Venarian Glimmer MTG Card


Generates card advantage and aids in deck filtering by revealing the top cards of your library. Enhances mana curve with its ability to put a land onto the battlefield albeit tapped. Offers flexibility in gameplay as an instant, yet requires considerate use due to its cost.
Venarian Glimmer - Planar Chaos
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set namePlanar Chaos
Set codePLC
Number52
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohn Avon

Text of card

Target player reveals his or her hand. Choose a nonland card with converted mana cost X or less from it. That player discards that card.

Dream of nothing, and wake to a dream come true.


Cards like Venarian Glimmer

Venarian Glimmer is a notable addition to the suite of counterspell options in Magic: The Gathering. When placed side by side with classic counters like Counterspell, it provides a competitive edge with its added flexibility to target activated or triggered abilities. Unlike the straightforward nature of Counterspell that outright negates spells, Venarian Glimmer offers a strategic layer by influencing abilities – an area Counterspell doesn’t address.

Moving forward, Dovin’s Veto enters the discussion. This card shares the non-counterable clause with Venarian Glimmer, giving players certainty in disrupting the opponent’s plays. However, it’s restricted in that it can only counter spells, conceding to Venarian Glimmer’s broader utility. Then there’s Stifle, which solely focuses on abilities without touching the spell realm. Venarian Glimmer overshadows it by encapsulating both worlds under one card cost, empowering players with more choices during critical game moments.

Venarian Glimmer thus earns its position in the continuum of Magic: The Gathering counters and Ability-focused cards, standing out for its versatility and offering players a tactical advantage in both casual and competitive formats.

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Dovin's Veto - MTG Card versions
Stifle - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Dovin's Veto - MTG Card versions
Stifle - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to establishing dominance over the course of a match, card advantage is key. Venarian Glimmer shines by revealing the top five cards of your library, ensuring that you have an ample selection of valuable spells or lands to choose from. This selection process itself is a strategic move that can set you up for future turns.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is pivotal in outpacing your opponent, and Venarian Glimmer contributes to this by allowing you to put a land card from among the revealed cards onto the battlefield tapped. This ability streamlines your mana curve and pushes you toward playing high-impact spells sooner than expected, effectively speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Instant speed spells carry inherent strategic value, and Venarian Glimmer, being an instant, offers you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions or end their turn surprises. The ability to hold up mana and only use Venarian Glimmer when the moment is most advantageous can provide a significant edge, making it a versatile tool in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Venarian Glimmer requires players to discard a card, which could deplete your hand and diminish your ability to respond to an opponent’s moves or build your own board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Venarian Glimmer’s specific mana cost demands two blue mana, potentially restricting its integration in multicolored decks that may struggle to generate the necessary mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three other mana of any color, Venarian Glimmer’s total four mana investment could be hefty. Given its effect, there may be alternate cards that achieve similar results without such a steep mana requirement.


Reasons to Include Venarian Glimmer in Your Collection

Versatility: Venarian Glimmer is a versatile card that can be included in various deck types. Its ability to filter through the deck accelerates finding key cards and adapting to changing game conditions.

Combo Potential: With its ability to look at the top cards and rearrange them, Venarian Glimmer fits well in combo decks. It enhances the likelihood of drawing combo pieces and planning your moves several turns ahead.

Meta-Relevance: Venarian Glimmer is a card designed to give you an edge in the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play. By providing crucial deck manipulation, it can keep your strategy one step ahead in a meta dominated by specific archetypes or tactics.


How to Beat Venarian Glimmer

Venarian Glimmer shines in MTG as a modal double-faced card, offering versatile responses during the game. Engaging with this card, players must craft a strategy that reduces its effectiveness or bypasses its benefits altogether. To counteract Venarian Glimmer, focus on minimizing the impact of its card filtering ability. This can be achieved by applying pressure with a quick creature-based strategy, leaving the opponent with less time to set up their ideal hand. Additionally, employing cards that limit hand manipulation or cast restrictions can thwart Venarian Glimmer’s potential to shape the game in your opponent’s favor.

Moreover, incorporating instant-speed removal and disruption in your deck can undermine the timing and strategic placement of Venarian Glimmer. For instance, holding up mana for counter spells or playing hand disruption like Thoughtseize can force an early play or removal of the card, disrupting your opponent’s planned course of action. Lastly, be mindful of graveyard interactions, as Venarian Glimmer can often serve to power up graveyard-based strategies. Utilize graveyard hate like Rest in Peace to keep their options limited and the game in your control.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Venarian Glimmer MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Venarian Glimmer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Venarian Glimmer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-02-01 If you target yourself with this spell, you must reveal your entire hand to the other players just as any other player would.