Thoughtcast MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 54
2004-09-01 - Number ap54
2004-09-01 - Number mb54
2015-05-22 - Number 64
2019-11-07 - Number 520
2022-02-18 - Number 99
2022-11-18 - Number 99
2023-04-21 - Number 242
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-64
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Affinity |
Text of card
Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs less to play for each artifact you control.) Draw two cards.
Vedalken eyes don't see the beauty in things. They see only what those things can teach.
Cards like Thoughtcast
Thoughtcast is a well-known staple in artifact-heavy decks for Magic: The Gathering aficionados, presenting a unique spin on the classic card-drawing mechanic. Like Thoughtcast, other spells such as Reverse Engineer serve the same purpose of refilling the player’s hand, harnessing the power of artifacts to reduce their casting cost. However, Thoughtcast distinguishes itself with its Affinity for Artifacts, potentially allowing it to be cast for a single blue mana.
Another peer in this category is Tezzeret’s Gambit, which not only draws cards but also proliferates, adding an extra layer of utility for decks manipulating, counters. This card, while providing a broader impact, lacks the Affinity discount that enables Thoughtcast’s exceptional mana efficiency. Then there’s Ichor Wellspring, which isn’t a spell but an artifact that draws upon entering or leaving the battlefield, intertwining card draw with possible synergistic artifact strategies.
In sum, Thoughtcast offers a uniquely cost-effective draw option for those running artifact-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering, setting a high bar for economy and synergy in comparison to other cards in its class.
Cards similar to Thoughtcast by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Thoughtcast. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Patchwork Stompy | Legacy | Patchwork Stompy | Legacy League 2024-04-27 |
| Painter | Legacy | Painter | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28 |
| Affinity | Modern | Affinity | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-27 |
 | Grixis Affinity | Pauper | Grixis Affinity | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
 | Jeskai Affinity | Pauper | Jeskai Affinity | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
| Azorius Affinity | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Pauper League 2024-04-29 |
| Grixis Artifacts | Legacy | Blue Artifacts | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-27 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thoughtcast excels in providing card advantage by allowing you to draw two cards for a potentially low cost. With the Affinity mechanic, the more artifacts you control, the less you’ll pay, thus refilling your hand effectively in artifact-rich decks.
Resource Acceleration: By filling your hand with more cards, Thoughtcast accelerates your resource availability. This act of drawing extra cards can lead to quicker assembly of combo pieces or simply provide the options needed to respond adequately to the battlefield’s demands.
Instant Speed: While Thoughtcast is a sorcery, its low cost can give the illusion of instant speed. Because of the Affinity reduction, you can strategically play your artifacts and cast Thoughtcast in the same turn, leaving mana open for other instant-speed interactions, blurring the lines between sorcery and instant benefits.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Thoughtcast doesn’t have a discard requirement, making it advantageous for card preservation in-hand.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost requires at least one blue, potentially restricting seamless integration into multicolored decks that don’t heavily feature blue mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its Affinity for Artifacts can reduce the cost, Thoughtcast’s initial five-mana investment might be steep compared to other draw options in faster or mana-efficient competitive formats.
Reasons to Include Thoughtcast in Your Collection
Versatility: Thoughtcast is a staple in artifact-centric decks due to its ability to easily slot into various strategies. Its cost can be dramatically reduced in decks with a high artifact count, making it a powerful tool for card draw.
Combo Potential: In decks that synergize with artifacts, Thoughtcast can become a key cog in a well-oiled machine. Whether enabling storm-like sequences by drawing into critical pieces or fueling artifact synergies, its value is undeniable.
Meta-Relevance: As the game ebbs and flows with different competitive decks rising to prominence, Thoughtcast maintains its relevance. In metas heavy on synergy and combo decks, drawing cards for a minimal mana investment can be a game-changer.
How to beat Thoughtcast
Thoughtcast is an artifact-synergy staple that draws cards in Magic: The Gathering, particularly within the Affinity archetype which leverages the overall number of artifacts to reduce its casting cost. It’s incredibly efficient in the right deck, allowing a player to draw two cards for sometimes only one blue mana. Despite its strength, there are several strategies to counter this spell effectively.
One method is through the use of counter spells that can negate Thoughtcast before its effects activate. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak are well-suited for this task, offering a way to halt your opponent’s card advantage in its tracks. Additionally, hand disruption techniques can preemptively remove Thoughtcast from an opponent’s hand, with Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek being potent choices for such a tactic.
Destroying an opponent’s artifacts also diminishes the effectiveness of Thoughtcast by increasing its mana cost, making it less of an economical threat. Cards like Shatterstorm or Creeping Corrosion can wipe the board clean of artifacts, thereby disrupting both an opponent’s board presence and their ability to cheaply cast Thoughtcast. By targeting the very foundation of Thoughtcast’s power — artifacts — players can weaken its impact and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thoughtcast MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and World Championship Decks 2004, 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 Thoughtcast and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Thoughtcast Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 54 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 2 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | ap54 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 3 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | mb54 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 4 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 64 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 520 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | MM2-64 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | ||
| 7 | 2022-02-18 | Neon Dynasty Commander | NEC | 99 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 8 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 99 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt | |
| 9 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 242 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Hildebrandt |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thoughtcast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |