Scheming Symmetry MTG Card


Scheming Symmetry allows card tutoring, favoring players who can manipulate draws and turns. Its one black mana cost makes it a fit for black-centric or multi-colored decks. The card introduces a blend of risk and strategic opportunity in deck-building and play.
Scheming Symmetry - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Number113
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySeb McKinnon

Text of card

Choose two target players. Each of them searches their library for a card, then shuffles their library and puts that card on top of it.

"One for you, one for me. What could be more fair?" —Kethis, the Hidden Hand


Cards like Scheming Symmetry

Scheming Symmetry is a unique tutor card in Magic: The Gathering. The card holds parallels to esteemed classics like Vampiric Tutor, offering the boon of library search to pinpoint an exact card. However, Scheming Symmetry’s balanced nature allows both you and an opponent to benefit from this search, which adds a layer of strategy and risk not found in the one-sided Vampiric Tutor.

Diabolic Tutor also enters the fray of comparison being another well-known black spell that tutors cards. It is straightforward, allowing only the caster to choose a card and add it to their hand, without giving the opponent the same advantage. While more costly in terms of mana, it eliminates the reciprocal benefit provided by Scheming Symmetry.

Appraising these cards together, Scheming Symmetry stands out for its low mana cost and the potential political play it introduces, especially in multi-player formats. It’s a card that can form alliances or setup advantageous plays when you’re certain your next turn will deny your opponent the opportunity they’ve been given. As such, Scheming Symmetry offers both a challenge and an opportunity, skilfully contributing to the complex tapestry of possibility that makes Magic: The Gathering endlessly captivating.

Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Scheming Symmetry. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillDEN24 Sat 9:00 - U.S. Regional Championship - presented by Laughing Dragon
Mono-Black ScamMono-Black Scam ModernMono-Black ScamModern Preliminary 2024-03-11 (1)
Sultai MillSultai Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 64 2024-03-04
DecklistDecklist Free form0()

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scheming Symmetry offers a unique approach to card advantage by allowing both players to choose a card from their library. This may seem symmetrical at first, but with the right deck construction and strategy, it can be leveraged to ensure that the benefit tips in your favor, essentially pulling ahead in the resources game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Scheming Symmetry doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the form of mana, it lets you tutor for an essential piece to your strategy. This can indirectly lead to resource acceleration when the chosen card is a mana ramp or other accelerant, positioning you to unleash powerful plays sooner.

Instant Speed: While Scheming Symmetry is a sorcery itself, it can set up powerful plays at instant speed for future turns. By searching for cards that interact on your opponent’s turn or during end phases, Scheming Symmetry maximizes flexibility, allowing for unexpectedly potent maneuvers that can disrupt your opponent’s strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Scheming Symmetry does not have a discard requirement, it is important for players to consider drawbacks of a tutor card that may inadvertently benefit an opponent as well.

Specific Mana Cost: Scheming Symmetry’s mana cost requires one black mana, which restricts it to black-centric or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in some players’ deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Scheming Symmetry’s mana cost is low, the fact that it allows an opponent to also tutor a card can be seen as a high cost in terms of game advantage, making it a double-edged sword in tight matches.


Reasons to Include Scheming Symmetry in Your Collection

Versatility: Scheming Symmetry offers a unique tutor ability that can be incorporated into various deck types. Its power lies in the potential to search for any card needed at a critical moment, whether it be an answer or a win condition, making it highly flexible for strategic plays.

Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key component in combo-based strategies, setting up game-winning conditions effectively. With the right deck, a player can cast Scheming Symmetry and then draw the tutored card immediately, using other cards to deny the opponent the benefit of their search.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame shifts, a card like Scheming Symmetry can become increasingly powerful. It naturally fits in decks that manipulate both players’ libraries and can become even more beneficial in environments where players have ways to make use of their opponents’ topdecked cards or hinder their strategy post-tutor.


How to beat Scheming Symmetry

Scheming Symmetry offers a unique twist on card tutoring in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This one mana cost spell allows both you and an opponent to search your libraries and select a card to place on top. The card is potent for setting up game-winning combos, but it also gives your adversary the same advantage. This symmetry is what you need to break to gain the upper hand.

To outmaneuver this card, the key is to utilize instant-speed draw or mill effects after Scheming Symmetry resolves. By doing so, you can access the card you tutored immediately, while potentially disrupting your opponent’s chosen card placement. You can use cards like Thought Scour to mill the top two cards of your opponent’s library, nullifying their carefully selected choice. Alternatively, flash creatures that draw a card upon entering the battlefield gained popularity, allowing you to reap the benefits of Symmetry during your opponent’s turn, all the while leaving their strategy in disarray.

Another strategy is to employ graveyard manipulation. As Symmetry puts the desired cards on top of the library, graveyard-centric decks can use this to their advantage by bringing back powerful cards from the dead. It’s about maintaining control and pace, ensuring that the symmetry in Scheming Symmetry becomes a one-sided affair tipped in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the nuanced layers of MTG is akin to artful strategy, informed by the cards you collect and the decks you build. Scheming Symmetry is a spell that calls for savvy manipulation and cunning foresight. Its low cost and high potential for pivotal playmaking demand attention. If you’re intrigued by the ability to orchestrate your next game-changing move, Scheming Symmetry may be the card you need to weave your strategy toward victory. Dive deeper with us into the realm of MTG strategy, where each card is a building block to triumph. Expand your collection and knowledge to sharpen your edge on the playing field.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scheming Symmetry MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Scheming Symmetry and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scheming Symmetry has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal