Precognition MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Number	79
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

Precognition provides a continuous deck check, enhancing draw quality and strategic plays.
At instant speed, it’s versatile, retaining mana for other moves and surprising opponents.
Integral to blue control and combo decks, it’s crucial for meta shifts and adaptability.

Text of card

During your upkeep, you may look at the top card of target opponent's library. You may then put that card on the bottom of his or her library.

A gleam like struggling sunlight penetrated Selenia's dark thoughts.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Precognition offers an edge through strategic deck manipulation. It allows players to look at the top card of their library any time they want, enabling better decision-making and improving the quality of the draws.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing players to anticipate their draws, Precognition indirectly accelerates resource management. Knowing what’s coming up next can be pivotal for planning mana usage and turn sequencing, ensuring optimal play.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of the card means it can be activated at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action, leaving mana open for other strategies and maintaining a level of unpredictability for the opponent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of the casting cost for Precognition, a player must discard a card. This could put the player at a disadvantage, as it reduces hand size and could lead to a loss of crucial resources or strategic options later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Precognition necessitates a precise combination of mana to cast, including blue mana. This might restrict its inclusion in decks that aren’t squarely focused on blue or have a reliable mana base to consistently produce blue mana, potentially making it cumbersome for multicolored or off-theme decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its mana value, Precognition might be less appealing than other options available in the game. At its mana cost, players might expect a more impactful effect on the game state, potentially leading them to choose more cost-effective spells or those that provide immediate board presence or advantage.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Precognition allows players to have a glimpse of the future by scrying, which slots into various control and combo decks that prioritize deck manipulation and card advantage.

Combo Potential: Synergizing with spells that care about the top of the library or cards that let you play with the top card revealed, Precognition can become a cornerstone in setting up game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowing your own deck and predicting your opponent’s plays are key, Precognition offers an ever-relevant skill set, particularly in formats with shifting metas where adaptability can clinch the game.

How to beat

Precognition is a unique card that allows players to glimpse into future draws, setting the stage for strategic plays in Magic: The Gathering. This ability could easily tip the scales in favor of the player who anticipates upcoming challenges and opportunities. However, countering Precognition demands foresight and swift action. Utilizing instant-speed disruption, such as counterspells like Negate or Dispel, can prevent Precognition from resolving and maintaining the balance of the match.

Alternatively, hand disruption tactics can be employed effectively. Cards such as Thoughtseize or Duress not only reveal the contents of an opponent’s hand but can also meticulously disrupt their planned sequence by removing key components, such as Precognition itself. Another strategy includes employing enchantment removal cards, such as Naturalize or Disenchant, to swiftly deal with Precognition after it has hit the battlefield.

Adapting to the constantly evolving battlefield in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic planning and precise execution. By incorporating these countermeasures, players can navigate around the advantage Precognition provides and maintain control over the game’s outcome.

Cards like Precognition

Precognition is a unique piece in the complex puzzle of blue control decks in Magic. It shares its predictive flavor with cards like Anticipate, allowing players to peer into the future of their libraries. Where Anticipate permits looking at the top three cards and selecting one, Precognition expands the horizon, browsing a larger portion. While both are instants, Anticipate is leaner on mana, making it more accessible in the early game.

Another relative in this card comparison is Telling Time, a card with a similar scrying mechanic. Telling Time lets players look at the top three cards, but it adds the nuance of arranging their library’s future. Precognition, although offers a broader view, doesn’t afford that level of library manipulation. However, both serve the same purpose: setting up the next draw to tailor what comes next.

When evaluating these spells’ roles within blue strategies, Precognition stands out for the depth of insight it provides into the coming turns. It’s a pivotal tool for players who value long-term planning over immediate gain, reinforcing blue’s essence of knowledge being power.

Cards similar to Precognition by color, type and mana cost

Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions

Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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