Research // Development MTG Card

Gains card advantage and deck manipulation through its dual Research // Development capabilities. Instills flexibility and surprise in gameplay with its instant speed interaction during any turn. Yields a potent dual-natured tool that strengthens both offensive and defensive strategies.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set name	Dissension
Set code	DIS
Number	155
Frame	2003
Layout	Split
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Text of card

Put a 3/1 red Elemental creature token into play unless an opponent lets you draw a card. Repeat this process two more times.

Cards like Research // Development

Navigating through the intricate phases of card advantage in MTG, Research // Development stands out within its unique dual-card feature. Echoing elements found in the likes of Strategic Planning, which sifts through the top three cards of a deck, providing players the choice to keep one, Research // Development introduces a broader selection at a five-card glimpse. Unlike Strategic Planning, Development doesn’t limit the choice to nonland cards and Research allows another spell to be replicated, albeit from outside the game.

When taking a side-by-side look with Fork, which duplicates any single instant or sorcery spell, Development offers up a craftier counterpart. It may mandate the spell to exist outside the current match, giving an atypical, premeditated angle to gameplay. Divergent Transformations is similarly transformative yet more unpredictable. It exiles two creatures and then manifests top cards from the library into creatures, ramping up the element of surprise

Assessing the multifaceted applications of Research // Development within MTG’s pantheon of spells, it garners recognition for its flexibility and the strategic depth it contributes, setting a distinct standard in deck versatility and potential card advantage strategies.

Divergent Transformations - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Diving into the core benefits of Research // Development, this card grants you a significant edge by allowing you to not only draw a card with the Development side but also to deploy multiple threats into your deck with Research. This dual-aspect design ensures that you stay ahead in resources, making it a versatile choice for maintaining control over the game’s flow.

Resource Acceleration: The strategic depth of Research // Development shines in its ability to churn through your deck, setting up potential for an explosive turn. By filling your deck with copies of potent spells or creatures, you’re effectively accelerating your resources and setting the stage for a powerful play. This can often translate into a formidable board state that your opponent must address.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Development offers a layer of flexibility, showcasing its strength within MTG interactions. This allows you to adapt to the unfolding game, keeping your opponents guessing and forcing them to play around potential responses. This instant speed utility enables you to maximize your mana each turn, whether you’re casting spells on your turn or waiting to disrupt your opponent’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the stages of research and development, a card might necessitate players to discard one or more cards. This can hinder a player’s hand and reduce their available options, potentially stripping them of crucial resources they may need later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: A stringent mana requirement can make a card less flexible, especially if it demands an exact combination of colors. This can limit the card’s inclusion to decks that can consistently generate the specific mana types needed, reducing its overall versatility across different deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: A card in development might have an elevated mana cost that doesn’t align with its impact on the game. When a card’s effects do not justify its mana expense, it risks being overlooked in favor of lower-costing alternatives that offer similar or greater value, potentially affecting its playability and popularity upon release.

Reasons to Include Research // Development in Your Collection

Versatility: Research // Development offers a unique flexibility, allowing players to dig through their library for answers or beef up their presence on the board with unexpected token creatures.

Combo Potential: The Development side of this card can produce numerous tokens for synergies with mechanics like populate or convoke, while Research can facilitate finding the right pieces for complex combo setups.

Meta-Relevance: With the ability to adapt to various metagames, either through token generation to apply pressure or sifting for keys to outmaneuver opponents, Research // Development remains a strategically advantageous choice.

How to Beat

The process of developing new cards for MTG, particularly in the Research and Development stage, can sometimes yield powerful results that challenge players. Understanding the meta-game, including how cards are crafted and introduced to the ecosystem, is key to finding ways to counter them. Opposition to a potent Research and Development card requires a keen sense of strategic play and deck building finesse.

When facing such cards that have been meticulously designed for impact, consider sideboard options that neutralize their advantages. This might mean including cards that disrupt the opponent’s strategy or using removal spells that can target key pieces, effectively dulling their impact. Assess if counterspells, direct damage, or perhaps hand disruption offers the best line of defense. Adaptability and resource management come to the forefront, demonstrating how understanding of the game’s deeper mechanics is crucial for turning the tides in your favor.

To summarize, overcoming a sophisticated Research and Development card is more than just a single tactic. It is about crafting a versatile strategy that anticipates and dismantles the opponent’s plan, ensuring that you retain control of the game’s direction and momentum.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Research // Development MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Research // Development and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Research // Development has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-05-01	Development’s effect is repeated three times no matter which option the opponent chooses. The opponent may choose a different option each time. You’ll wind up with three Elemental tokens, two tokens and a card, one token and two cards, or three cards, whichever your opponent chooses.
2006-05-01	In a multiplayer game, each opponent, in turn, has the option to let you draw a card. If no opponent does, you put a token onto the battlefield. Then the process repeats two more times. A different opponent may let you draw a card each time.
2009-10-01	A card “from outside the game” may be a card from your collection or a card from your sideboard. In tournament play, you can’t choose a card from your collection. The cards you choose don’t all have to come from the same place.
2009-10-01	The exile zone is a part of the game, so you can’t get exiled cards.