Stroke of Genius MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Stroke of Genius enables drawing multiple cards, creating significant hand advantage during gameplay.
  2. Its flexibility as an instant makes it versatile, usable in response to changing game states.
  3. However, its high mana demand and color specificity may limit its integration into some decks.

Text of card

Target player draws X cards.

After a hundred failed experiments, Urza was stunned to find that common silver passed through the portal undamaged. He immediately designed a golem made of the metal.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stroke of Genius offers substantial card advantage, replenishing your hand and potentially overwhelming your opponent with the number of cards drawn.

Resource Acceleration: When combined with untap effects or mana-producing combos, Stroke of Genius can turn excess mana into valuable new cards, effectively turning your resources into direct advantage.

Instant Speed: Castable on either player’s turn, Stroke of Genius provides great versatility, allowing you to react to game states and use your mana efficiently when opportunities arise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Stroke of Genius itself doesn’t require a discard, its high resource demand can indirectly lead to having a smaller hand. Thus, to maximize its impact, players often need to choose between maintaining card advantage and investing in a sizeable Stroke of Genius, which can be a strategic setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Stroke of Genius requires blue mana, which can restrict its inclusion to primarily blue or blue-inclusive decks. Players running multicolored decks without blue may find it challenging to integrate Stroke of Genius effectively due to its mana specificity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its base cost of three mana and the additional need for X mana to tailor the effect, Stroke of Genius can have a steep cost to gain significant card advantage. In scenarios where mana is scarce, this can detract from the card’s viability, as there are other draw options that could be more cost-effective.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stroke of Genius is a dynamic card that can be slotted into a plethora of blue decks. With its ability to draw a substantial amount of cards, it serves both as a refill mechanism and a powerful late-game tool to find key pieces or answers.

Combo Potential: In conjunction with cards that untap lands or provide extra mana, Stroke of Genius can draw into game-winning combos or create overwhelming board states, making it an engine in itself for combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: Whether you’re playing in a casual group or a more competitive environment, card advantage is always paramount. Stroke of Genius holds particular value in meta-games where drawing into counterspells, removal, or specific threats can decide the outcome of the game.


How to beat

Stroke of Genius is a formidable addition to blue’s arsenal of card-drawing spells in Magic: The Gathering. Unlike a simple draw spell, it scales with the game’s progress, allowing a player to draw X cards for each mana invested. The potential to refresh a player’s hand is immense, but that doesn’t make it unbeatable.

To gain an edge against Stroke of Genius, disruption is key. Counterspells like Negate or Absorb can halt the spell before it resolves while still conserving resources. Hand disruption through Thoughtseize or Duress also undermines the card’s efficacy by preemptively stripping it from an opponent’s grip. Additionally, applying pressure can force opponents to spend mana defensively, limiting the power of a late-game Stroke of Genius. Interruptions such as these can tilt the balance, inviting a favorable board state that renders the card’s draw power less impactful.

Ultimately, countering big draw spells like Stroke of Genius can become a strategic element in your gameplay. Addressing it through proactive measures and keeping a lookout for the right moment to interfere will aid in maintaining dominance over any match where this card might appear.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the strategic depths of MTG, a card like Stroke of Genius can significantly influence gameplay, offering substantial card advantage and flexibility at instant speed. Whether you’re seeking to fortify your arsenal in control matchups or build up a formidable combo, this blue spell’s ability to convert mana into new opportunities can’t be overlooked. Understanding its pros and cons within your deck’s context is crucial, from mana demands to synergies. If you’re eager to add versatility to your deck and capitalize on meta relevance, Stroke of Genius deserves a place in your collection. Learn more with us and evolve your strategy to outmaneuver opponents in every match.


Cards like Stroke of Genius

Stroke of Genius stands out significantly in the arsenal of card-drawing engines available within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Notably, it bears resemblance to Blue Sun’s Zenith—both allow players to draw X number of cards. The draw with Stroke of Genius is at the mercy of your mana availability, ultimately letting you refill your hand or exhaust an opponent’s library. While Blue Sun’s Zenith shuffles back into the library, offering long-term recyclability, Stroke of Genius doesn’t return, which can be both a strategic advantage or setback.

Another parallel can be drawn with Pull from Tomorrow. This card shares the variable draw amount based on available mana but also includes a discard clause. In contrast, Stroke of Genius solely focuses on the benefit of acquisition, without the downside of disposal. Additionally, Glimmer of Genius, while providing a fixed number of cards plus energy tokens, lacks the scalability that makes Stroke of Genius a versatile choice at various game stages.

When choosing the optimal card draw spell, Stroke of Genius undoubtedly occupies a distinct position. The flexibility it provides in either aiding your strategic depth or becoming a win condition by milling an opponent’s library is what makes it an invaluable asset in an MTG player’s deck.

Blue Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Pull from Tomorrow - MTG Card versions
Glimmer of Genius - MTG Card versions
Blue Sun's Zenith - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Pull from Tomorrow - Amonkhet (AKH)
Glimmer of Genius - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Stroke of Genius by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Intuition - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Vex - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Venser's Diffusion - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Psionic Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Intuition - Tempest (TMP)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Crystal Spray - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Ixidor's Will - Onslaught (ONS)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Vex - Darksteel (DST)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Venser's Diffusion - Future Sight (FUT)
Dream Fracture - Conspiracy (CNS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stroke of Genius MTG card by a specific set like Judge Gift Cards 1998 and Urza's Saga, 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 Stroke of Genius and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stroke of Genius Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1998-01-01 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-01-01Judge Gift Cards 1998JGP 21997normalblackStephen Daniele
21998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1001997normalblackStephen Daniele
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 361141997normalblackStephen Daniele
42014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 952015normalblackStephen Daniele
52014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1292015normalblackStephen Daniele
62015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1082015normalblackStephen Daniele
72020-09-26The ListPLST USG-1001997normalblackStephen Daniele
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 672015normalblackRovina Cai
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2931997normalblackRovina Cai
102023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2382015normalblackRovina Cai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stroke of Genius has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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