Stream of Consciousness MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 53
2018-12-07 - Number 74
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
Text of card
Target player shuffles up to four target cards from his or her graveyard into his or her library.
"All things return to their beginnings. The waters that spill across the Kamitaki Falls flow to sea, only to be returned to her as the rain that joins the mighty river." —Dosan the Falling Leaf
Cards like Stream of Consciousness
Stream of Consciousness holds its own within the suite of retrace cards available in Magic: The Gathering. It aligns with other spells in terms of its ability to be played from the graveyard, mirroring the likes of Oona’s Grace. However, while Oona’s Grace allows for the drawing of a card, Stream of Consciousness offers a more specialized function, targeting the library by shuffling four cards from a player’s graveyard into their library.
Given its uniqueness, it often finds company with Cremate, albeit they serve different strategies. Cremate exiles a card from a graveyard and allows its caster to draw a card, thereby denying opponents their grave-based tactics. Unlike Cremate, Stream of Consciousness is purely defensive, aiming to bolster one’s own library rather than disrupt an adversary’s plans.
Contrasting these, Gaea’s Blessing presents an interesting comparison. As a spell that can shuffle not just any cards, but itself back into the owner’s library, it adds an element of repeatable protection against milling strategies that Stream of Consciousness lacks. Yet, the instant speed and retrace ability of Stream of Consciousness affords it a tactical versatility in keeping one’s deck stacked and agile against multiple threats.
Cards similar to Stream of Consciousness by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stream of Consciousness is a unique utility that provides a distinct strategic edge by allowing you to reshuffle any target card from your graveyard back into your library. This can ensure that key spells or creatures are readily accessible for future turns, bolstering your chances of maintaining a steady flow of important cards.
Resource Acceleration: This card can effectively act as a resource accelerator in decks that thrive on cycling through their libraries quickly. By placing a card back into your deck, you effectively increase the density of actionable cards, which can culminate in a more efficient draw for subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: Acting at instant speed, Stream of Consciousness adds a layer of flexibility and surprise to your gameplay. It allows you to respond to your opponents’ moves in a nimble fashion or to adapt your strategy at the last minute, ensuring that your plays are always as advantageous as possible.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Stream of Consciousness involves discarding a card, presenting a potential setback when your hand is already depleted or when holding key cards crucial to your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands blue mana, uncompromisingly anchoring it to blue-centric or multicolored decks, potentially restricting its adaptability across the broad spectrum of playstyles.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a need for four mana, Stream of Consciousness vies with many other options in the four-mana slot, which might offer more impactful board presence or card advantage, possibly relegating it to a situational pick.
Reasons to Include Stream of Consciousness in Your Collection
Versatility: Stream of Consciousness offers dynamic options for decks that capitalize on manipulating libraries. It’s particularly useful in formats like Commander where repeated use through shuffle effects can be a game-changer.
Combo Potential: This card serves as a cog in larger combo machines, seamlessly looping with cards that shuffle graveyards back into libraries, enabling recurring actions that can quickly outpace an opponent’s resources.
Meta-Relevance: Given the importance of graveyard strategies in various MTG formats, Stream of Consciousness remains relevant as a tool for disrupting opponents’ plans while bolstering your own tactics in a subtle, yet impactful way.
How to beat
Stream of Consciousness is a unique card in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, offering a particular set of abilities that can be both a boon and a challenge to overcome. This card enables a player to effectively recycle key pieces of their strategy, putting them back into their library from the graveyard. When facing someone wielding this card, the crux of your strategy should focus on disrupting their graveyard synergy. Considering this, employing strategies such as graveyard removal with cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void will significantly hinder the efficiency of Stream of Consciousness and cards like it.
Moreover, countering it with spells that negate the effects of Instants can be remarkably effective. A well-timed Counterspell or even a Dispel can neutralize this advantage early on, ensuring that the flow of their combo is impeded. Speed can also be of essence; rushing your opponent and applying pressure with an aggressive early game can deter them from setting up their graveyard and utilizing Stream of Consciousness to its full potential.
Overall, a keen understanding of your opponent’s strategy and a well-prepared sideboard can tip the scales in your favor when Stream of Consciousness comes into play. By applying pressure and incorporating effective graveyard management, you can overcome the potential card advantage it grants to your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stream of Consciousness MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Ultimate Masters, 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 Stream of Consciousness 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 Stream of Consciousness Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by John Avon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 53 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stream of Consciousness has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stream of Consciousness card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-12-07 | If you target any cards in a graveyard and those cards all become illegal targets, the target player simply shuffles their library. |
| 2018-12-07 | Stream of Consciousness can’t be one of the target cards you shuffle into your library. |
| 2018-12-07 | You choose the target cards; the target player doesn’t. They may offer suggestions. |
| 2018-12-07 | You may target zero cards in any graveyard and have a target player simply shuffle their library. |