Scour the Laboratory MTG Card
2016-07-22 - Number 73
2021-08-26 - Number 243
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Delirium |
Text of card
Delirium — Scour the Laboratory costs less to cast if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard. Draw three cards.
"The answer's in here somewhere!"
Cards like Scour the Laboratory
Scour the Laboratory stands as an intriguing draw spell offering within the Magic: The Gathering roster. On surface comparison, it echoes the functionality of the established spell Concentrate, which also enables the player to draw three cards. However, what differentiates Scour the Laboratory is its delve mechanic, allowing players the option to cast it for a potentially lower cost by using cards from their graveyard as part of its mana cost.
Turning to Chemistry Set, a card with a similar role, it allows players to draw three cards at instant speed for the same converted mana cost, yet it lacks the potential cost reduction offered by delve. Another relative is the card Harmonize, a green spell that also draws three cards at sorcery speed. Unlike Scour the Laboratory, Harmonize does not offer any cost reduction potential, but it’s a key staple in decks that do not run blue.
Comparatively, the flexibility of Scour the Laboratory in a late-game scenario where a graveyard is well-stocked can prove more cost-effective than its counterparts. It’s this versatility to potentially cast a powerful card at a reduced rate that can make Scour the Laboratory a valuable addition to any blue strategist’s deck assembly.
Cards similar to Scour the Laboratory by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scour the Laboratory is a potent tool for delving into your deck and securing a card advantage. It allows you to dive deep and draw three cards, substantially enriching your hand and offering fresh strategies to counter your opponent’s moves.
Resource Acceleration: With its delve mechanic, this card allows you to effectively utilize cards in your graveyard as a resource. By exiling non-essential cards from your graveyard, you can cast Scour the Laboratory at a potentially reduced cost, accelerating your resource utilization and paving the way for casting impactful spells sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Scour the Laboratory at instant speed is a significant strategic boon. It enables you to adapt to the shifting tides of the game, waiting for the opportune moment to make your move. Whether it’s at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action, the instant nature of this card ensures that your mana is never wasted and your plays remain unpredictable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Scour the Laboratory compels players to discard cards due to its delve mechanic. This could be a setback, especially when your hand is already running low, forcing you to potentially discard valuable assets to cast it.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of Scour the Laboratory demands a heavy blue mana investment, requiring three blue mana to cast. This can make it challenging to fit into multicolored decks that might not be as flush with blue sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding six mana to play can be steep, making Scour the Laboratory a less attractive option in faster-paced games or in environments where lower-cost card draw effects are available. Players may find other cards that provide similar benefits without such a high mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Scour the Laboratory proves its flexibility by seamlessly fitting into various deck types. Decks that leverage card advantage through draw mechanics or graveyard-fueled strategies make especially good homes for this instant.
Combo Potential: The delve mechanic of Scour the Laboratory allows for synergistic gameplay with decks that fill the graveyard rapidly, potentially setting up game-winning combos by effectively reducing its casting cost and churning through your deck.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by control and tempo decks, Scour the Laboratory can be a key asset. The ability to draw three cards in the late game helps to sustain pressure on opponents and refuel after a counter-war or board wipe.
How to beat
Scour the Laboratory is a unique draw spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering due to its Delirium ability, which can drastically reduce its casting cost. Typically, a six-mana draw spell would seem too costly, however, Scour the Laboratory’s potential to turn into an affordable four mana spell makes it alluring. It allows players to draw three cards, a considerable boost in resources and options.
To successfully counteract Scour the Laboratory, ensuring graveyard control is pivotal. Utilizing cards that can exile or shuffle graveyards back into the library prevents opponents from achieving the spell’s reduced cost condition. Cards like Relic of Progenitus or Bojuka Bog are efficient at managing graveyard-based strategies. Additionally, applying pressure early in the game can make it difficult for your opponent to stabilize and set up the four card types needed in the graveyard to activate Delirium. Strategies that can consistently threaten their game plan and force responses before they accumulate the required card types will often give you the upper hand against Scour the Laboratory.
Timing disruption spells is also key. Countering the spell when your opponent has just managed to activate Delirium can be a major setback for them. Prioritize maintaining countermeasures in your hand to mitigate its impact on the game, and stay vigilant for the opportunity to negate the spell before it can influence the board in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scour the Laboratory MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Scour the Laboratory 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
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Printings
The Scour the Laboratory Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Greg Opalinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon | EMN | 73 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 243 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scour the Laboratory has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scour the Laboratory card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | If an effect allows you to cast Scour the Laboratory from your graveyard, count the number of card types among cards in your graveyard after moving Scour the Laboratory from your graveyard to the stack. If its delirium effect no longer applies, it costs to cast. |