Meditate MTG Card

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 76

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 60

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Meditate grants a significant card advantage by allowing a player to draw four cards.
The requirement to skip your next turn after casting Meditate adds a strategic depth to gameplay.
Despite its drawbacks, Meditate’s potential in combos and certain metas warrants consideration.

Text of card

Skip your next turn: Draw four cards.

"Part of me believes that Barrin taught me meditation simply to shut me up." —Ertai, wizard adept

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Meditate offers the powerful effect of drawing four cards upon resolution. This massive card influx can help a player find key pieces for their strategy, or simply provide a significant boost in resources compared to their opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Meditate does not directly produce mana or tokens, the abundant new options drawn can lead to plays that accelerate one’s mana availability or leverage other forms of resource acceleration, underlining its synergy with decks that aim to outpace opponents.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Meditate can be cast at the end of an opponent’s turn, maximizing your mana efficiency. This timing also allows players to maintain a reactive stance during opponents’ turns, only committing to Meditate if no immediate threats demand a response, thus maintaining strategic flexibility.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Meditate is the requirement to discard a card upon activation. For MTG players, managing their hand is crucial, and being forced to lose a card could lead to a disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Meditate commands a precise mana cost – three blue mana. This particular cost can be restrictive, as it necessitates a heavy investment in blue mana sources. This exclusivity could hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks that may have a more diverse mana base and therefore struggle to consistently provide the necessary blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although skipping your next turn is a significant downside, the high mana cost of Meditate also poses a challenge. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, spending four mana to essentially “Time Walk” yourself without advancing the board can be a hefty price to pay, especially when there are alternatives in the format that could potentially offer more immediate or flexible benefits.

Reasons to Include Meditate in Your Collection

Versatility: Meditate offers a swift way to replenish your hand, allowing you to strategically react to your opponent’s moves by drawing four cards in exchange for skipping your next turn. It’s a powerful utility in formats like Commander where the right cards at the right time can pivot the game.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, especially in decks built around card-draw synergies or where the drawback of skipping a turn can be mitigated. Think of pairing it with effects that allow you to play on your opponents’ turns or with Laboratory Maniac for a potential win condition.

Meta-Relevance: Meditate can be a game-changer in metas that favor longer, drawn-out matches. It’s particularly relevant in scenarios where setting up for a big play is more critical than taking an immediate next turn.

How to beat Meditate

Meditate is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a trade that can be as much of a boon as a gamble. The card draws its strength from allowing the player to draw four cards at instant speed in exchange for skipping their next turn. Such a powerful draw can give you precisely the resources you need to dominate the game, but the downside is equally impactful, potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies next turn.

To outsmart a Meditate player, timing is everything. Apply pressure before your opponent has the chance to fully leverage the cards gained from Meditate. Since they skip their next turn, ensure you take full advantage by advancing your board position or setting up for a game-winning move. Employing disruption tactics like counterspells can be key as well; by denying your opponent the opportunity to benefit from the cards drawn, you turn the tide. Denying your opponent the chance to skip their turn isn’t an option, so work with what is—accelerate your tempo and make your moves count while they are essentially a turn behind.

Ultimately, beating Meditate comes down to recognizing the ebb and flow of the game. When leveraged properly, seizing the right moment can nullify the advantage your opponent gained, tipping the scales in your favor against Meditate’s seductive but risky offer.

Cards like Meditate

Meditate is a unique offering among blue spells in Magic: The Gathering, offering a potent but costly effect: drawing four cards at the price of skipping your next turn. This can be a game-changer for players looking to power through their decks but comes with a steep strategic cost. Compare this to the more conservative Tidings, which allows a player to draw four cards as well but without the significant drawback, maintaining the flow of turns.

Analogous in effect size, Braingeyser enables a pay X, draw X model. While flexible in its usage, the potential to draw large quantities of cards is counterbalanced by the increasing mana cost. Meditate, on the other hand, provides a fixed and immediate influx of cards for a low cost. Another similar card is Blue Sun’s Zenith, which not only allows for varied card draw but also has the bonus of being shuffled back into the library, presenting repeated utility in prolonged games, a feature Meditate lacks.

In essence, Meditate can rapidly advance your game state and card advantage at a potentially high risk, contrasting with other draw spells that either offer more control or lighter consequences. It’s this high-risk, high-reward dynamic that defines Meditate’s niche in MTG.

Cards similar to Meditate by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Meditate MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Meditate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Meditate Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Susan Van Camp.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-10-14	Tempest	TMP		76	1997	Normal	Black	Susan Van Camp
2	2015-05-06	Tempest Remastered	TPR		60	2015	Normal	Black	Susan Van Camp

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Meditate has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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