Memory Deluge MTG Card


Memory Deluge excels in delivering substantial card advantage, keeping options plentiful. Instant speed casting allows for versatile strategic responses and end-of-turn surprises. Despite its strengths, it comes with a high mana cost and graveyard dependency.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Flashback

Text of card

Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast this spell. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)


Cards like Memory Deluge

Memory Deluge has quickly become a staple in blue card draw decks for Magic: The Gathering aficionados. It stands next to classic selections like Fact or Fiction, which similarly allows a deep look into the top cards of one’s library. Memory Deluge, however, presents an edge with its flashback ability, granting a second usage from the graveyard for a steepened cost, amplifying late-game reach.

Analogous to Memory Deluge is Glimmer of Genius, which also offers a scry before the draw, fine-tuning what cards come into hand. Even though Glimmer of Genius provides an energy counter bonus, Memory Deluge arguably surpasses it with the potency of its flashback feature. Hieroglyphic Illumination is another peer, with the flexibility of cycling it for a single blue mana. While this provides an option for early game filtering, Memory Deluge’s capacious card selection in later turns often yields a more significant impact.

Evaluating their overall utility, Memory Deluge distinctly marries immediate benefit with strategic depth, positioning it as a formidable choice for players desiring versatile draw capabilities that extend beyond the initial cast.

Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Glimmer of Genius - MTG Card versions
Hieroglyphic Illumination - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Glimmer of Genius - MTG Card versions
Hieroglyphic Illumination - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Memory Deluge by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Memory Deluge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Azorius ControlAzorius Control StandardAzorius ControlStandard League 2024-05-09
Temur Land ComboTemur Land Combo StandardTemur Land ComboStandard Preliminary 2024-05-09
Dimir ControlDimir Control StandardDimir ControlStandard Preliminary 2024-05-09
Esper ControlEsper Control StandardEsper ControlStandard Preliminary 2024-05-09
Azorius Lotus FieldAzorius Lotus Field PioneerAzorius Lotus FieldPioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-09

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Memory Deluge shines when it comes to keeping your hand full. By delving into the top cards of your library, you secure more options and better prepare for upcoming turns, effectively tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Memory Deluge accelerates your resource options by filling your hand with what you need, when you need it, ensuring you’re always a step ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: The agility of casting Memory Deluge at instant speed cannot be overstated. It integrates seamlessly into your strategy by allowing you to respond adeptly to your opponent’s moves or end-of-turn decisions, all without missing a beat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Memory Deluge provides an excellent selection of cards, it requires you to delve into your graveyard, effectively discarding potential resources. This aspect makes every casting a careful consideration, especially in game states where graveyard interaction is pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: Memory Deluge demands a precise mana combination to cast. The inclusion of two blue mana in its cost means it’s tailored for blue-centric or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the broader deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its four-mana value, Memory Deluge is an investment in your late game. It competes with other card draw spells that can be played earlier, which might be more conducive to maintaining tempo and board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Memory Deluge fits seamlessly into a variety of blue-based decks, ranging from control to combo. Its ability to provide card selection in the late game means it’s never a dead draw.

Combo Potential: It can dig deep to find essential combo pieces or set up the perfect hand, making it an integral addition to decks that rely on synergy and specific interactions.

Meta-Relevance: As of the current MTG landscape, control decks are a staple, and Memory Deluge holds its weight by offering flexibility and a strategic edge in matchups where the right answer is critical to success.


How to beat Memory Deluge

Facing off against Memory Deluge can be challenging as it provides your opponent with a considerable strategic advantage by filtering their top cards for immediate or future use. Its potency increases in the later stages of the game, where its flashback cost adds to its flexibility and enduring threat. However, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.

Addressing Memory Deluge effectively entails a multifaceted approach. Disrupt the graveyard with cards that can exile or limit access to it, undermining the flashback potential. Applying hand disruption tactics can also force your opponent to discard Memory Deluge before it’s used. Counterplay options include using counterspells when they cast Memory Deluge or using spells that restrict the number of cards drawn. Lastly, applying pressure with a fast-paced, aggressive deck can outpace the slower card advantage that Memory Deluge offers, ultimately subverting it by outpacing your opponent’s strategic setup. Focusing on these strategies can turn the tide, making Memory Deluge less of a looming threat to your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic complexities of MTG with insights on Memory Deluge. Mastering this card can shift game dynamics in your favor, thanks to its potential to maintain card advantage and swiftly react to an evolving board state. Whether you are crafting a new blue-centric deck or enhancing an existing strategy, understanding the depth of Memory Deluge’s utility is invaluable. Beyond the surface, you’ll find intricate tactics for both utilization and counterplay. Expand your expertise and outmaneuver opponents – navigate to our full gleaning on Memory Deluge and refine your deck to make it a cornerstone of victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Memory Deluge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Deluge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Memory Deluge Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Lake Hurwitz.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 939362015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 622015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
32021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 62p2015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
42021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 62s2015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
52021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3372015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
62022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 622015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Memory Deluge has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-09-24 "Flashback
-ost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying
-ost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."
2021-09-24 A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-09-24 If Memory Deluge is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so X will be 0. The amount of mana spent to cast the original spell is not copied. You won't look at any cards from your library as Memory Deluge resolves.
2021-09-24 If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
2021-09-24 If an effect allows you to cast Memory Deluge without paying its mana cost, X will be 0. Memory Deluge will resolve, but you won't do anything.
2021-09-24 If an effect requires you to pay some amount of mana to prevent Memory Deluge from being countered, as Flip the Switch does, that mana wasn't spent to cast Memory Deluge and will not be taken into account.
2021-09-24 Memory Deluge cares about the mana you actually paid to cast it, not its mana cost. If you cast Memory Deluge for , you will look at four cards. If you cast it with flashback for , you will look at seven cards. Any effects that increase or decrease the cost to cast it will also be taken into account.
2021-09-24 The effects of Might of the Old Ways happen in the listed order, so the +2/+2 bonus happens before you check the powers of creatures you control. For example, if you control two 2/2 creatures and a 5/5 creatures, choosing one of the 2/2 creatures as the target will allow you to draw a card. Conversely, if you control a 1/1 creature, a 3/3 creature, and a 5/5 creature, targeting either of the two smaller creatures will not allow you to draw a card.
2021-09-24 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2021-09-24 You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
2021-09-24 You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.