Sift Through Sands MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 84
2017-03-31 - Number 9
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
Text of card
Draw two cards, then discard a card. If you played a spell named Peer Through Depths and a spell named Reach Through Mists this turn, you may search your library for a card named The Unspeakable, put it into play, then shuffle your library.
Cards like Sift Through Sands
Sift Through Sands is another intriguing piece of the card-drawing puzzle in the world of MTG. In terms of mechanics, it parallels pieces like Peer Through Depths, which also allows a glimpse at multiple cards from the top of your library, albeit Sift Through Sands focuses on the narrower category of instants and sorceries and includes a draw feature. Where it diverges is in its combo potential, particularly with the ability to assemble the fabled The Unspeakable when combined with other cards from the cycle, something not afforded by Peer Through Depths.
Considering Reach Through Mists, both spells engage players with a monetary investment of a single blue mana yet, Sift Through Sands provides an extra layer by letting you draw a card, thereby granting an edge in card advantage. Furthermore, there’s Telling Time, which provides immediate card selection instead of the card draw that comes with Sift Through Sands. The former allows for more strategic planning, while the latter augments your hand directly on the spot, showcasing a balanced diversity among card drawing spells in MTG.
Overall, while comparing the advantages across various draw spells in MTG, Sift Through Sands certainly casts its charm with its unique combo appeal and the straightforward draw benefit it grants to its spell-slinging wielders.
Cards similar to Sift Through Sands by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sift Through Sands allows players to draw three cards, offering a significant increase in hand options and potentially leading to a more advantageous board position.
Resource Acceleration: If Sift Through Sands is combined with the other cards in its arcane trio (“Peer Through Depths” and “Reach Through Mists”) to assemble the “The Unspeakable,” it can lead to a form of resource acceleration by putting a powerful creature on the battlefield without spending additional mana.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Sift Through Sands gives players the flexibility to react on the opponent’s turn or end phase, potentially disrupting their plays or optimizing one’s own strategy for the next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The action of casting Sift Through Sands comes with the stipulation that you must also discard a card. This can be especially taxing during crucial moments when maintaining a strong hand is vital for controlling the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost is notably color-specific, demanding both blue and generic mana. This may potentially restrict its integration into decks that aren’t heavily invested in blue mana sources or those that operate on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to sift through your deck using Sift Through Sands is relatively substantial. For a card that provides card filtering rather than outright card advantage, some players may find the mana investment excessive when less costly options may fulfill a similar role with more efficiency.
Reasons to Include Sift Through Sands in Your Collection
Versatility: Sift Through Sands serves a dual purpose, not only allowing you to draw cards but also to filter through your library, ensuring you get the resources you need when you need them. This adaptability makes it valuable in decks that require precise tuning of their draws.
Combo Potential: This card is well-known for its role in the famous ‘Dampen Thought’ combo. Pairing Sift Through Sands with cards like Peer Through Depths and Reach Through Mists allows you to assemble the powerful ‘The Unspeakable’ onto the battlefield, creating an impactful synergy that can dominate the game.
Meta-Relevance: In game formats where longer, grindy matches are common, the ability to consistently find the right answers or combo pieces can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Sift Through Sands offers this edge, keeping your strategies relevant against a variety of opposing decks.
How to beat
Sift Through Sands is a notable card in the vast Magic: The Gathering arsenal, particularly for players looking to assemble the “The Unspeakable” combo. This card allows you to draw three cards and then discard a card, offering a method to churn through your deck to find the needed components of your strategy. It’s part of a trio of cards that, when combined with Peer Through Depths and Reach Through Mists, lets you summon The Unspeakable directly to the battlefield.
To effectively counter Sift Through Sands, one must disrupt the combo chain. This can be accomplished by negating the card directly through counterspells, or by deploying targeted discard strategies to pry it from your opponent’s hand before they have the chance to cast it. Moreover, graveyard interaction can be a powerful foil, hindering the recursion of these specific cards from the graveyard to hand, thus seamlessly breaking the sequence needed to execute the combo. By understanding the pivotal role Sift Through Sands plays in the deck, it becomes crucial to monitor and control spells of this archetype to maintain an upper hand.
In essence, overcoming Sift Through Sands relies on a proactive approach to invalidate pivotal pieces of your opponent’s game plan. By doing so, you ensure the arc of your strategy remains unimpeded while stifling theirs, a nuanced tactic that identifies and exploits the card’s inherent reliance on its complementary set.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sift Through Sands MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might, 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 Sift Through Sands 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 Sift Through Sands Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2017-03-31. Illustrated by Anthony S. Waters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 84 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 2 | 2017-03-31 | Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might | DDS | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sift Through Sands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |