Thieves' Fortune MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Tribal Instant — Rogue
Abilities	Prowl
Released	2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Morningtide
Set code	MOR
Number	54
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

Thieves’ Fortune provides card selection at instant speed, enabling strategic flexibility during gameplay.
While its mana cost may deter some, its prowl cost can efficiently streamline rogue-based decks.
Countering this card hinges on disrupting the user’s ability to meet its advantageous prowl conditions.

Text of card

Prowl (You may play this for its prowl cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with a Rogue.) Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thieves’ Fortune shines by giving players the ability to look at the top three cards of their library and keep one, thereby subtly padding their hand with more options and potential answers.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly producing mana or tokens, Thieves’ Fortune can propel your gameplay forward by filtering your draws and ensuring that you get the spells you need when you need them, effectively speeding up your access to vital resources.

Instant Speed: The real magic of this card lies in its instant speed, allowing players to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn to make strategic decisions, keeping opponents guessing and preserving mana for potential counterplays or other immediate responses.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thieves’ Fortune’s allure comes with a catch – it necessitates that you part with another card from your hand. This can be quite the setback when your hand is already dwindling, pinching your resources when you might least afford it.

Specific Mana Cost: A key drawback of this card is that it demands a specific mana arrangement: one blue mana plus two others. This can hamstring your strategy if your deck isn’t heavily tuned to generate blue mana consistently, restricting its versatility in your grand scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that allows you to peek at the top three cards of your library and pick one, three mana can feel steep. When stacking it up against other options in the vast MTG universe, it’s evident that there are cards available that might offer similar or better advantages for a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Thieves’ Fortune in Your Collection

Versatility: As an instant, Thieves’ Fortune offers a sneak peek into your future draws, giving you the selectivity to shape your strategy in real-time. Its compatibility with decks that thrive on card selection makes it a smart pick for many builds.

Combo Potential: This card flourishes in scenarios where you’re controlling a Rogue, reducing its cost and maximizing efficiency. This potential for a one-mana investment can dovetail neatly into combos, keeping your resource pool open for further plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game-setting where knowledge is as sharp as a sword, Thieves’ Fortune gains value. Its ability to subtly sift through your deck for answers or enablers can be the edge needed to outmaneuver opponents in a tightly contested meta.

How to beat

Thieves’ Fortune is a unique card in the realm of game strategy in Magic: The Gathering. As a card with the ability to peer into the future, players often use it to orchestrate their plays with precision. To effectively counter this card, the focus should be on hindering your opponent’s ability to set up the conditions for its prowl cost. Without a Rogue dealing combat damage to a player, the cost-efficient advantage of Thieves’ Fortune is neutralized.

Additionally, employing tactics that keep their creatures off the battlefield is key. Instant removal spells or abilities that can interrupt the combat phase are excellent strategies. Sacrifice effects can also be disruptive to their game plan, forcing your opponent to lose their Rogue before the damage step. Board wipe spells are another avenue, clearing the slate and resetting the tempo in your favor. Understanding the deck mechanics that include Thieves’ Fortune and preparing your deck with answers for small, evasive creatures not only disrupts their strategy but also paves the way for your victory.

Bearing these strategies in mind will help manage the potential advantage gained by Thieves’ Fortune and keep the match in your control.

Cards like Thieves' Fortune

Thieves’ Fortune introduces a twist to the card advantage strategy in Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors the functionality of cards like Anticipate, allowing players to look at the top few cards of their library and select one. Where Thieves’ Fortune shines is in its prowl cost, offering a discounted casting option if a rogue dealt damage to an opponent this turn, much like the infamous Spellstutter Sprite, which also benefits from having a faerie or rogue on the battlefield.

Peek is another card that grants players information, albeit only revealing the opponent’s hand with the added benefit of drawing a card. While it doesn’t directly replace cards in your hand like Thieves’ Fortune, the knowledge gained can be crucial for strategic planning. Lastly, Telling Time offers a similar look-and-tuck mechanic. Although it doesn’t have a conditional discounted cost, its ability to manipulate the top of the library is powerful, setting up draws or ensuring land drops.

Considering the synergy with rogue-centric decks and its cost-effectiveness under the right conditions, Thieves’ Fortune earns its position as a strategic card selection tool that rewards players for adhering to its tribal theme.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thieves' Fortune MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Thieves' Fortune and other MTG cards: