The First Doctor MTG Card


Offers strategic card advantage by allowing foresight into upcoming draws, crucial for tactical planning. Accelerates resources, enabling the casting of formidable spells, potentially ahead of the opponent. Instant speed play keeps opponents guessing, allowing for swift adaptation to board changes.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Time Lord Doctor
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When The First Doctor enters the battlefield, search your library and/or graveyard for a card named TARDIS, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you search your library this way, shuffle. Whenever you cast a spell with cascade, put a +1/+1 counter on target artifact or creature.


Cards like The First Doctor

The First Doctor MTG card resonates well among those who appreciate a mix of historical references and strategic gameplay. In comparison to other legendary creature cards, such as Saffi Eriksdotter, which allows you to protect key creatures in your arsenal, The First Doctor excels in providing a unique tactical edge. Both serve as a safeguard for your creatures, but the Doctor brings an additional layer of versatility to the table.

Looking at other similar cards, we notice Captain Sisay stands out with the ability to consistently fetch legendary cards from your library, thus ensuring a steady flow of impactful plays. While the Captain has a clear strategy path, The First Doctor relies on a more flexible approach, potentially aiding various aspects of your game. Another notable comparison is with Raff Capashen, which gives your historic cards flash. This can be instrumental in surprising opponents during their turn. The First Doctor, albeit lacking the flash advantage, compensates by offering incremental value over time.

It’s evident that when put side by side with these legends, The First Doctor MTG card holds its own with a distinctive playstyle that can influence the game in subtle yet powerful ways. Its ability to weave between the roles of protector and enabler showcases its strength in a wide array of strategic setups.

Saffi Eriksdotter - MTG Card versions
Captain Sisay - MTG Card versions
Saffi Eriksdotter - MTG Card versions
Captain Sisay - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to The First Doctor by color, type and mana cost

Adarkar Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Leering Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Guiding Spirit - MTG Card versions
Samite Archer - MTG Card versions
Riptide Crab - MTG Card versions
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Emissary - MTG Card versions
Silver Drake - MTG Card versions
Soulherder - MTG Card versions
Soulsworn Jury - MTG Card versions
Minister of Impediments - MTG Card versions
Court Hussar - MTG Card versions
Jötun Owl Keeper - MTG Card versions
Thistledown Duo - MTG Card versions
Plumeveil - MTG Card versions
Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - MTG Card versions
Talon Trooper - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions
Geist of Saint Traft - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Leering Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Guiding Spirit - MTG Card versions
Samite Archer - MTG Card versions
Riptide Crab - MTG Card versions
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Emissary - MTG Card versions
Silver Drake - MTG Card versions
Soulherder - MTG Card versions
Soulsworn Jury - MTG Card versions
Minister of Impediments - MTG Card versions
Court Hussar - MTG Card versions
Jötun Owl Keeper - MTG Card versions
Thistledown Duo - MTG Card versions
Plumeveil - MTG Card versions
Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - MTG Card versions
Talon Trooper - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions
Geist of Saint Traft - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The First Doctor card offers a unique twist on card advantage, granting you the ability to peek into the future of your deck. With a cleverly designed mechanic, the card lets you sift through the top cards, ensuring that you keep your hand filled with strategic options that can turn the tide of any match.

Resource Acceleration: Any seasoned MTG player knows the value of a good ramp, and The First Doctor card provides just that. It may enable an uptick in your mana resources, allowing you to deploy more threats or answers ahead of schedule. This type of acceleration could be the key to outpacing your opponent, setting you up for victory.

Instant Speed: Critical decisions in MTG often happen on the fly, and being able to act at instant speed can be a game-changer. The First Doctor card can be played at a moment’s notice, keeping your foes on their toes and allowing you to adapt to rapidly changing board states.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The First Doctor card demands that players discard a card to utilize its ability. This can be detrimental when your hand is already running low on cards, potentially putting you at a further disadvantage during crunch times in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: With its need for exact mana color combinations to cast, this card can be challenging to play outside of dedicated decks. Players with a multicolored or off-theme deck might find it difficult to meet the specific mana requirements consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Fetching a relatively high mana cost to unleashes its potential, The First Doctor card competes with a variety of other options in its mana range. Players may therefore bypass it in favor of cards with more immediate or impactful effects, that offer better value or synergy within their deck’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The First Doctor card can adapt to a variety of deck archetypes, specifically those that require a substantial degree of strategic flexibility and planning.

Combo Potential: This card boasts ability interactions that can synergize well within decks crafted around specific combos, enhancing the potential for game-winning plays.

Meta-Relevance: Should the current game environment lean towards a style that prizes unique mechanics and cunning plays, The First Doctor card could offer an edge not easily replicated by more commonplace cards.


How to beat

The First Doctor card poses a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to manipulate time – a standout attribute in the game. It can provide a significant advantage by allowing extra turns or replaying certain effects, which often leads to complex board states. Mimicking the Doctor’s own time-twisting narrative from the series, players face the challenge of countering this temporal anomaly.

To effectively counter The First Doctor card, players should consider cards that limit actions per turn or restrict casting spells from anywhere other than a player’s hand. Cards like Rule of Law and Deafening Silence enforce these limits, directly targeting The First Doctor’s strengths. Additionally, incorporating instant-speed removal or counterspells, such as Murder or Cancel, can pre-emptively deal with The First Doctor before its abilities trigger, or they can disrupt the spell sequence it aims to create. Understanding the timing and sequence of your own plays is crucial in anticipating and disrupting your opponent’s strategy with The First Doctor.

In summary, conquering The First Doctor card in MTG requires strategic deck building focused on disruption and careful gameplay to anticipate and interrupt your opponent’s time-based plans.


Where to buy

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

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The The First Doctor Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10052015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
22023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 11432015NormalBorderlessSteve Morris
32023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 552z2015NormalBorderlessSteve Morris
42023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 5522015NormalBorderlessSteve Morris
52023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 1282015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
62023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 4142015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
72023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 7332015NormalBlackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The First Doctor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-10-13 If an effect instructs you to choose a creature type, you may choose Time Lord.
2023-10-13 Neither "Time" nor "Lord" are creature types. Some older cards were printed with the subtype "Lord," but all of those cards have updated Oracle card text that removed that type.
2023-10-13 Unlike other creature types in Magic that are each only one word, the two words "Time Lord" represent a single creature subtype. Time Lord is the only two-word creature type.
2023-10-13 You choose the target for The First Doctor's last ability before revealing any cards for cascade.