Search Warrant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Number	193
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steven Belledin

Key Takeaways

Search Warrant synergizes with life gain effects, propelling resources and strategies quickly.
Despite boosting life and refilling hands, a discard requirement can hinder its efficiency.
Its life gain and intel-gathering abilities position Search Warrant uniquely among spells.

Text of card

Target player reveals his or her hand. You gain life equal to the number of cards in that player's hand.

"And would you care to explain why your satchel is radiating an aura of unstable energy?"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Search Warrant, gaining life equal to the highest power among creatures you control becomes not just a lifeline but also a card drawing mechanic. This dual functionality can be a pivotal move to outpace your opponent by refilling your hand and maintaining a healthy life total.

Resource Acceleration: One of the underappreciated aspects of Search Warrant is how it can synergize with effects that are triggered by life gain. It can potentially accelerate your resources by enabling strategies around life gain to unfold more swiftly, setting the groundwork for formidable plays in the upcoming turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Search Warrant at instant speed gives you the flexibility to adapt to the state of the game. Whether to disrupt an opponent’s strategy or simply to utilize mana effectively during the end phase, this spell slots seamlessly into your tactical playbook, allowing for sudden shifts in game dynamics in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Search Warrant is the necessity to discard another card. This trade-off may be detrimental during gameplay when your hand is already running thin on options, making it a risky play in situations where card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: The utility of Search Warrant is somewhat restrained by its strict mana requirement. To cast it, you must have both white and blue mana available. This specific cost can potentially disrupt the mana curve in multicolor decks not heavily invested in those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Search Warrant, the investment is a considerable four mana. In comparison to other cards at a similar cost, the effect it provides can be less impactful. Players often have access to more optimized cards that can perform at equal or greater levels of efficiency for the same or lower mana expenditure.

Reasons to Include Search Warrant in Your Collection

Versatility: Search Warrant provides dual utility in life gain and information. It can be included in decks that capitalize on life total to gain an advantage, or in control decks that need insight into an opponent’s hand.

Combo Potential: This card complements strategies that leverage knowledge of the opponent’s hand, enabling synergistic plays with cards that benefit from discarding or countering an opponent’s threats.

Meta-Relevance: With the current game environment favoring strategies that amass critical hand resources, Search Warrant serves as a tool to disrupt these plans while bolstering your life total, making it a tactically sound choice for staying ahead.

How to beat

Search Warrant stands out in MTG as a card that spotlights the synergy between life gain and information gathering. While it allows a player to gain life equal to the target opponent’s hand size and peek into their strategy, it does come with limitations. Unlike instant speed removal or counterspells, Search Warrant’s effect is more subtle and requires a strategic approach to make it truly impactful.

To effectively overcome this card, it’s wise to reduce the information advantage it provides. Tactics such as hand size management are key; by keeping a lean hand, you ensure the life gain for your opponent is minimal. Similarly, employing cards that benefit from discard or cycling can help mitigate the advantage Search Warrant offers. It’s also beneficial to implement threats that must be answered immediately, forcing your opponent to use resources ineffectively.

Overall, while Search Warrant can offer a temporary edge, understanding its mechanics and adapting your gameplay accordingly can turn the tables. By prioritizing immediate threats and hand size strategy, you can diminish the effectiveness of this card and maintain control over the game.

Cards like Search Warrant

Search Warrant is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of life-gain spells in Magic: The Gathering. In terms of functionality, it can be compared to cards like Rest for the Weary. While Rest for the Weary also offers a life boost, it lacks the information-gathering ability that Search Warrant provides when it reveals an opponent’s hand. This can be a strategic advantage, understanding the upcoming threats or planning your next move.

Then we delve into the realm of cards such as Healing Salve. This spell brings a similar dual utility by providing the choice of life gain or prevention of damage. However, it does so without the peek into an opponent’s hand, which in many cases can be the tipping point in a game. Lastly, we can’t overlook Riot Control. Though it provides a wider scope of life gain through its effect on each attacking creature, it too misses out on the pivotal intel-gather that sets Search Warrant apart.

While there are plenty of options in the life-gain category, Search Warrant stands out for its unique skill set, combining health with knowledge for the player, a blend that can lead to a calculated lead in the game’s progress.

Cards similar to Search Warrant by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Search Warrant MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Search Warrant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Search Warrant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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