Plumb the Forbidden MTG Card


Generates card advantage through creature sacrifice, deepening your deck access significantly. Instant speed execution allows tactical plays and surprise advantage against opponents. Limited by specific mana requirements and potential battlefield presence reduction.
Plumb the Forbidden - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number81
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAndrey Kuzinskiy

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice one or more creatures. When you do, copy this spell for each creature sacrificed this way. You draw a card and you lose 1 life.

Strixhaven forbade all magic from the Blood Age, so that is where Extus began his research.


Cards like Plumb the Forbidden

Plumb the Forbidden stands as a distinctive spell among card draw mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. This card is particularly synergistic with token strategies, allowing a player to sacrifice any number of creatures to draw cards and lose 1 life per creature sacrificed. This is reminiscent of more classical cards like Altar’s Reap, which demands the sacrifice of a single creature for two cards, without the flexibility of Plumb the Forbidden.

Morbid Curiosity presents another parallel with its ability to sacrifice a creature to draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature’s power. While it can be a bountiful draw, it lacks the instant speed and scalability of Plumb the Forbidden. On the opposite end, Village Rites offers a similar instant speed, two-card draw upon sacrificing one creature, which can be a more affordable if less scalable option.

Diving deeper into the world of Magic: The Gathering, players appreciate Plumb the Forbidden for its potential in multiplayer formats and its role in strategies that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard. When evaluating utility and versatility, Plumb the Forbidden emerges as a robust choice for those seeking to capitalize on creature-focused decks.

Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Morbid Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Village Rites - MTG Card versions
Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Morbid Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Village Rites - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Plumb the Forbidden shines in situations where you’re looking to gain an edge in card quantity over your opponent. When you’re sacrificing creatures that have already done their part, you’re effectively delving deeper into your deck to find answers or threats, giving you a significant advantage.

Resource Acceleration: By leveraging Plumb the Forbidden in decks packed with expendable creatures or tokens, you can practically transform your sacrificial fodder into fresh spells. This can ramp up your game pace, ensuring you’re always a step ahead of your opponents.

Instant Speed: This card operates at instant speed, offering a strategic depth in gameplay. It allows you to wait until the most opportune moment, such as in response to an opponent’s move or end of their turn, to utilize your resources and replenish your hand, often catching opponents off-guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Plumb the Forbidden demands that you sacrifice creatures as part of its casting cost. This can be particularly detrimental when you’re attempting to maintain a presence on the battlefield or when your creature resources are already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: With its solely black mana requirement, the card can be restrictive and may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks. This limits the card’s versatility and can make it a dead draw in situations where black mana is not readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring two mana can be costly for what the card offers, especially when considering that you need creatures to sacrifice to gain any card advantage. In decks that are not specifically designed to utilize the sacrifice mechanic, this card can become cumbersome and inefficient compared to other draw options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plumb the Forbidden offers a unique way to draw multiple cards at the cost of sacrificing creatures. This makes it a good fit in decks that benefit from creature death or have an abundance of token creatures.

Combo Potential: This card excels in strategies that involve sacrificing creatures for value, and can be used as part of combos that rely on death triggers or storm counts.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small creatures can be plentiful and removal is significant, Plumb the Forbidden shines as a means to turn potential losses into resources and deeper deck access.


How to beat

Plumb the Forbidden is a strategic spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering players an opportunity to draw cards while sacrificing creatures. This card follows in the footsteps of potent spells like Village Rites and Costly Plunder where the loss of a creature translates into card advantage. However, Plumb the Forbidden allows for the sacrifice of multiple creatures in one go, potentially drawing a significant number of cards and triggering death-related abilities simultaneously.

To counteract this card’s power, it’s important to reduce the number of available targets. This could involve removing creatures before they can be sacrificed or applying pressure to keep the board clear. Spells like Wrath of God or Doomskar can sweep the field, negating the card’s value. Similarly, direct disruption such as Thoughtseize or Duress can proactively remove Plumb the Forbidden from the opponent’s hand before it can be cast, effectively crippling their planned advancement.

Overall, understanding the nuances and timing in which Plumb the Forbidden can be most disruptive to your gameplay is crucial. Mitigation strategies, which focus on preemptive control or mass removal, offer the best line of defense in maintaining an edge over opponents using this compelling spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG involves deep understanding and clever use of each card’s strengths. Plumb the Forbidden serves as a prime example, offering a strategic edge in the right setup. If you’re looking to optimize your gameplay, incorporate cards like this to transform losses into valuable resources and dive deep into your deck’s potential. Find balance, finesse, and firepower for your MTG endeavors with Plumb the Forbidden as a keystone in your collection. Curious about more strategies and tips to enhance your deck’s performance? Step into a world of advanced tactics and join our community to discover the full extent of your MTG prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plumb the Forbidden MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Plumb the Forbidden and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plumb the Forbidden has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 If you copy Plumb the Forbidden multiple times, each magecraft ability of a creature you control will trigger that many times.
2021-04-16 If you sacrifice a creature with a magecraft ability to cast Plumb the Forbidden, that creature’s ability will not trigger.