Sage of Epityr MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2006-10-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Time Spiral |
| Set code | TSP |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 74 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Randy Gallegos |
Text of card
When Sage of Epityr comes into play, look at the top four cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
Clairvoyants across Dominaria were driven mad by the overload from the widening time rifts, while other random folk gained the gift of future sight.
Cards like Sage of Epityr
Sage of Epityr is a card that buffs the toolbox of any MTG player dealing with deck manipulation. Landing on the battlefield for a single blue mana, this nimble wizard allows you to look at the top four cards of your library, then rearrange them as you see fit. It’s not just about drawing cards, but setting the stage for future turns, akin to another known card – Index. Both cards excel at giving you control over your upcoming draws, but Sage of Epityr conjures the added benefit of a creature on the board.
Comparing further, we were reminded of the prowess of Preordain, a sorcery that enables you to look at the top two cards and draw one for the same cost. Its swift action and card acquisition capabilities make it an admirably close parallel. Similar in effect, we have Serum Visions, offering the draw first and then the scry, flipping the script on card selection and immediate hand enhancement.
In essence, while Sage of Epityr may not offer direct card draw, its power in sculpting the near future of your plays stands out. This card, alongside its brethren in the deck manipulation space, plays a strategic role in setting up victories in the intricate dance of MTG.
Cards similar to Sage of Epityr by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sage of Epityr allows you to look at the top four cards of your library and then rearrange them. This selection process gives you valuable insight into your upcoming draws, setting the stage for subsequent card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources by producing mana or tokens, Sage of Epityr helps smooth your draws. By ensuring that you can play your land drops each turn or find the appropriate spells when you need them, it indirectly accelerates your game plan.
Instant Speed: While the Sage of Epityr itself is a creature card and does not play at instant speed, it helps to set up your deck for successful draws of instant-speed interactions. Knowing the sequence of your upcoming cards primes you for strategic play, enhancing turns where instant speed can be pivotal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One limitation of the Sage of Epityr is that in some deck builds it can force players into a situation where key cards get shuffled away, causing an inadvertent loss of potentially vital resources.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirement is exclusively blue, which can be restrictive for players not running a primarily blue or a compatible two-color mana base, thus limiting the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing a single blue mana, the return on investment can be low – a simple scry of four cards without draw – making it sometimes less impactful, especially when there are other one-drop creatures or spells that can provide more immediate or flexible benefits to a player’s strategy.
Reasons to Include Sage of Epityr in Your Collection
Versatility: Sage of Epityr thrives in various deck types, offering a low-cost way to organize your upcoming draws. Its ability to look at the top four cards and rearrange them makes it a beneficial addition, ensuring more strategic hand development in the early game.
Combo Potential: This one-drop creature is more than meets the eye. Pairing Sage of Epityr with shuffle effects or cards that benefit from knowing the top deck order, such as “Brainstorm” or “Aether Vial,” amplifies its utility, by setting up for powerful plays or efficient draw quality. It’s a compact engine that works well with cards that exploit top-deck synergy.
Meta-Relevance: In a gaming landscape that values information and consistency, Sage of Epityr can hold its own. Its ability to prepare your next moves makes it a quiet powerhouse in control or combo decks that aim for precision over brute strength. Integrating Sage into your lineup could give you an edge, especially when every draw counts.
How to beat
Sage of Epityr is a unique card in MTG that provides valuable early game insights into your upcoming draws. Controlling the top four cards of your library, it allows you to strategically plan your moves. However, this effect’s utility also makes it a target for disruption. Your approach to getting the upper hand against Sage of Epityr should involve a two-pronged strategy: disrupt and pressure.
One effective method is to use instant-speed removal or bounce spells to deal with this one-drop creature before the information gleaned can be fully utilized. For instance, Path to Exile can permanently remove it, preventing the manipulation of draws. Alternatively, bounce spells like Vapor Snag reset your opponent’s efforts and cost them valuable tempo.
Moreover, applying early-game pressure can force your opponent to make unfavorable blocks with their Sage of Epityr, effectively nullifying their setup plays. Aggressive starts with creatures that can outclass Sage in combat will shift the opponent’s focus from setup to survival. By combining targeted removal with early-game aggression, your chances of neutralizing the advantages granted by Sage of Epityr are significantly increased.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sage of Epityr MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Sage of Epityr 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sage of Epityr has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |