Information Dealer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	88
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Jerry Tiritilli

Key Takeaways

Information Dealer offers card selection, plotting your moves with knowledge of what comes next.
Enabling strategic deck manipulation, the card excels in wizard-based synergy decks.
Understanding how to counter it involves targeted removal and countering synergies.

Text of card

oc T: Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of Wizards in play, then put them back in any order.

"One wizard is a suspect. Two wizards are a conspiracy." —Elvish refugee

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Information Dealer, as a card, enhances your strategic depth by enabling sift through your deck efficiently. This aligns perfectly with maintaining a robust card flow throughout the match, giving you the upper hand against your opponent by drawing into your needed resources more consistently.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does Information Dealer provide valuable insights into your upcoming draws, but it also has the potential to act as a catalyst for resource acceleration. By knowing what cards are coming up, you can better plan your mana spending and use your turns more effectively, setting the stage for more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: The utility of Information Dealer at instant speed cannot be overstated. It offers flexibility, allowing you to respond to the evolving state of the game without committing resources prematurely. This real-time reaction can give you a significant strategic advantage, adapting to your opponent’s moves while keeping your agenda unrevealed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Information Dealer comes with the necessity of discarding a card, which could deplete your hand, leaving you at a potential resource disadvantage during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Information Dealer requires blue mana for its activation, which ties it strictly to blue-centric or multicolor decks, thereby reducing its versatility across the diverse range of MTG archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that may be deemed steep for its scrying ability, Information Dealer competes with other blue creatures and spells that might provide more immediate or impactful effects on the board state for a similar, if not lower, investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Information Dealer offers adaptability in blue-focused decks, particularly those emphasizing the control of the flow of cards. Its ability to manipulate the library is a solid addition to strategies involving deck manipulation and top-deck control.

Combo Potential: As a wizard, Information Dealer enhances synergy in decks that capitalize on this subtype, potentially unlocking powerful interactions with cards relying on wizards for enhanced effects or combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where knowledge of the upcoming draws is crucial, Information Dealer allows savvy players to sculpt their hand and prepare responses that align with the shifting dynamics of competitive play.

How to beat Information Dealer

Confronting an Information Dealer on the battlefield requires tactical finesse in MTG. This card thrives in a deck filled with Wizards, often allowing the controller to manipulate their deck with precision. Overcoming this advantage demands disrupting the dealer’s network of synergies, primarily by removing the Dealer itself from play. Utilizing targeted removal spells or abilities that can exile creatures sidesteps the potential for recursion. Additionally, piloting decks with graveyard hate effects can thwart plans that hinge on the Dealer’s ability to sort through the deck effectively.

Countering spells that summon Information Dealer or its wizardly kin is another strategic move. Denying your opponent the opportunity to establish their wizardry board presence can blunt their information advantage from the very beginning. Lastly, pressuring the opponent’s life total directly can outpace their ability to leverage the Information Dealer’s selective deck manipulation, forcing them on the defensive and limiting the value gleaned from the Dealer’s intelligence network.

By prioritizing disruption and maintaining control over the state of the board, you can mitigate the strategic edge granted by Information Dealer, ensuring their clandestine insights don’t tip the scales too far against you.

Cards like Information Dealer

Information Dealer is a unique inclusion in the MTG roster, playing a pivotal role within the blue-centered control and combo decks. As a card that lets you look at the top X cards of your library and rearrange them as you wish, where X is the number of Wizards in play, it shares conceptual space with cards like Ponder or Preordain. Yet, Information Dealer offers a repeatable effect tied to the Wizard tribe, which can be more advantageous in wizard-heavy decks.

Conversely, Ponder and Preordain allow for a one-time peek at the top cards with an additional draw, but without the tribal synergies. Another card worth mentioning is Sensei’s Divining Top, which permits constant manipulation of the top deck but does not rely on the presence of Wizards. While not a Wizard itself, it enables a similar control over upcoming draws but lacks the potential scaling power of Information Dealer in the right deck.

Overall, Information Dealer invites MTG players to strategically weave a network of Wizards for optimal value, presenting a more situational yet rewarding tactic than its counterparts. The card’s potential grows with each Wizard played, making it a noteworthy and synergistic choice for enthusiasts of the archetype.

Sensei's Divining Top - MTG Card versions

Sensei's Divining Top - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Information Dealer by color, type and mana cost

Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions

Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)

Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)

Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)

Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)

Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Information Dealer MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Information Dealer and other MTG cards: