Selfie Preservation MTG Card


Provides card advantage by fetching basic land cards, optimizing future strategies. Its instant speed offers strategic responses to opponent’s actions in-game. However, using Selfie Preservation requires discarding, which may limit options.
Selfie Preservation - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Number119
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderSilver
Illustred byChris Seaman
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Text of card

Search your library for a basic land card and reveal it. If there's a tree in its art, put it onto the battlefield tapped. Otherwise, put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

"Be sure to get the tree in the picture."


Cards like Selfie Preservation

Selfie Preservation is a unique entry in Magic the Gathering’s pantheon of self-enabling cards. It operates similarly to the likes of Lay of the Land and Caravan Vigil, which allow a player to search their library for a basic land and put it into their hand. Selfie Preservation offers a similar land-centric utility, ideal for bolstering mana consistency early on. Yet, it goes a step beyond, adding a playful twist by mandating a snapshot of you with a tree, illustrating MTG’s creative blend of gameplay with fan interaction.

Another parallel can be drawn with cards like Attune with Aether, which also fetches a basic land. But unlike Selfie Preservation, it provides an extra boon in the form of two energy counters, a valuable addition in decks that leverage the energy mechanic. While both cards serve a similar foundational purpose, they cater to different strategies and player experiences. Evolution Charm offers versatility, with land retrieval being one of multiple modes, but it requires green mana, unlike the more accessible Selfie Preservation.

Ultimately, Selfie Preservation finds its niche among those looking to add reliable mana access while enjoying a lighthearted moment during gameplay. Its distinct requirement sets it apart and might just capture the favor of those who appreciate MTG’s quirky side.

Lay of the Land - MTG Card versions
Caravan Vigil - MTG Card versions
Attune with Aether - MTG Card versions
Evolution Charm - MTG Card versions
Lay of the Land - MTG Card versions
Caravan Vigil - MTG Card versions
Attune with Aether - MTG Card versions
Evolution Charm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Selfie Preservation by color, type and mana cost

Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Channel - MTG Card versions
Superior Numbers - MTG Card versions
Summer Bloom - MTG Card versions
Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
Elven Rite - MTG Card versions
Verdant Touch - MTG Card versions
Canopy Surge - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Growth - MTG Card versions
Nostalgic Dreams - MTG Card versions
Nylea's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wildcall - MTG Card versions
Revive - MTG Card versions
Weird Harvest - MTG Card versions
Farseek - MTG Card versions
Nature's Lore - MTG Card versions
Living Wish - MTG Card versions
Gleeful Sabotage - MTG Card versions
Regrowth - MTG Card versions
Channel - MTG Card versions
Superior Numbers - MTG Card versions
Summer Bloom - MTG Card versions
Rampant Growth - MTG Card versions
Elven Rite - MTG Card versions
Verdant Touch - MTG Card versions
Canopy Surge - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Growth - MTG Card versions
Nostalgic Dreams - MTG Card versions
Nylea's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wildcall - MTG Card versions
Revive - MTG Card versions
Weird Harvest - MTG Card versions
Farseek - MTG Card versions
Nature's Lore - MTG Card versions
Living Wish - MTG Card versions
Gleeful Sabotage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Selfie Preservation ensures you stay ahead in the card count by searching your library for a basic land card, not only refreshing your hand but also fine-tuning your upcoming plays.

Resource Acceleration: By placing the basic land card directly onto the battlefield, this card helps speed up your mana growth, allowing for bigger moves earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Acting at instant speed offers the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions, making this card a wise reserve to play when the conditions are most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Selfie Preservation might compel you to pitch another card from your hand, a downside that could deplete your options especially during the tight clutches of a match where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost required to play Selfie Preservation includes green, which could restrict its integration exclusively to green or multicolored decks, potentially excluding it from a wider range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana cost, Selfie Preservation sits at a threshold where players often expect more impactful plays. When compared with other cards that function at or below this mana range, it could be considered less efficient, particularly in formats where the pace of play is quick and the cost-to-benefit ratio is crucial.


Reasons to Include Selfie Preservation in Your Collection

Versatility: Selfie Preservation is a unique addition to decks that thrive on land-based synergies. As a spell that searches for a basic land card, it can smoothly slot into strategies that require specific land types or benefit from landfall triggers.

Combo Potential: This card offers combo potential by ensuring you meet your land drops consistently. It can be paired with landfall mechanics or cards that activate upon lands entering the battlefield, contributing to powerful plays and consistency in your game.

Meta-Relevance: Given that Selfie Preservation allows for mana fixing and deck thinning, it holds relevance in diverse metagames. In an environment where fast mana and efficient play are crucial, this card could provide the slight edge needed to outmaneuver opponents.


How to beat

Selfie Preservation is an intriguing instance of MTG’s whimsical side, offering a unique mix of land search and deck personalization. It brings to mind cards like Rampant Growth or Search for Tomorrow when considering its first ability to search for a basic land. However, Selfie Preservation’s additional feature of letting you put any card on top of your library after showing off your land card gives it a twist that verges on combining search with slight deck manipulation.

To counter this card effectively, strategies should include land disruption to invalidate the advantage gained from the land search. Mindful of its second ability, controlling the opponent’s draw or library with cards like Thoughtseize or Codex Shredder can mitigate the benefit they receive. Additionally, employing instant-speed removal when its effect on the stack can disrupt the player’s strategy, ensuring the outcome of Selfie Preservation isn’t as picture-perfect as intended.

Ultimately, Selfie Preservation offers both a charming theme and a modest competitive edge. By prioritizing library control and draw disruption, one can cushion the impact of this unique spell and maintain the balance of play.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selfie Preservation MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Selfie Preservation and other MTG cards:

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Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-01-19 Stumps don’t count. They’re like the absence of trees.
2018-01-19 The tree doesn’t have to be alive, but it must be recognizably tree-shaped. Wooden structures that were once trees don’t count.