Inquisition MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	1994-08-01
Set symbol
Set name	The Dark
Set code	DRK
Number	47
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anson Maddocks

Key Takeaways

The card excels in early-game strategy disruption, granting a commanding lead to informed players.
Its pseudo-instant speed impact shapes game tempo, elevating its status in control decks.
Despite mana specificity, Inquisition remains a staple for its versatile meta relevance and combo setup.

Text of card

Look at target player's hand. Inquisition does 1 damage to target player for each white card in his or her hand.

Many of those entrusted to Primata Delphine's care tended to express themselves with screams.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Inquisition card excels in disrupting your opponent’s strategy early in the game by enabling you to see their hand and force them to discard a nonland card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less. This not only diminishes their options but also informs your decisions moving forward, keeping you a step ahead.

Resource Acceleration: Although Inquisition itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it effectively slows your opponent down by removing key cards from their hand, which can potentially delay their development and accelerate your position in the game relatively.

Instant Speed: While Inquisition is a sorcery, its ability to be played at the earliest turns of the game gives it a pseudo-instant speed impact. It immediately affects the board state before your opponent can establish a formidable presence, making it a powerful tool in shaping the tempo of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability of Inquisition to force a discard from your opponent is contingent on your own hand size. If you’re playing a hand with few cards, leveraging Inquisition may become less effective, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage by offering up control over your valuable plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Inquisition cards come with a very specific mana demand in your deck’s build. Ensuring you have the right mana at the right time to play the card may require a bit of deck tweaking, which can affect the overall flow and flexibility of your gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana required to play Inquisition might be considered steep, especially when compared to other cards within the same category that offer similar effects at a lower cost. This can make Inquisition a less attractive choice for players aiming for an efficient mana curve in their deck construction.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Inquisition of Kozilek allows you to disrupt your opponent’s hand early in the game, making it a powerful choice for a wide range of decks, particularly those that aim to control the tempo or deny resources.

Combo Potential: This card is a fantastic enabler for strategies revolving around discard or benefiting from opponent’s hand disruption. It sets up for combos by removing potential answers or threats that could disrupt your game plan.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Inquisition of Kozilek proves to be a timeless staple. It can effectively tackle a variety of popular decks, ensuring that your deck remains competitive in various meta conditions.

How to beat

Overcoming the disruptive power of Inquisition in Magic: The Gathering can be a real test of strategy. This popular card, known for its ability to pluck key pieces from an opponent’s hand, can derail even the most well-crafted game plans. A savvy approach involves minimizing its impact by diversifying the threats in your deck. Rather than relying on a single powerhouse card, cultivating a range of options can diffuse the potential damage that Inquisition can inflict.

It’s also beneficial to hold onto redundant or less critical cards in your hand if you suspect your opponent is holding Inquisition. This way, you give them less desirable choices and protect your more valuable spells. Additionally, playing cards that can return from the graveyard can negate the long-term effects, as Inquisition only affects the hand. Finally, remember that it targets nonland cards with converted mana cost three or less, so incorporating higher-cost cards that can alter the game state significantly can outmaneuver an Inquisition’s limiting scope.

Adaptability is key, and understanding when to deploy your spells can turn the tide in your favor. Although Inquisition is formidable, it’s not insurmountable with thoughtful play and deck construction.

Cards like Inquisition

In looking at the deeper strategies within Magic: The Gathering, one can’t overlook the impact of targeted discard spells. Inquisition occupies a significant role, reminiscent of the notorious Thoughtseize, the epitome of hand disruption. While Thoughtseize can target any card regardless of mana cost at the expense of 2 life, Inquisition limits its reach to cards with a converted mana cost of 3 or less. This limitation aligns Inquisition closer to Duress, which exclusively targets noncreature spells, yet it does so without requiring any life payment.

Inquisition’s precise targeting makes it an excellent choice in formats full of low-cost spells. While it doesn’t offer the universal application of Thoughtseize, its lack of life cost is a notable benefit. Another card worth comparing is Despise, which lets you choose a creature or planeswalker from your opponent’s hand. Still, Despise lacks the flexibility of hitting noncreature spells, a gap Inquisition adeptly covers.

Essentially, while there are various discard options in Magic: The Gathering, Inquisition stands out for its cost-effective manner of disrupting a wide range of early-game plays without compromising the user’s life total.

Cards similar to Inquisition by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inquisition MTG card by a specific set like The Dark, 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 Inquisition and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inquisition has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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