Wishclaw Talisman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers potent search capability, providing tailored card advantage in pivotal moments.
  2. Accelerates access to essential combo pieces, indirectly enhancing gameplay.
  3. Despite high risk, it’s a versatile tool that offers strategic flexibility.

Text of card

Wishclaw Talisman enters the battlefield with three wish counters on it. , , Remove a wish counter from Wishclaw Talisman: Search your library for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle. An opponent gains control of Wishclaw Talisman. Activate only during your turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wishclaw Talisman offers a powerful search mechanism, allowing you to look for any card in your deck, thus potentially leading to a significant card advantage. This can pivot the game by giving you access to the perfect solution or the means to execute your strategy at a crucial moment.

Resource Acceleration: While the Talisman itself does not directly ramp up your mana resources, it accelerates your ability to access key combo pieces or land drops essential for your game plan. This can indirectly lead to faster development of your board state and resources overall.

Instant Speed: While the activation of Wishclaw Talisman isn’t at instant speed, the card it tutors for can be played at instant speed if applicable. This potential for instant-speed interaction can catch opponents off-guard, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of a game in progress.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wishclaw Talisman doesn’t directly require you to discard cards, its downside of handing control to an opponent can lead to strategic discards to mitigate potential threats, indirectly impacting your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Wishclaw Talisman’s activation relies on a colorless mana cost, but introducing it to your battlefield needs black mana, which can restrict deck-building strategies and is less flexible for multicolor decks not focused on black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the initial investment of two mana seems low, the cumulative cost of using its ability and the risk associated with giving it to an opponent place it at a higher mana cost spectrum for tutoring effects when considering risk versus reward.


Reasons to Include Wishclaw Talisman in Your Collection

Versatility: Wishclaw Talisman provides flexibility to any deck by allowing you to search for any card you need at a crucial time. It’s a powerful tool in decks that can manipulate or benefit from its downside, either by winning the game shortly after activation or by negating the drawback through creative play.

Combo Potential: This artifact excels in combo decks by fetching key pieces directly from your library. In addition, with cards that can untap or bounce it back to your hand, you can mitigate its downside and get multiple uses out of it, increasing the potential for game-winning combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to search for silver bullet solutions, Wishclaw Talisman remains relevant in various metagames. It can enable you to find answers or threats tailored to whatever strategies your opponents are deploying, keeping you a step ahead in competitive play.


How to Beat Wishclaw Talisman

Wishclaw Talisman is that piece of Magic: The Gathering intricacy that can turn the tables when played right. A devious artifact, it allows players to search for any card in their deck at the cost of having to give control of it to an opponent. This card dangles the carrot of opportunity, but it can be a double-edged sword if the opponent makes smart use of the Talisman themselves.

The trick to navigating against Wishclaw Talisman lies in minimizing its advantage or rendering it useless. Removal spells that specifically target artifacts, such as Abrade, Disenchant, or Assassin’s Trophy, play a pivotal role. These can effectively eliminate the Talisman after you’ve used it but before your opponent gets a chance to. Also, bouncing it back to your hand with a spell like Blink of an Eye keeps you in the driver’s seat. Counterplay involves a strategic layer, too. Apply pressure on your opponent, forcing them to make unfavorable searches, or set up situations where the card they fetch isn’t enough to overcome your board state or strategy.

Ultimately, overcoming the Talisman’s potential requires foresight, disruption, and a bit of timing. While it may offer a wish, remember it comes with a snag. Handling it well can ensure that only you reap the rewards of its powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wishclaw Talisman stands as a fascinating card, with the power to shape the tide of your MTG matches through strategic card selection. Integrating this artifact into your arsenal means unlocking paths to victory, finding the exact puzzle piece needed at critical junctures. It’s essential for any player who relishes in clever maneuvers and calculated risks. Embrace the challenge it presents and discover innovative ways to maximize its potential without falling prey to its drawback. Enhance your deck with Wishclaw Talisman and other intriguing cards as you refine your gameplay. Join the community of players who push the boundaries of what’s possible on the battlefield. Learn more about advancing your deck strategy with Wishclaw Talisman.


Cards like Wishclaw Talisman

Wishclaw Talisman stands out as a unique tutor card in Magic: The Gathering, bearing similarity to effects seen in cards like Demonic Tutor which allows a player to search for any card in their deck. Where Wishclaw Talisman differs is in its reusable nature, giving multiple opportunities to access key cards — at the cost of eventually aiding an opponent. Unlike the one-off use of Demonic Tutor, Wishclaw Talisman provides strategic depth and risk with its potential for reciprocal advantage.

Another card that enters the conversation is Diabolic Tutor, which also enables a player to search their library. Though less efficient in terms of mana cost compared to Wishclaw Talisman, it maintains the control and secrecy of one’s hand without the downside of aiding an adversary. This can often prove a safer option, albeit less versatile over multiple turns. Similarly, Scheming Symmetry offers a balanced tutelage effect, permitting both players to search their libraries for a card. But unlike Wishclaw Talisman, Scheming Symmetry’s effect is symmetrical from the onset, offering no immediate advantage.

In summary, Wishclaw Talisman provides a balance between cost, utility, and strategic complexity, making it a compelling choice for players who enjoy cunning and foresight in their gameplay tactics.

Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Scheming Symmetry - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Diabolic Tutor - Odyssey (ODY)
Scheming Symmetry - Core Set 2020 Promos (PM20)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wishclaw Talisman MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Throne of Eldraine, 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 Wishclaw Talisman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wishclaw Talisman Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2019-10-04. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 1102015normalblackDaarken
22019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 3572015normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wishclaw Talisman has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-10-04 Once Wishclaw Talisman runs out of wish counters, it remains on the battlefield. You can't activate its last ability at all.
2019-10-04 You choose which opponent gains control of Wishclaw Talisman while its ability is resolving. If that player later leaves the game, you regain control of Wishclaw Talisman.

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