Arcane Subtraction MTG Card


Arcane Subtraction - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Learn
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number36
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAnastasia Ovchinnikova

Key Takeaways

  1. Arcane Subtraction provides card advantage through the Learn mechanic, fetching a Lesson or replacing itself.
  2. Its instant speed offers flexibility to alter combat dynamics and maintain strategic options.
  3. Mana cost and color specificity limit its universal appeal, influencing deck inclusion decisions.

Text of card

Target creature gets -4/-0 until end of turn. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)

The class learned little that day.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arcane Subtraction offers the benefit of learning, which allows you to fetch a Lesson from outside the game, thus maintaining momentum by effectively replacing itself in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Arcane Subtraction itself does not directly accelerate resources, the learned Lesson can provide a selection of resource acceleration effects depending on your deck’s strategy and the Lesson card chosen.

Instant Speed: This card’s instant speed grants the flexibility to hinder an opponent’s attack mid-combat, adjusting the dynamics of the turn while keeping your options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arcane Subtraction prompts a potential depletion of your hand by necessitating a discard when leveraging its Learn mechanic. This could hamper your gameplay, particularly in situations where retaining a full hand is crucial for maintaining strategic flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Being constrained to blue mana makes this card less versatile. Players not running a blue or blue-inclusive deck will find it inapplicable, limiting its general utility across the vast array of MTG decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, Arcane Subtraction may seem less appealing when compared to other low-cost cards with similar or better effects. Resource management is key in MTG, and players may favor options that preserve mana for more impactful plays.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arcane Subtraction is not limited to a single strategy, making it an asset in various deck archetypes. Its ability to lower an opponent’s creature power while also learning, allowing you to fetch a Lesson card, tailors to both tempo plays and a more synergistic deck build.

Combo Potential: Because it has the learn mechanic, Arcane Subtraction can be a key piece in combos that capitalize on spell casting or specific card types being cycled from your deck to your hand, thus integrating seamlessly with strategies that adapt to the flow of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creatures and combat tricks dominate, Arcane Subtraction can turn the tides of battle in your favor by not only disrupting your opponent’s plays but also by effectively acting as a card advantage engine that keeps your options open as the game progresses.


How to Beat Arcane Subtraction

Arcane Subtraction can be quite the speed bump for many MTG players, given its capability to reduce a creature’s power while digging deeper into a player’s library. This Learning lesson spell is a temporary but potentially game-swinging move, enabling the caster to search for a key lesson card. Overcoming this can be straightforward – prioritize creatures with hexproof to make them invalid targets for such spells. Furthermore, consider instant-speed removals or counterspells to negate Arcane Subtraction as it hits the stack.

Another approach is to keep pressure on your opponent with multiple threats. Distributing power across different creatures dilutes the impact of a single Arcane Subtraction. Evasion abilities, such as flying or trample, can also help maintain momentum even if one of your creatures gets temporarily weakened. Ultimately, while Arcane Subtraction may offer your opponent a strategic edge, adaptable playstyles and awareness of in-game resources can help tip the scales back in your favor.


Cards like Arcane Subtraction

Arcane Subtraction enhances the library of learning spells in the MTG universe. It invites comparison with cards like Unsummon, which also allows a creature to be returned to its owner’s hand. However, Arcane Subtraction distinguishes itself by enabling the Learn mechanic, opening up possibilities for fetching Lessons from outside the game or discarding for a beneficial effect. Unsummon doesn’t grant that additional card advantage.

Comparatively, Exclude is another spell that offers a creature bounce but is more control-oriented with its added benefit of countering a creature spell. It’s different from Arcane Subtraction as it targets only creatures on the stack, whereas Arcane Subtraction can affect those on the battlefield and also offers the insightful Learn mechanic.

Blink of an Eye is another similar spell in this category. It can bounce any nonland permanent to its owner’s hand; additionally, you can kick it for extra mana to draw a card, making it flexible in various game phases. While it doesn’t boast the Learn capability of Arcane Subtraction, its versatility in targeting makes it a worthy contender.

In essence, while many cards share functionalities with Arcane Subtraction, its fusion of disrupting opponent strategies and furthering your own educational pursuits makes it a well-rounded addition to MTG’s vast spell arsenal.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Blink of an Eye - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Blink of an Eye - Dominaria (DOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arcane Subtraction MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Arcane Subtraction and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arcane Subtraction has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-04-16 If a card is brought into the game from outside the game, it will stay in the game until it ends or until its owner leaves the game, whichever comes first.
2021-04-16 If instructed to learn, you may do nothing. Discarding a card and putting a Lesson card into your hand are both optional.
2021-04-16 If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Constructed tournament (or a Constructed game played under tournament conditions), you may select only a card from your sideboard. In casual Constructed games, the card comes from your collection.
2021-04-16 If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Sealed Deck or Booster Draft event, you may select only a card that is in the card pool that you built your deck from.

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