Thoughtlace MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 82
1993-10-04 - Number 83
1993-12-01 - Number 83
1993-12-10 - Number 83
1993-12-10 - Number 83
1994-04-01 - Number 85
1994-04-01 - Number 85
1994-06-21 - Number 85
1995-04-01 - Number 107
1995-04-01 - Number 107
2022-11-28 - Number 82
2022-11-28 - Number 379
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Changes the color of one card either being played or already in play to blue. Cost to cast, tap, maintain, or use a special ability of target card remains entirely unchanged.
Cards like Thoughtlace
Thoughtlace is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of color alteration within Magic: The Gathering. This classic from the Alpha set allows players to change the color of any spell or permanent to blue until end of turn. Its subtle strength is often compared to cards like Mind Bend or Spectral Shift, which also focus on color change but with greater flexibility since they do not limit the resulting color to blue.
Much like Thoughtlace, Alter Reality adds another layer to the comparison with a twist in its ‘splice onto Arcane’ ability, offering strategic depth in archetypes that support it. Thoughtlace’s single-use and narrow focus present unique tactical opportunities but may seem underpowered when contrasted with the modularity of these more modern alternatives. Color-changing spells, such as Glamerdye, also deserve mention. They can be reused with buyback, giving players repetitive control over color changes throughout the game.
Despite its limitations, Thoughtlace holds a niche position in MTG meta due to its historical significance and potential synergies in decks exploiting color-specific strategies, demonstrating the diversity of gameplay that MTG is known for.
Cards similar to Thoughtlace by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Thoughtlace may not draw you extra cards directly, it opens up strategic plays that can lead to a roundabout form of card advantage. Altering the color of a spell or permanent can potentially turn one of your cards that was previously unusable due to color restrictions into a key piece in your game plan.
Resource Acceleration: Thoughtlace itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional manner of providing extra mana. However, in specific deck builds, changing the color of a card could enable synergies that accelerate your resources indirectly through the interaction of other cards affected by the change.
Instant Speed: Thoughtlace’s ability to be cast at instant speed is a tactical advantage, allowing you to wait for the perfect moment to alter the color of a spell or permanent. This can disrupt opponent strategies, create surprise defenses, or even alter the effectiveness of your own spells on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Thoughtlace demands you relinquish another card in hand, which can be a tough call when your options are already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Tapping one blue mana specifically for this card means it’s best suited for blue-centric decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana to alter the color of a spell or permanent is a significant investment, especially when there are alternatives in the game that might offer more impactful results with less resource expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thoughtlace presents a unique flexibility in blue-centric decks. It’s capable of altering the color properties of spells or permanents, which can be strategic against color-specific hate cards or to assist in meeting color requirements for certain abilities.
Combo Potential: Although not a combo enabler on its own, this card can pair well with cards that benefit from color changes. For instance, using Thoughtlace to turn a permanent blue to then utilize a benefit from a card like “Engineered Explosives” that destroys all nonland permanents with the same color.
Meta-Relevance: In a highly adaptive metagame, Thoughtlace can be a counterintuitive sideboard choice. It addresses niche situations that may arise when playing against decks that rely heavily on color-based protection or targeting restrictions.
How to beat
Thoughtlace is a unique card in MTG that can turn any spell or permanent blue, a trick that may catch opponents off-guard or disrupt color-based strategies. To effectively tackle this card, one strategy is to minimize the impact of color-change. You can do this by running cards in your deck that aren’t severely hindered by color alterations. Alternatively, focus on cards that benefit from being blue, turning Thoughtlace’s effect against your opponent.
If you’re facing a deck that heavily relies on Thoughtlace, try to anticipate and counter it before the color change can be exploited. Counterspells, spell removal, or using cards like Pithing Needle to nullify Thoughtlace’s ability can be extremely effective. Decks that operate with less dependency on color are also less vulnerable to Thoughtlace’s effects, so consider colorless cards or artifacts as resilient plays. Another approach is to build a strong, colorless board presence that remains unaffected by color-changing mechanics, ensuring that your game plan proceeds unhindered.
While Thoughtlace might seem like a daunting card to some, with careful planning and smart deckbuilding, its influence can be minimized, rendering it a minor obstacle in your path to victory in a game of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thoughtlace MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Thoughtlace 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 Thoughtlace Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Mark Poole.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 82 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 83 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 83 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 83 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 83 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 85 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 85 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 85 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 107 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 107 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 82 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 379 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thoughtlace has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |