Temporal Manipulation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card draw and actions, pivotal for outmaneuvering opponents with additional turns and moves.
  2. Needs precise mana and does not impact the board immediately – a possible downside in fast-paced matches.
  3. Integral for control and combo decks, its ability to take extra turns maintains its meta relevance.

Text of card

You take another turn after this one.

Doing something at the last minute isn't so bad when you can make that minute last.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Temporal Manipulation permits a player to take an extra turn after the current one, effectively granting them access to more cards and actions than their opponent, setting the stage for overwhelming in-game advantages.

Resource Acceleration: By obtaining an additional turn, players accelerate their board state and resources significantly compared to their adversaries. It’s like gaining extra ‘land drops’ and utilizing cards that would otherwise wait a full cycle.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Temporal Manipulation can be cast during phases where it’s least expected or when the opponent is tapped out, offering strategic value during critical game moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Temporal Manipulation allows you to take an extra turn, it does not necessitate discarding as a cost. However, due to the card’s nature, players often have to discard it to hand size limits after drawing several cards through other means to optimize their play, indirectly creating a discard requirement.

Specific Mana Cost: Temporal Manipulation has a strict blue mana cost which may not be easily incorporated into multicolored decks. Its double blue mana cost requires a strong commitment to blue resources, thus making it less flexible for decks that cannot reliably produce that mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s total mana cost of five, including two specific blue mana, is substantial. In a game where speed can be of the essence, dedicating five mana to a single spell that doesn’t impact the board the turn it’s played can be a significant drawback, particularly when facing faster, more aggressive strategies.


Reasons to Include Temporal Manipulation in Your Collection

Versatility: Temporal Manipulation is a powerful card for decks that aim to take extra turns and control the game’s pace. Its simplicity in granting an additional turn can be pivotal in both competitive and casual play, fitting seamlessly into a variety of blue-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with spells and abilities that copy instants and sorceries, allowing players to chain multiple turns together. This can lead to game-winning combos in the right setup, making it a significant threat any time it’s played.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to go longer, taking an extra turn can often mean the difference between victory and defeat. Given the enduring popularity of control and combo decks in various formats, Temporal Manipulation maintains relevance by slotting into strategies that are consistently part of the meta.


How to beat

Temporal Manipulation is an iconic spell in MTG, allowing players to take an extra turn after the current one. Having the power to play another turn can be game-breaking, but there are strategies to mitigate this advantage. One of the most straightforward methods is countering the spell. Using counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can nip the extra turn in the bud before it complicates the board state.

Another tactic involves removing the spell outright from the opponent’s library or hand before they get a chance to cast it. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress provide this opportunity, giving you the edge by pre-emptively disrupting their plan. Additionally, an oft-overlooked approach is pressure. By maintaining a fast-paced and aggressive board presence, you can pressure your opponent, reducing the impact of their extra turn, forcing them to use the turn defensively instead of advancing their game.

Employing these strategies can effectively check the strength of Temporal Manipulation. While an additional turn is a powerful move, a well-prepared opponent with a keen sense of timing and understanding of the metagame can certainly overcome this spell’s advantage.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Temporal Manipulation is a game-changer in MTG, offering the chance to outpace opponents through extra turns. Whether enhancing card advantage, accelerating resources, or tapping into instant speed plays, this spell can be a cornerstone in any strategic MTG deck. To dive deeper into its potential and learn to counter it, delving into the nuances of blue mana strategies and time-bending mechanics can significantly enhance your gameplay. Harnessing the power of such a spell requires finesse and foresight but mastering it could put you at the top of your Magic circle. Continue learning with us to fully realize the capabilities of Temporal Manipulation in your collection.


Cards like Temporal Manipulation

Temporal Manipulation is an intriguing time-bending card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing its fundamental effect with the renowned Time Walk. Both allow a player to take an extra turn, which can be pivotal. However, Temporal Manipulation eliminates Time Walk’s additional ability to skip the untap step, offering a more straightforward yet equally potent benefit.

Analyzing other comrades in this category, we come upon Capture of Jingzhou. It mirrors Temporal Manipulation’s effect entirely but with a steeper price tag due to its scarcity and age. Then there’s Time Warp, a functional equivalent that, while identical in effect, might be more accessible to some players. The similarities end at the mana cost, however, as Time Warp calls for one more mana, a difference that can impact strategic planning.

Overall, these comparisons showcase Temporal Manipulation as a valuable part of any deck that aims to dominate by controlling time. It’s a straightforward card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of decks, making it a versatile and coveted part of a player’s arsenal.

Time Walk - MTG Card versions
Capture of Jingzhou - MTG Card versions
Time Warp - MTG Card versions
Time Walk - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Capture of Jingzhou - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Time Warp - Tempest (TMP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temporal Manipulation MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Magic Online Promos, 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 Temporal Manipulation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Temporal Manipulation Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 541997normalblackAnson Maddocks
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 557252015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 691997normalblackAnson Maddocks
42018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 772015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11692015normalborderlessFrank Frazetta
62020-09-26The ListPLST UMA-772015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Temporal Manipulation has restrictions

FormatLegality
PredhLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelBanned

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 If multiple “extra turn” effects resolve in the same turn, take them in the reverse of the order that the effects resolved.

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