Natural Selection MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 212
1993-10-04 - Number 213
1993-12-01 - Number 213
1993-12-10 - Number 213
1993-12-10 - Number 213
2022-11-28 - Number 505
2022-11-28 - Number 208
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Look at top three cards of any player's library. You may opt to rearrange those three cards or shuffle the entire library.
Cards like Natural Selection
Finding its place in the realm of tactical removals, Natural Selection offers players of Magic: The Gathering a tool to influence opponents’ draws. Comparable cards include Brainstorm or Ponder, which also allow manipulation of the top library cards but do so primarily for the user’s advantage. Natural Selection uniquely lets the user target an opponent’s deck, giving a strategic edge in foreseeing and disrupting forthcoming threats.
While not directly influencing draws, Noxious Revival packs a similar punch by pinpointing any card in the graveyard and placing it on top of its owner’s library. The potential to either help oneself or hinder an opponent is there, though Natural Selection’s ability to snoop and shuffle away potential key cards can be more disruptive at times. Then, Ghastly Demise comes to mind, offering graveyard based removal. Though it doesn’t let players meddle with decks, it serves as a one-mana removal option, showcasing another strategy for controlling opponents’ game plans.
Ultimately, evaluating the strategic merit of Natural Selection against these related cards, it stands out within the ecosystem of MTG strategies that prioritize foresight and control over the game’s tempo.
Cards similar to Natural Selection by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Natural Selection offers a unique form of advantage by allowing you to sift through the top three cards of your deck. This selection process helps you dig for vital pieces in your strategy, ensuring a better draw on your next turn.
Resource Acceleration: Although Natural Selection itself does not produce mana or tokens, the ability to rearrange your upcoming draws can indirectly lead to quicker access to your key resources. It accelerates your game plan by helping you find the lands or spells you need more efficiently.
Instant Speed: The fact that this spell can be cast at instant speed gives you significant flexibility. You can end your opponent’s turn by adjusting your next draw or potentially disrupt their plans if they are relying on the top of their library. The versatility of instant speed ensures that Natural Selection can be a surprise factor during the heat of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Natural Selection is its demand for you to discard a card when you want to use its ability. This cost can set you back, especially in moments when your hand is dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Natural Selection requires green mana, making it exclusive to green decks or those that can produce green mana. If you’re running a deck without green, or have a mana base that’s less consistent, this card might not find a place in your strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the ability to look at and rearrange the top three cards of a library is potent, the specific mana investment needed to do so is substantial. In environments where tempo plays a pivotal role, the opportunity cost of spending green mana on this effect rather than developing your board or casting other impactful spells could be a significant downside.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Natural Selection offers strategic deck manipulation by allowing a shuffle and a peek at the top three cards. This adaptability makes it a utility card in various deck builds, particularly those where the arrangement of your deck can determine the tide of the game.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combo-driven decks, as it can sift through the top to fish for the missing piece of a winning combo. With the ability to potentially reorder the next draw, it opens avenues for setting up favorable conditions.
Meta-Relevance: Within a meta that favors predictability and control, Natural Selection equips players with the means to alter potentially unfavorable upcoming draws. In metas dominated by library manipulation tactics, the ability to reshuffle not only thwarts opponents’ plans but also enhances your own strategy resilience.
How to beat
Natural Selection has an interesting role in Magic: The Gathering, offering the flexibility to manipulate the top of an opponent’s deck. This can be challenging to tackle as it may disrupt your strategy by denying you your key cards. To counter this spell, consider employing cards that shuffle your library, allowing you to reorganize your cards and mitigate the effect of Natural Selection. Examples include fetch lands or any card with the Scry mechanic that enables you to reorder the top cards of your deck.
Furthermore, instant-speed card draw can thwart Natural Selection’s potential. Drawing a card in response to Natural Selection’s cast ensures that the spell does not affect the card you truly desire. Additionally, rely on redundancy within your deck; having multiple copies of critical cards increases the likelihood that Natural Selection will not significantly hinder your game plan.
In essence, decks that are versatile and include ways to manipulate their own library will find it easier to defeat Natural Selection’s selective interference. Ensuring that your strategy is not overly reliant on single cards can also lessen the restrictive grip of this controlling spell.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Natural Selection MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Natural Selection 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
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Printings
The Natural Selection Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Mark Poole.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 212 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 213 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 213 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 213 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 213 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 505 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 208 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Natural Selection has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Natural Selection card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-07-15 | This is now targeted. |