Contemplation MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set name	Stronghold
Set code	STH
Number	4
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Brom

Key Takeaways

Contemplation provides card advantage, pivotal for decision-making and maintaining resources against opponents.
Life gained from spellcasting with Contemplation provides a defensive edge in prolonged games.
Instant speed usage allows for flexible, reactive strategies, challenging opponents’ moves.

Text of card

Whenever you successfully cast a spell, gain 1 life.

"How fascinating it is to watch the machinations of one's own mind play themselves out." —Volrath

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Contemplation shines in decks that prize knowledge as power. Drawing an additional card provides a significant advantage by offering more options and the ability to respond to opponents’ moves with increased resources at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: This card lets you gain a life whenever you cast a spell, potentially leading to a healthy life lead over your opponent. This subtle form of resource acceleration bolsters your defenses, keeping you in the game longer and giving you the edge in drawn-out battles.

Instant Speed: The capability of instant speed spells to be cast nearly any time is a strategic boon, and Contemplation gives you the leeway to play on your terms. Use it to disrupt an opponent’s strategy or to covertly improve your position without missing a beat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Contemplation card mandates that a player discard another card as part of its casting cost. This can lead to a challenging decision-making process, especially when hand sizes are dwindling or when every card in hand is critical for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes white mana, Contemplation is inherently aligned with decks that are able to produce this color. This restriction can hinder the card’s versatility, especially in multicolor decks that might struggle to consistently provide the needed white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost might be considered steep for the effect it provides. In the fast-paced matches, allocating four mana to activate Contemplation could represent a significant setback, potentially foregoing the deployment of other influential spells or creatures that could have an immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Contemplation’s capacity to slot into a multitude of deck architectures, particularly those that need consistent life gain or seek to capitalize on triggering abilities with each spell cast, makes it a highly adaptable card.

Combo Potential: This card has significant synergy in decks that focus on casting numerous spells per turn or with strategies that revolve around life gain for incremental advantage or game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where long games dominate, Contemplation shines by providing a steady life buffer, making it a relevant choice for those looking to outlast opponents in attrition wars or incrementally reduce their life total in combination with other effects.

How to beat

Contemplation presents a unique challenge on the battlefield for avid players of Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out because it reflects strategies that rely on an opponent playing many spells, rewarding the Contemplation user with a steady stream of life points. But how can you effectively counteract such a strategy?

To combat the benefits that Contemplation provides to your opponent, focus on playing fewer spells each turn. This minimizes the lifegain afforded by this enchantment and dampens its impact. Additionally, prioritize the use of spot removal or enchantment destruction effects to remove Contemplation from the battlefield completely. Addressing it directly can often be the most effective method to neutralize this potential obstacle.

Emphasizing a strategy with a mix of creature-based pressure and spells that affect the board state without casting multiple spells each turn can also prove beneficial. Cards with passive effects or those that operate on a per-turn basis can still impose a substantial presence without feeding into Contemplation’s strengths. By approaching the game with these tactics in mind, you can craft a game plan that diminishes the influence of a card like Contemplation and paves the way to victory.

Cards like Contemplation

Contemplation is a unique aura spell in Magic: The Gathering, sharing a conceptual space with cards like Righteous Cause. While Righteous Cause grants you life for each creature that attacks, Contemplation offers life gain on the condition of playing spells. Each spell cast nudges your life total higher, promoting a defensive strategy that crescendos with your growing arsenal of spells.

Soothing Balm is another card that mirrors this life-gain theme but operates differently; it’s a one-time use instant, offsetting damage with a burst of life gain. While it acts as a quick shield, Contemplation steadily fortifies your life total throughout the game. Then there’s Healing Salve, offering protection or life with flexibility, though lacking the recursive aspect of Contemplation. It’s an immediate safeguard, yet doesn’t yield the sustained advantage that building a wall of life with Contemplation can offer.

In essence, when evaluating the dynamics of sustained protection versus immediate effects, Contemplation holds its ground as a reliable tool for players aiming to incrementally secure their life total as the game progresses.

Healing Salve - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Contemplation by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Glorious Anthem - Junior Super Series (PSUS)

Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)

Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Oblivion Ring - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)

Guardian's Magemark - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Celestial Dawn - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contemplation MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Contemplation and other MTG cards: