Survivor of the Unseen MTG Card

Grants continuous card advantage through cumulative upkeep, increasing hands and strategic options. Casting restrictions and a discard requirement temper its utility in diverse deck builds. Facilitates combos and counters in control-heavy metagames, making it a versatile inclusion.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Cumulative upkeep
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	48
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) : Draw two cards, then put a card from your hand on top of your library.

Cards like Survivor of the Unseen

Survivor of the Unseen is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers subtle yet impactful card manipulation. Much like Survivor of the Unseen, the card Augury Owl provides a glimpse into future draws, although it does so upon entering the battlefield rather than through an activated ability. Nevertheless, Survivor of the Unseen stands out by allowing players to set up their next draws over multiple turns.

Another card that players might consider alongside Survivor of the Unseen is the enchantment Soothsaying. While Soothsaying offers more flexibility in manipulating the top of one’s library and doesn’t require tapping, it doesn’t draw cards directly as Survivor of the Unseen does. Similarly, Crystal Ball allows players to scry repeatedly, yet it lacks the added ability to hide cards from opponent’s disruption, something that Survivor of the Unseen does with its unique ‘exile two cards from your hand’ feature.

Looking at the range of cards offering deck manipulation in Magic: The Gathering, Survivor of the Unseen provides a balanced mix of predictive play and defensive tactics. Its strategic depth helps it carve out a niche among cards designed to control the top of the deck.

Cards similar to Survivor of the Unseen by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions

Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Survivor of the Unseen ensures a steady flow of cards into your hand with its cumulative upkeep ability. By paying the upkeep cost, you get to draw an extra card with each turn, bolstering your hand and your options on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card allows for subtle resource acceleration. As you draw more cards, you increase the likelihood of accessing additional lands and spells, thereby accelerating your gameplay and putting you at a potential advantage over your opponent.

Instant Speed: The ability to tap Survivor of the Unseen at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility. You can decide to tap it at the most opportune moment, either in response to an opponent’s actions or at the end of their turn, keeping your strategy adaptable and unpredictable.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Survivor of the Unseen requires the player to discard a card in order to activate its ability. This can often result in a card disadvantage, especially if the player is already dealing with a depleted hand and needs to conserve resources for crucial plays. Additionally, not all strategies can afford the loss of a card, making the discard requirement a tangible con for those decks.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Survivor of the Unseen includes two blue mana symbols. This specificity means it necessitates a strong blue mana base to be played consistently and on time. As a result, it tends to be constrained to mono-blue or decks with a heavy blue influence, which can be a limiting factor when deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color-specific, Survivor of the Unseen sits at a higher end for its potential impact. When thinking about card advantage and utility, there might be alternative cards at lower mana costs that provide similar or more immediate benefits to the player without the additional discard cost and setup this card demands.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Survivor of the Unseen is quite adaptable, capable of fitting into a range of deck types. Its ability to manipulate the top cards of your library makes it a valuable tool for controlling your draws and setting up future plays.

Combo Potential: This card provides excellent synergy in decks that capitalize on knowledge of the top deck card. Its cumulative upkeep can become an asset rather than a liability when combined with cards that allow you to play the top card of your library or with strategies that utilize ice counters.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where control decks are prevalent, Survivor of the Unseen can offer sustained card advantage. The ability to skip draws could also be a tactical response to mill strategies, helping preserve valuable resources within your library.

How to beat

Survivor of the Unseen is a unique card in the MTG universe, strengthening its controller’s hand through a steady flow of additional cards. Unlike simpler card draw spells, it offers consistent advantage over time, which can be challenging to counter. It sits in a relatively high mana cost slot, but that doesn’t diminish its potential impact on the game.

To effectively counter Survivor of the Unseen, focus on disrupting its cumulative advantage. The card thrives in a situation where it can leverage its cumulative upkeep cost for more card draw. Therefore, a strategic approach involves negating its abilities or removing it from play swiftly. Utilizing instant removal spells or abilities that can neutralize or bypass the card’s effects will be vital. It’s worth noting that because Survivor of the Unseen is typically not the only threat on the board, balancing the removal of this card while staying mindful of other potential threats is a strategic necessity. By prioritizing your threats and managing your resources efficiently, you can minimize the card’s impact and maintain control of the game.

In the grand strategic battlefield that is MTG, overcoming cards like Survivor of the Unseen requires foresight and a well-timed response to ensure your victory remains in sight.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Survivor of the Unseen MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Survivor of the Unseen and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Survivor of the Unseen has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-07-15	If you don’t draw a card because all the draws were replaced (with dredge, for example), you still have to put a card from your hand on top of your library.
2008-10-01	Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent.