Lobotomy MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 267
1998-08-12 - Number bs267
2000-10-02 - Number 255
2001-08-08 - Number ar255sb
2002-06-24 - Number 32529
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at target player's hand and choose any of those cards other than a basic land. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for all copies of the chosen card and remove them from the game. That player shuffles his or her library afterwards.
Cards like Lobotomy
Lobotomy captures the attention of control-oriented players in Magic: The Gathering with its niche, cognitive assailing effect. It shares conceptual space with cards like Cranial Extraction, which also targets a player’s hand and library to exile a named nonland card. Lobotomy, however, adds a layer of intelligence gathering by allowing its caster to view the opponent’s hand, making it a strategic tool for disruption.
Another close relative is Memoricide, offering the same surgical precision in removing all copies of a chosen name from the game. Yet unlike Lobotomy, Memoricide doesn’t provide the additional information about the remaining hand contents. Furthermore, Denying Wind pushes the boundary even further by not limiting the exile to nonland cards, but its significantly higher mana cost makes it a less flexible option.
In the grand tapestry of MTG’s hand disruption spells, Lobotomy stands out for its dual function of targeted removal and information reveal, positioning it as an intriguing choice for players looking to dismantle their opponent’s strategies with forethought and precision.
Cards similar to Lobotomy by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lobotomy offers a unique approach to card advantage by not only removing a threat from your opponent’s hand but also stripping away all copies of that threat from their library. This prevents any future recurrence, securing your lead in resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Lobotomy itself does not directly accelerate resources, it disrupts your opponent’s game plan by removing key pieces they might rely on for their resource acceleration, thereby indirectly benefiting your pace in the game.
Instant Speed: Lobotomy operates at sorcery speed, giving you the ability to strategically plan your turn and meticulously choose the moment to disrupt your adversary’s strategy, ensuring your actions have the most impactful timing during your gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lobotomy forces a discard from the caster’s hand, potentially costing you a valuable card. In a game where hand advantage is crucial, this can leave you at a significant disadvantage, especially when playing against decks that capitalize on your low hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: Lobotomy requires a specific mana alignment, including both blue and black mana, to cast. This requirement restricts its inclusion to only those decks that can reliably produce both colors, potentially excluding it from many strategies that don’t support such a mana base. Flexibility in deck-building is thus reduced.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost requiring three mana—one blue and two black—Lobotomy is on the higher end for targeted discard effects. When considering the pace of play and the prevalence of lower-cost discard spells in the format, the cost of Lobotomy might outweigh its benefits, making it a less than optimal choice in various competitive scenarios.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lobotomy offers a unique approach to disrupting an opponent’s strategy by not only removing a threat from their hand but also stripping away any copies of that card from their deck. This versatility can be vital, especially in formats where specific cards or combos dominate play.
Combo Potential: This spell’s ability to target cards in the opponent’s hand, graveyard, and library opens up synergies with strategies focused on information and graveyard manipulation. It can work as an enabler in decks that aim to control the flow of the game by dictating what resources remain available to the opponent.
Meta-Relevance: In a game that keeps evolving, cards like Lobotomy remain relevant as tech choices against decks that rely on certain key cards to function. By surgically extracting key components of an opponent’s strategy, this card can shift the balance of power within a game, keeping it a relevant choice in various metagames.
How to beat
Lobotomy, a prominent card in Magic: The Gathering, can be a formidable threat when played correctly. Its ability to exile a target creature card from an opponent’s graveyard and then scan their hand and library to exile all cards with the same name is a potent way of disrupting the opponent’s game plan. Overcoming this challenge requires a mix of strategic play and proper deck construction.
Shielding your key cards is critical. Consider diversifying your deck with a variety of threats to reduce the impact of a single Lobotomy. Employ tactics that offer graveyard protection or use cards that shuffle back into the library when targeted. Prioritize instant-speed responses that can counter Lobotomy or protect your creatures from hitting the graveyard in the first place. In essence, resilience is key; adapt your game to safeguard against targeted disruption and maintain your competitive edge.
Ultimately, while Lobotomy can be a thorn in your side, it’s not unbeatable. By anticipating its use and being prepared with a well-thought-out strategy, you can mitigate its effects and continue on your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lobotomy MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Lobotomy and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Lobotomy Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2001-08-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 267 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bs267 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Thomas M. Baxa | |
| 3 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 255 | 1997 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 4 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ar255sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 5 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32529 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lobotomy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lobotomy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Does not affect cards on the battlefield. |
| 2004-10-04 | If the player has no cards in their hand, you still get to look through their deck, but you do not get to exile any cards. |
| 2004-10-04 | It exiles the chosen card plus all others in the hand, library, and graveyard. Some people thought the chosen card was not exiled due to some vague wording. |
| 2004-10-04 | You only get to pick one card from the player’s hand. |
| 2005-02-01 | The copies must be found if they are in publicly viewable zones. Finding copies while searching private zones is optional. |