River Song's Diary MTG Card
2023-10-13 - Number 787
2023-10-13 - Number 1051
2023-10-13 - Number 460
2023-10-13 - Number 182
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Imprint |
Text of card
Imprint — Whenever a player casts an instant or sorcery spell from their hand, exile it instead of putting it into a graveyard as it resolves. At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are four or more cards exiled with River Song's Diary, choose one of them at random. You may cast it without paying its mana cost.
Cards like River Song's Diary
River Song’s Diary is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, bringing its own flair to the table of artifact cards. When looking at parallels, it reminds us of similar artifacts that affect the game in a nuanced way. For example, Alhammarret’s Archive stands out, lifting the effect of life gain and card draw mechanics to new heights. While both artifacts enhance your playing experience, River Song’s Diary does not have the life gain enhancement, focusing more on the asymmetrical information advantage that turns the tides of intellectual mind games.
Another comparable artifact is Pyxis of Pandemonium. Both cards carry the potential for significant game swings. However, while the Pyxis disrupts players by exiling cards face down to be revealed later, River Song’s Diary generates a card advantage with a touch of foresight, setting up strategic plays without the chaos of randomness. Also reflecting on Ghirapur Orrery, we see a card that encourages hand depletion to draw more; whereas, River Song’s Diary rewards players for holding cards, reinforcing a different style of play.
Every artifact in Magic: The Gathering is crafted with a unique angle that suits various deck types, yet River Song’s Diary stands out with its combination of card advantage and strategic depth that caters to those who play with a blend of cunning and calculation.
Cards similar to River Song's Diary by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Accessing more cards is crucial in MTG, and River Song’s Diary enables you to expand your hand, providing valuable options as the match progresses.
Resource Acceleration: This card helps you ramp up your mana resources, giving you a critical lead in deploying your strategy faster than your opponent.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed play allows you to adapt to the battlefield dynamically, casting River Song’s Diary when the timing is most advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing River Song’s Diary means you must part with another card from your hand, a sacrificial move that might back you into a corner when options are already scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: A blend of mana is needed to cast this spell, including a blue and a green. This cost requires a dedicated deck build around these colors, potentially barring it from mono and other multicolored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana could be a substantial investment, especially when compared to other spells that either cost less or provide a more substantial return, possibly leading to a hesitation in including it in a deck where efficiency is prized.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: River Song’s Diary is a card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck archetypes. It provides strategic depth to control decks and complements the card synergies in spell-focused builds.
Combo Potential: As a card with inherent synergy opportunities, it can serve as a cog within intricate combo machines. It opens the door to creative interactions that can pivot the tide of gameplay in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the fluctuating dynamics of the game, a card like River Song’s Diary maintains relevance. It’s capable of countering popular strategies and gives players an edge in adapting to the evolving competitive landscape.
How to defeat River Song’s Diary
River Song’s Diary stands out as a unique card that can pose significant advantages for the player in control. To effectively combat this card, a deep understanding of its mechanics is crucial. The diary’s ability to tap for mana or to draw cards upon hitting certain benchmarks makes it a target for immediate removal. Assessing your own deck for efficient answer cards is imperative, focusing on spells that can neutralize artifacts swiftly and effectively.
While instant-speed removal spells like Naturalize or Disenchant offer one of the most straightforward approaches, you should also consider the strategic timing of these spells to minimize your opponent’s gains from River Song’s Diary. On top of that, adopting a playstyle that emphasizes direct pressure can limit the time your opponent has to leverage the diary’s benefits. Including cards that force your opponent to discard or restrict their ability to draw additional cards can also diminish the diary’s impact. Cards like Thoughtseize or Narset, Parter of Veils act as a preventative measure to either remove the diary before it hits the board or to severely limit its card drawing capability, ensuring that the balance of power remains on your side of the battlefield.
Ultimately, handling River Song’s Diary effectively requires a blend of direct action and preemptive strategy, keeping in mind to act decisively to prevent your opponent from fully exploiting its potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase River Song's Diary MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 River Song's Diary 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
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Printings
The River Song's Diary Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Tatiana Veryayskaya.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 787 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tatiana Veryayskaya | |
| 2 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 1051 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tatiana Veryayskaya | |
| 3 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 460 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tatiana Veryayskaya | |
| 4 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 182 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tatiana Veryayskaya |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where River Song's Diary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering River Song's Diary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-10-13 | You cast the spell as part of the resolution of the last ability. You can't wait and cast the spell at a later time. |