledge and Power MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Knowledge and Power and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Knowledge and Power has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-04-26 Knowledge and Power's ability triggers only once each time you scry, no matter how many cards you look at.
2014-04-26 You choose the target of the ability as it's put on the stack. You choose whether to pay as it resolves. You can pay only once each time you scry.

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