Stolen Strategy MTG Card


Stolen Strategy generates card advantage by utilizing opponents’ decks, enriching your play options. It excels in resource acceleration but can be restrictive due to specific mana requirements. Versatility and adaptability to the meta make Stolen Strategy a valuable collection asset.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of each opponent's library. Until end of turn, you may cast nonland cards from among those exiled cards, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast those spells.


Cards like Stolen Strategy

Stolen Strategy stands as an intriguing fixture within the red card pool in Magic: The Gathering. Within the spectrum of red enchantments that manipulate card advantage, it shares a kinship with Outpost Siege. Like Outpost Siege, Stolen Strategy allows you to play cards from the top of your opponent’s library; however, Stolen Strategy shines in multiplayer settings where it yields potentially more card options every turn.

Confounding conundrum is Etali, Primal Storm, which also leverages the power of playing cards from your adversary’s deck. Etali’s strength lies in not only playing from opponents’ libraries without paying their mana cost but doing so each time it attacks, providing a similar yet more immediate payoff. Despite this, Stolen Strategy doesn’t hinge on combat, allowing for consistent value with less vulnerability to removal.

Examining these comparisons, it is evident that Stolen Strategy holds its ground as a unique engine of card advantage. Its consistent impact and potential for high reward make it a distinguished piece among red’s arsenal, adding strategic layers to any MTG deck looking to leverage opponents’ resources.

Outpost Siege - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions
Outpost Siege - MTG Card versions
Etali, Primal Storm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Stolen Strategy by color, type and mana cost

Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Bulwark - MTG Card versions
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Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
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Blockbuster - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Curse of Bloodletting - MTG Card versions
Conquer - MTG Card versions
Curse of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Bulwark - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Crescendo - MTG Card versions
Burning Sands - MTG Card versions
Unpredictable Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Court of Ire - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Double Vision - MTG Card versions
Aether Charge - MTG Card versions
Gratuitous Violence - MTG Card versions
Extra Arms - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Yet Another Aether Vortex - MTG Card versions
Blockbuster - MTG Card versions
Where Ancients Tread - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Aftershocks - MTG Card versions
Heretic's Punishment - MTG Card versions
Curse of Bloodletting - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stolen Strategy is a high-impact enchantment that presents ongoing card advantage each turn by allowing you to exile cards from the top of your opponents’ libraries and play them. This not only gives you more options but also disrupts your opponents’ potential draws.

Resource Acceleration: By leveraging cards from your opponents’ decks, Stolen Strategy can indirectly result in a form of resource acceleration. You can use their spells and lands, which can lead to a surplus of available mana and resources—ones which you didn’t have to include in your deck.

Instant Speed: Although Stolen Strategy operates at sorcery speed, the cards you exile can often be played at instant speed. This allows for surprising shifts in the game state, strategic plays during opponents’ turns, and the flexibility to use spells when they’re most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stolen Strategy forces a player to exile the top card of each opponent’s library at the beginning of their precombat main phase. However, this card doesn’t inherently allow you to play these exiled cards without paying their mana costs, which means you might end up discarding them if you can’t use them during your turn.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement of one Red and four other mana to cast, Stolen Strategy might be a tough fit in multicolored decks that struggle with producing the right mana consistently. This can restrict it largely to mono-Red or Red-heavy decklists.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Totalling five mana, Stolen Strategy has a steep cost compared to other card advantage engines. Players might find it cumbersome to allocate five mana, potentially missing out on developing their board or keeping mana open for reactive plays during crucial turns.


Reasons to Include Stolen Strategy in Your Collection

Versatility: Stolen Strategy holds a unique position by offering a way to cast spells from the top of your opponents’ libraries, making it a versatile addition that can adapt to various opponents and strategies, ensuring you’re never short on options.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that manipulate the top of the library, allowing you to set up devastating combos by foreseeing which spells you’ll be able to play from your adversaries, aligning your plays for maximum impact.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta fluctuates, having access to your opponents’ arsenal makes Stolen Strategy a smart pick, constantly staying relevant by using the strengths of your opponents’ decks against them.


How to beat

Navigating the tactical landscape of Magic: The Gathering often involves facing off against powerful cards like Stolen Strategy. This particular card can shift game dynamics by allowing players to play cards from the top of their opponents’ libraries and potentially utilize their own strategies against them. To beat this card, savvy players must adapt and counteract.

An effective method is to employ instant-speed deck manipulation or shuffling effects after Stolen Strategy’s trigger but before the reveal, such as with effects from cards like Path to Exile or Field of Ruin. This move can swiftly alter the top card of your library, thereby reducing the likelihood of your opponent gaining access to valuable plays. Graveyard manipulation, denying cards from being exiled, is another strategy. For example, cards with scavenge or delve can help manage your graveyard and limit the effectiveness of Stolen Strategy. Lastly, running enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize will directly target and eliminate the troublesome enchantment from the battlefield, mitigating its potential impacts before they become a threat. Keeping these tactics in mind will enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of prevailing over Stolen Strategy and cards alike.


BurnMana Recommendations

Stolen Strategy stands out as a creative spell that can turn the tides of any MTG match. Learning to wield it effectively requires understanding its strategic depth and the best practices for deck integration. Whether you’re looking to cause disruption, gain a card advantage, or simply enjoy the thrill of playing with your opponents’ cards, Stolen Strategy is a captivating choice for your collection. Are you eager to employ this enchantment to its fullest potential and outmaneuver your rivals? Dive deeper into its synergies, applications, and counter-strategies with us and expand your strategic horizons in MTG today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stolen Strategy MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Strategy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stolen Strategy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-06-08 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-06-08BattlebondBBD 642015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 8072015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
32024-03-08FalloutPIP 1922015NormalBlackWonchun Choi
42024-03-08FalloutPIP 4672015NormalBlackWonchun Choi
52024-03-08FalloutPIP 7202015NormalBlackWonchun Choi
62024-03-08FalloutPIP 9952015NormalBlackWonchun Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stolen Strategy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-06-08 Casting an exiled card causes it to leave exile. You can't cast it multiple times.
2018-06-08 If you don't cast the exiled cards, they remain exiled. They can't be cast on later turns.
2018-06-08 Stolen Strategy doesn't change when you can cast the exiled card. For example, if you exile a sorcery card, you can cast it only during your main phase when the stack is empty.