Memory Bank MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 27
2021-08-20 - Number 27
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Draw a card. Bank (If you cast CARDNAME from your hand, exile it until the end of the match. You may cast it from exile during another game this match. It still counts toward your deck minimum.)
Cards like Memory Bank
In the vast arena of Magic: The Gathering, Memory Bank has carved out its niche among artifacts that manipulate drawing and discarding. It has a resemblance to Perpetual Timepiece with its ability to shape the composition of players’ graveyards. Both cards allow a player to rework their deck’s grave contents albeit with different methods for cycling cards which adds a strategic element to gameplay.
Where Memory Bank stands out is in its focus on drawing and its ability to translate discarded cards into a future advantage. This echoes the mechanics of Mindslicer, yet the latter applies the discard effect broadly, affecting all players and doing so irreversibly, with potential high impact on the game’s dynamic. Moving to artifacts like Bag of Holding, we see another parallel in the realm of manipulating hand and graveyard resources. Bag of Holding provides a broader net of protection against card loss, but lacks the focused draw-discard cycle that Memory Bank offers.
In evaluating Memory Bank alongside its counterparts, it’s evident that it presents a targeted and controlled way of using the graveyard to benefit game strategy in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique interaction with discarded elements makes it an intriguing choice for players who desire more finesse in their graveyard dealings.
Cards similar to Memory Bank by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Engaging with Memory Bank offers you the potential to access additional cards, strategically beefing up your hand which can tip the scales in your favor during the duel.
Resource Acceleration: Memory Bank serves not just as a repository of knowledge but also as a catalyst for your mana pool, potentially hastening your game plan and leaving opponents scrambling to keep up.
Instant Speed: With the agility of instant speed, Memory Bank grants you the flexibility to react in real-time, ensuring your resources are allocated efficiently while keeping the adversary guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate Memory Bank’s abilities, you must discard a card. This can deplete your hand quickly, especially if you rely on it repeatedly for its effects, leaving you potentially vulnerable without necessary resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Memory Bank requires blue mana, locking it into decks that run this color. If your deck isn’t blue-focused, incorporating it can be challenging and restrict deck-building options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Memory Bank demanding two mana to cast and two additional mana to activate its main feature, it may slow down your game plan. Other cards in the same mana range could provide immediate impact or more cost-effective abilities, making Memory Bank less attractive in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Memory Bank in Your Collection
Versatility: Memory Bank promises to be a versatile addition to decks that thrive on manipulating draw strategies or need to cycle through cards for the perfect hand. Its ability to tap for both card draw and cycling caters to a variety of strategic builds.
Combo Potential: This card holds potential to be a keystone in combo setups that capitalize on the number of cards players have drawn or cycled. Its activation can easily be integrated into turns that hinge on drawing power or graveyard interaction.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts towards utilizing the graveyard and maximizing hand resources, Memory Bank offers relevance for decks looking to leverage these dynamics. Its capability to consistently provide card advantage makes it a tactically sound pick for current and evolving metagames.
How to beat
Memory Bank presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to provide selective card advantage. To successfully navigate against this card, players must focus on disrupting the graveyard, which is integral to Memory Bank’s effectiveness. Actions such as employing cards that exile cards from the graveyard can be essential in diminishing Memory Bank’s usefulness.
Consider incorporating cards like Tormod’s Crypt, a low-cost artifact that can exile all cards from a player’s graveyard, effectively neutralizing Memory Bank’s capacity to tap into those resources. It’s also relatively easy to include in any deck due to its lack of colored mana requirements. Alternatively, cards like Scavenging Ooze can target specific cards in the graveyard, allowing for more precision in handling threats associated with Memory Bank.
Ultimately, while Memory Bank can pose a significant advantage to your opponent, integrating proactive graveyard management into your strategy can effectively counteract the card’s potential impact, ensuring that your opponent cannot capitalize on their graveyard as a resource.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Memory Bank MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Memory Bank and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Memory Bank Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Pete White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete White | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete White |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Memory Bank card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | Banked cards begin the next games in a match in exile. They’re not outside the game. |
| 2019-11-12 | If a card with bank doesn’t resolve for any reason (such as being countered, or all of its targets becoming illegal if it has any), it won’t be banked. |
| 2019-11-12 | If you cast a spell you don’t own, or gain control of a spell, you didn’t cast it from your hand, so you don’t bank it. |
| 2019-11-12 | Once you cast a banked card from exile, it behaves like any other spell. It may be countered, and it’ll be put onto the battlefield if it resolves as a permanent spell, or into its owner’s graveyard if it’s not a permanent spell. |