Parallel Thoughts MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Number | 44 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ben Thompson |
Text of card
When Parallel Thoughts comes into play, search your library for seven cards, remove them from the game in a face-down pile, and shuffle that pile. Then shuffle your library. If you would draw a card, you may instead put the top card of the pile you removed into your hand.
Cards like Parallel Thoughts
Parallel Thoughts from Magic: The Gathering is an intriguing enchantment that alters the method of drawing cards. It’s similar in its card selection potential to cards like Brainstorm or Ponder, both of which allow players to manipulate the cards they will draw. However, Parallel Thoughts uniquely allows for the exiling of seven cards from your library to essentially craft a custom ‘hand’ you can draw from, which is a distinct departure from the minimal, albeit immediate, selection that Brainstorm and Ponder offer.
Analogous to Parallel Thoughts in the sense of providing card advantage is Diabolic Vision. This card lets you look at the top five cards of your library and put one into your hand, a lesser scale compared to Parallel Thoughts’ seven, but it involves immediate hand replenishment. Yet, neither Brainstorm, Ponder, nor Diabolic Vision match the depth of customizability provided by Parallel Thoughts.
In essence, while other spells grant short-term card selection, Parallel Thoughts stands out for allowing a player to set up their draws long-term. This can significantly impact strategy and game planning, proving Parallel Thoughts to be a unique and strategic option among card manipulation effects in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Parallel Thoughts by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Parallel Thoughts is a unique enchantment that provides a significant card advantage. Upon resolution, it allows you to search your library for seven cards, exile them in a face-down pile, and then draw from them instead of your library. This strategic setup can ensure that you receive the cards you need when you need them, potentially securing your path to victory.
Resource Acceleration: By shifting your draws to a custom-crafted pile of cards, Parallel Thoughts can accelerate your access to key resources. Instead of hoping to draw the right card at the right moment, this card effectively short-circuits randomness, giving you a form of ‘acceleration’ towards your strategic goals.
Instant Speed: While Parallel Thoughts itself is a sorcery speed enchantment, the flexibility it gives players in planning their draws complements strategies that rely on instant-speed interaction. By setting up your draws in advance, you can more confidently hold mana open for instant-speed spells, knowing that your draw quality is assured.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Drawing cards in MTG is often vital, but the unique aspect of Parallel Thoughts is that it requires the player to exile seven cards from their library as a form of ‘discarding’ from their potential resources. This step can leave players at a strategic loss if those exiled cards contain key spells or creatures that they may need later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Parallel Thoughts is very specific: five generic and two blue. This specificity means it fits primarily into blue-centric or multicolored decks that can afford such costs without sacrificing tempo. Decks with a tight mana base or that rely heavily on another color may find it challenging to integrate Parallel Thoughts seamlessly.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Parallel Thoughts is on the higher end for sorcery cards providing card advantage. In fast-paced games, dedicating such a large amount of mana to a single card can be detrimental. Players must weigh the potential future card selection benefit against immediate board presence and other lower-cost draw options that might offer quicker, although perhaps less focused, advantages.
Reasons to Include Parallel Thoughts in Your Collection
Versatility: Parallel Thoughts introduces a unique way to manipulate your draw phase, offering an alternative method to access specific cards in your deck without being at the mercy of random draws.
Combo Potential: This card opens up space for imaginative combos, allowing you to segregate key pieces of your strategy, ensuring you draw into them precisely when needed, enhancing synergy within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where library manipulation and non-traditional draw methods are beneficial, Parallel Thoughts holds its ground as a strategic tool to outmaneuver opponents with pinpoint card access.
How to beat
Parallel Thoughts is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering enchantment that allows players to essentially customize their draw by exiling seven cards from their library and drawing from them instead of the top of their library. The unique ability can set up a player with a tailored hand, poised to control the game’s flow. Defeating a player leveraging Parallel Thoughts involves disrupting this curated card access.
To effectively counter Parallel Thoughts, consider employing instant-speed enchantment removal cards like Disenchant or Naturalize before your opponent begins to benefit from their selected seven cards. Another strategy includes using hand disruption spells like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, which can extract key components from your opponent’s hand, diminishing the advantages gained from setting aside their best cards. Lastly, countering the spell as it’s cast with a Cancel or similar counterspell prevents the enchantment from ever hitting the board.
Ultimately, challenging an opponent’s Parallel Thoughts comes down to timing and strategic removal. By carefully choosing when to deploy these counters or removal spells, you can maintain the upper hand, even against such a potentially powerful card in the MTG universe.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Parallel Thoughts MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Parallel Thoughts 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Parallel Thoughts has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Parallel Thoughts card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If you have fewer than 7 cards in your library, exile them all. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can choose to take the top card from the pile (and not draw) even if there are no cards in the pile. This allows you to skip draws. |
| 2004-10-04 | You can’t look at the face down cards. |