Stolen Grain MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 6 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Stolen Grain deals 5 damage to your opponent. You gain 5 life.
At the battle of Guandu, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao by raiding his grain depot, leaving him with no way to feed his troops.
Cards like Stolen Grain
Stolen Grain is a unique addition to the suite of card advantage spells in Magic: The Gathering. When assessing its value, it’s worth looking at cards like Concentrate, which also allows for the drawing of multiple cards. Stolen Grain stands out by potentially permitting a larger card draw based on certain game states, which Concentrate cannot do as it draws a fixed number of three cards.
Another similar sorcery to consider is Harmonize. This card, like Stolen Grain, allows players to draw three cards. However, what sets Stolen Grain apart is the potential it has to transform the tide of a game by drawing more based on specific conditions, giving it a higher ceiling in the right deck. Furthermore, unlike Windfall, which also can draw a significant number of cards, Stolen Grain doesn’t offer the same benefit to opponents, making it potentially more advantageous in one-sided card advantage.
When compared to peers in the card draw category, Stolen Grain could offer MTG fans a flexible and scalable option that rewards strategic deck building and timing, ensuring players have the cards when they most need them. Its comparison to other MTG spells underlines the strength of adaptability and possible game-changing swings in card advantage that Stolen Grain can bring to the table.
Cards similar to Stolen Grain by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stolen Grain ensures a steady flow of options by letting you draw cards. Each card drawn represents potential tools and strategies, keeping you steps ahead of your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: This spell bulks up your mana reserves by giving you access to additional resources. Casting this can speed up your gameplay, allowing you to deploy threats or answers ahead of time.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Stolen Grain at instant speed means you can adapt to the evolving battlefield. React to an opponent’s move or end their turn with a surprise that sets you up for victory.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stolen Grain demands that players discard a card from their hand, making it a potential liability if your hand is already depleted or each card in hand is essential for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Stolen Grain includes not just any mana but a precise combination of colors. This can restrict its integration into decks that do not support such mana flexibility or those which are color-specific.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher end for its capabilities, Stolen Grain may fall behind in the race against cards with lower costs yet similar or better benefits, making it a less optimal choice in time-sensitive or mana-efficient game plans.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stolen Grain shines in multiple deck archetypes. It offers a strategic advantage in ramping up mana and serves as a sneaky move against opponents, making it a flexible addition to any deck that needs a slight edge in resources.
Combo Potential: Crafting combinations with Stolen Grain can be quite rewarding. Its unique interactions enable players to leverage resource denial strategies while gaining the upper hand in mana accumulation or triggering synergies with other cards that benefit from resource exchange or control dynamics.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG meta ebbs and flows, Stolen Grain’s ability to meddle with opponent’s plays means it can be pivotal in matches where timing and resource management are key. Particularly in formats where utility and versatility are prized, Stolen Grain can play a pivotal role in outmaneuvering opponents that rely on finely-tuned strategies.
How to beat
The challenge of tackling Stolen Grain in your Magic: The Gathering matches requires strategic forethought. This card is known for its disruptive ability to pilfer crucial resources from the opponent’s hand. To effectively counter this, players must employ timely disruption or make use of protective spells that shelter their hand from such invasive actions. Spot removal becomes a powerful tool against creatures that capitalize on casting Stolen Grain, ensuring they cannot exploit its effect.
Utilizing instant-speed removal or counterspells can prevent your adversary from ever benefiting from their thieving endeavors. Another method to mitigate the setback of losing a card is to keep a robust hand size; thereby, the impact of Stolen Grain is lessened. Lastly, cards that offer graveyard retrieval capabilities can recoup value lost and ensure that crucial spells or creatures compromised by Stolen Grain return to the fray, preserving your strategy intact and your resources flowing. Remember, reactive plays and thoughtful deck construction can turn the tide against strategies that include disruptive cards like Stolen Grain.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stolen Grain MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Stolen Grain 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
Printings
The Stolen Grain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by LHQ.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 83 | 1997 | Normal | White | LHQ | |
2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 75 | 1997 | Normal | Black | LHQ |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stolen Grain has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stolen Grain card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2009-10-01 | If the targeted opponent is an illegal target by the time Stolen Grain resolves, the ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain life. |