Pore Over the Pages MTG Card
2016-02-26 - Number 28
2016-04-08 - Number 79
2023-03-21 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Draw three cards, untap up to two lands, then discard a card.
"'I'm certain that the fate of Markov Manor is connected to these cryptoliths . . .' This Tamiyo was on to something."
Cards like Pore Over the Pages
Pore Over the Pages is an intriguing magic spell for players looking to expand their hand efficiently. This draw spell echoes the qualities of other card drawing options, such as Concentrate, which also allows Magic enthusiasts to draw three cards. However, Pore Over the Pages adds depth with the untapping of up to two lands, which effectively reduces its casting cost, something not seen with Concentrate.
Another example of comparable magic is Compulsive Research. Both Pore Over the Pages and Compulsive Research provide the advantage of drawing cards, yet divergence arises looking closer at the mechanics. Compulsive Research has the player, as an additional cost, discard a card unless it is a land, potentially offering more control over the cards held. Pore Over the Pages also gives some level of control by having a player discard one card, but without the conditionality of Compulsive Research.
Scrutinizing these spells reveals each with its unique strengths. While the likes of Concentrate and Compulsive Research are formidable in their right, Pore Over the Pages distinguishes itself with its blend of card draw and strategic untapping ability, fitting well within the arsenal of spells dedicated to optimizing card flow and resources in a single turn.
Cards similar to Pore Over the Pages by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Pore Over the Pages. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Hidden Strings | Pioneer | Hidden Strings | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-30 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you cast Pore Over the Pages, you delve deeper into your deck by drawing three cards. This significant draw not only adds options to your hand but also fuels strategies reliant on a high card count.
Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t just provide knowledge; it accelerates your resources. By untapping up to two lands during its resolution, it effectively reduces its cost, enabling you to utilize mana more efficiently and potentially cast additional spells in the same turn.
Instant Speed: While Pore Over the Pages lacks instant speed, its resource untapping effect essentially offers a similar benefit. By refreshing your lands, you’re in a better position to respond to opponents’ moves after your turn, mimicking the flexibility that instant speed actions provide to a degree.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Pore Over the Pages requires the strategic decision of discarding a card, which could deplete crucial hand resources, potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s moves.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes both blue and generic mana, it asks for a specific mana base, potentially restricting the card to decks that can consistently provide blue mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its ability to untap up to two lands, the five mana cost of Pore Over the Pages is substantial when compared to other card draw options in the game that may be less resource-intensive.
Reasons to Include Pore Over the Pages in Your Collection
Versatility: Pore Over the Pages is a unique draw spell that offers flexibility to many deck archetypes. By allowing players to untap lands and discard cards, it enables a versatile range of strategies that desire both card draw and selective mana untapping.
Combo Potential: For decks that revolve around card and graveyard synergies, this card has significant combo potential. It can be a key piece in setting up the right cards in hand while also fueling graveyard-based mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: Pore Over the Pages maintains its relevance in varied metagames, particularly in those that favor long game tactics. Its ability to churn through a deck and maintain hand superiority can be crucial against control or combo opponents.
How to beat
Pore Over the Pages is a unique draw spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It offers a combination of effects: drawing cards, untapping lands, and then discarding a card. To effectively counter this card, players should focus on disrupting the caster’s hand and mana base. By employing discard strategies to remove it before it’s played or countering it on the stack, one can negate its benefits. Additionally, since this card requires a sizeable mana investment to cast, keeping pressure on your opponent’s available mana can hinder their ability to leverage the card to its full potential.
Stripping away resources with effects that attack the land base can also be key in outmaneuvering Pore Over the Pages. Land destruction or mana disruption effects can throw off your opponent’s game plan, making the five mana cost a significant setback. Efficiently managing the board and keeping a watch for the right moment to strike can ensure that the advantages Pore Over the Pages confers are nullified, preserving your position in the game and leading you toward victory.
Remember, in Magic: The Gathering, foresight and timing are paramount. By predicting your opponent’s moves and strategically playing around them, you can turn the tide of battle in your favor, even against comprehensive draw spells like Pore Over the Pages.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pore Over the Pages MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Pore Over the Pages 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Pore Over the Pages Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-02-26 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 28 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pore Over the Pages has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pore Over the Pages card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | You choose which lands to untap after you have drawn three cards. Lands controlled by any player may be untapped this way. |