Tales of the Ancestors MTG Card


Tales of the Ancestors - Kaldheim Commander
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Foretell
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim Commander
Set codeKHC
Number8
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byColin Boyer

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed allows strategic and reactive play, making Tales of the Ancestors a game-changing card.
  2. Discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit the card’s versatility in some decks.
  3. Its draw mechanism provides unmatched card advantage in multiplayer games, reshaping the match.

Text of card

Each player with fewer cards in hand than the player with the most cards in hand draws cards equal to the difference. Foretell (During your turn, you may pay and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tales of the Ancestors not only shifts the tide in your favor by drawing cards but also disrupts opponents who have fewer cards in hand than the most prolific player, ensuring you are ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not providing direct acceleration, by drawing multiple cards, Tales of the Ancestors effectively digs deeper into your deck to grant access to lands and acceleration tools, thereby indirectly boosting your mana availability for future turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Tales of the Ancestors at instant speed grants immense flexibility. It allows players to adapt reactively to the state of the game, casting it when most advantageous, such as in response to an opponent’s end step or significant spell, which maximizes the card’s potential impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tales of the Ancestors asks players to discard a card. This trade-off can backfire, especially in situations where hand size is crucial to maintaining leverage over your opponent. The requirement can lead to a difficult decision if your hand contains key pieces you’d rather retain for later use.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s cost includes distinct mana colors, making it somewhat inflexible. It demands a deck built with the right mana base to cater to its blue and white mana prerequisite, which can be a barrier for decks that are not geared towards this mana combination or for players who have a mana base that’s less consistent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost set at four mana, Tales of the Ancestors may not appeal to players looking for lower-cost alternatives. When considering its place in your deck, the mana investment for the card’s effect might be higher than desired, given that there are other cards with lower mana costs that can achieve similar or even better card advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tales of the Ancestors is a card that offers a universal appeal to various deck builds. Its ability to provide card draw can be a game-changer for players looking to maintain resource advantage across multiple rounds.

Combo Potential: The card exhibits strong synergy with strategies focused on hand size. It can turn an empty hand into a fresh set of options, thus empowering strategies that strive for combo executions or a comeback from a disadvantaged position.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the game’s meta, Tales of the Ancestors might be a mainstay in metagames that value card advantage and strategic setup. Its utility in refilling the hand makes it relevant in games where long-term planning dictates the path to victory.


How to beat

Tales of the Ancestors can be a powerful force in Magic: The Gathering, offering a surge in card advantage to propel a game forward. When an opponent makes skillful use of this card, it’s akin to opening the floodgates for options and potential plays. A pivotal move to counteract the benefits Tales of the Ancestors provides is to minimize the impact of their newfound hand. Strategies may include applying discard pressure to whittle down the increased card advantage or using counterspells to prevent the casting of the key spells they acquire.

Timing is crucial. Implementing instant-speed interaction can disrupt the effectiveness of the cards drawn. Tactical removal or bounce spells can handle the creatures that could be flooding the board post-draw, maintaining a manageable state for you to navigate through. Moreover, you might consider leveraging graveyard-based strategies, transforming their added resources into a liability. For example, cards that exile graveyards can neutralize the setup they rely upon.

Essentially, success against Tales of the Ancestors lies in strategic mitigation of its effects, careful planning, and immediate action once the opponent attempts to capitalize on their card advantage, ensuring that their tales don’t lead to your game’s end.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlocking the true potential of MTG is a blend of skill, strategy, and the right arsenal of cards. Tales of the Ancestors presents a unique tool for drawing cards and disrupting your adversaries, but with our insights, your MTG experience can soar beyond the norm. Embrace the challenge of crafting a winning deck around Tales of the Ancestors, and consider the comprehensive tactics to counter its power when facing it across the battlefield. Dive deeper into the MTG realm with us, refine your strategies, and add undeniable value to your collection. Visit BurnMana for more expert advice and tactics.


Cards like Tales of the Ancestors

Exploring the depth of MTG’s card pool, Tales of the Ancestors offers a unique twist on the convention of card draw. This spell draws a comparison to the likes of Coastal Piracy, which rewards the player for attacking with creatures. Tales of the Ancestors, however, broadens the scope, providing card advantage based on the number of creatures you control as you join in the Encore mechanic’s symphony.

Then there’s Reconnaissance Mission, another enchantment that triggers card draw with combat damage, yet it lacks the immediate mass draw potential of Tales of the Ancestors. Moving from enchantments to instants, Kindred Discovery stands out, due to its ability to draw cards whenever a creature of a chosen type enters the battlefield or attacks, ensuring a continuous flow of options. Despite this, it doesn’t offer the large one-time impact that Tales of the Ancestors can generate with a sizeable creature presence.

Ultimately, Tales of the Ancestors finds its place in MTG as a card that can potentially refill a player’s hand and turn the tide of multiplayer games. It excels by combining immediate draw with the Encore mechanic, and while similar card advantage options exist, Tales of the Ancestors carves its own niche effectively within the diverse array of draw cards.

Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Reconnaissance Mission - MTG Card versions
Kindred Discovery - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Reconnaissance Mission - MTG Card versions
Kindred Discovery - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tales of the Ancestors by color, type and mana cost

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Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
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Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tales of the Ancestors MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim Commander, 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 Tales of the Ancestors and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tales of the Ancestors has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-02-05 Because exiling a card with foretell from your hand is a special action, you can do so any time you have priority during your turn, including in response to spells and abilities. Once you announce you’re taking the action, no other player can respond by trying to remove the card from your hand.
2021-02-05 Casting a foretold card from exile follows the timing rules for that card. If you foretell an instant card, you can cast it as soon as the next player’s turn. In most cases, if you foretell a card that isn’t an instant (or doesn’t have flash), you’ll have to wait until your next turn to cast it.
2021-02-05 If you’re casting a foretold card from exile for its foretell cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any other alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.

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