Judge Unworthy MTG Card

Scrying before damage adds strategic depth, optimizing the deck’s flow and card advantage. Instant speed play allows significant flexibility and can disrupt opponents’ tactics effectively. Demands specific mana and might be less efficient, yet it offers deck versatility and meta-relevance.

Future Sight (FUT)
2007-05-04 - Number 9

Judge Unworthy - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
2021-03-19 - Number 21

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Scry

Text of card

Choose target attacking or blocking creature. Scry 3, then reveal the top card of your library. Judge Unworthy deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to that creature. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)

Cards like Judge Unworthy

Judge Unworthy is a spell that stands out in the Magic: The Gathering universe for its unique approach to handling opposing creatures. It shares the battlefield with cards like Peak Eruption, which also targets and potentially removes a threat. However, Judge Unworthy offers a strategic advantage by allowing you to scry and then deal damage to an attacking or blocking creature based on the converted mana cost of the revealed card. This can lead to surprising turns and offers a great deal of flexibility.

When looking at Condemn, another card in this niche, the differences become clear. Condemn places an attacking creature on the bottom of its owner’s library, which is a different kind of control. While it doesn’t deal damage, it is a clean way to remove a single threat without considering its toughness. Then there’s Reprisal, which destroys a creature with high power without any damage calculations, offering simplicity over the potential variability of Judge Unworthy’s damage range.

What makes Judge Unworthy distinct is the combination of scrying and potential for high removal based on deck construction. It is a card that encourages strategic deck building and offers a reveal mechanic that can be a game-changer in the right circumstances.

Cards similar to Judge Unworthy by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Judge Unworthy has designed specific game strategies around card manipulation, benefiting players by scrying before damage is dealt. This subtle card selection method can ensure you get the most out of your deck, keeping the flow of advantageous cards steady.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or tokens, Judge Unworthy can be seen as a form of indirect resource acceleration. Saving mana costs by efficiently dealing with larger threats means more resources are available for other game-changing plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Judge Unworthy at instant speed offers significant flexibility. React during an opponent’s turn or after declaring blockers, this responsive play can disrupt opposing strategies and protect pivotal assets while your adversaries are left vulnerable during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Judge Unworthy helps you sift through your library, its requirement to discard cards might put you at a disadvantage. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already running low and each card becomes a precious commodity.

Specific Mana Cost: Judge Unworthy demands a specific blend of mana, requiring both white and another color. This means that players running multicolored decks may find it easier to cast than those with a mono-white strategy, potentially restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its effect, Judge Unworthy might not always be the most mana-efficient choice for control or removal. In high-stakes situations, having to allocate more mana than other available options may slow down your overall game plan.

Reasons to Include Judge Unworthy in Your Collection

Versatility: Judge Unworthy offers a flexible solution for deckbuilders. It can fit into a multitude of decks, particularly those looking for a cost-efficient way to manage potential threats on the board without dedicating a slot to a more expensive removal spell.

Combo Potential: As a card that involves scrying, Judge Unworthy can work well with strategies that manipulate the top of the deck. It can synergize with cards that benefit from the scrying mechanic or interact with the library in a beneficial way, enhancing the overall strategy of your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing landscape of MTG, cards like Judge Unworthy that can selectively remove creatures based on power can be highly relevant. It’s particularly useful in metas that see a prevalence of low to mid-power creatures, ensuring you have a cost-effective answer to multiple threats.

How to beat

Judge Unworthy is an intriguing spell that allows players to manipulate the outcome of a conflict by scrying then dealing damage equivalent to the revealed card’s mana value. It’s akin to a precision strike, offering tactical advantage when you have foreknowledge of your deck’s arrangement. Despite its situacy, overcoming this card can be straightforward.

One approach is to employ threats that exceed the damage potential of Judge Unworthy. Creatures with high toughness serve well to absorb the hit and remain a pressing issue for your opponent. Alternatively, utilizing cards that shuffle your deck or manipulate the top card can mitigate the precision Judge Unworthy relies on. Ensuring a low mana value card is on top when Judge Unworthy is cast can greatly reduce its effectiveness.

Moreover, instant-speed hexproof options can render Judge Unworthy futile at a critical moment, preserving your creature and potentially turning the tables. Recognizing and predicting the timing of such removal spells is key to maintaining an upper hand in the duel. Adapting to the dynamics of your opponent’s strategies will ensure Judge Unworthy is less of a verdict and more of a minor setback.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Judge Unworthy MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Judge Unworthy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Judge Unworthy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-05-04	Future Sight	FUT		9	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Staples
2	2021-03-19	Time Spiral Remastered	TSR		21	2015	Normal	Black	Greg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Judge Unworthy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2021-03-19	Destroying a blocking creature won’t cause any of the creatures it was blocking to become unblocked. They won’t deal combat damage to the defending player or planeswalker (unless they have trample).
2021-03-19	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Judge Unworthy tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You don’t scry 3 or reveal any card.