Well of Lost Dreams MTG Card


Well of Lost Dreams offers card advantage by converting life gain into card draw at any point in the game. Its specific mana cost and reliance on life gain can limit use in non-life-centric or multicolor decks. Despite a higher casting cost, its powerful synergy in life gain decks justifies inclusion in MTG collections.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Whenever you gain life, you may pay , where X is less than or equal to the amount of life you gained. If you do, draw X cards.

Some say the knowledge lost during the Ritual of Rebuking is returned through the well's waters.


Cards like Well of Lost Dreams

Well of Lost Dreams holds a unique position in the realm of card advantage engines in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a conceptual similarity with other cards such as Dawn of Hope, which also offers a way to draw cards based on life gained. However, Well of Lost Dreams provides a potentially higher card yield by allowing you to spend X mana for X cards with each life gain event, whereas Dawn of Hope offers a single card per 2 mana whenever you gain life.

When looking at other lifegain-related draw engines, Alhammarret’s Archive stands out. This artifact doubles the life you gain and the cards you draw if you would gain life or draw a card, which can exponentially increase your advantage. Nonetheless, it does not provide the direct control over card draw that Well of Lost Dreams affords, where you decide the exact number of cards to draw and the mana to spend. Another card, Pristine Talisman, intersects mildly by providing a consistent but limited draw engine, granting you 1 life and tap for 1 mana, though it lacks the impactful draw mechanics of Well of Lost Dreams.

Ultimately, Well of Lost Dreams offers a specialized approach for decks that can maximize life gain, presenting a powerful opportunity to translate surplus health into a deeper library access, positioning it as a noteworthy tool among its counterparts.

Dawn of Hope - MTG Card versions
Alhammarret's Archive - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Dawn of Hope - MTG Card versions
Alhammarret's Archive - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Well of Lost Dreams by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
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Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
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Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Nevinyrral's Disk - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Nevinyrral's Disk - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Well of Lost Dreams shines in decks centered around life gain, offering a substantial edge by allowing you to pay 1 for each life gained to draw a card. This can significantly outpace your opponents in resources over time.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly creating mana, this card effectively accelerates your game plan by converting life gain into potential new cards, ensuring you have the right answers or threats when you need them.

Instant Speed: Though Well of Lost Dreams itself is not an instant, it operates at instant speed. This means you can use it whenever you gain life, such as during your opponent’s turn, giving you flexibility and the element of surprise with fresh card draws any time you gain life.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Well of Lost Dreams, instead of a discard requirement, it necessitates the presence of a life gain incident to trigger its effect. For decks that don’t focus on life gain strategies, this card may be less beneficial, essentially becoming a dead draw in situations where gaining life isn’t consistent or is difficult to achieve.

Specific Mana Cost: Well of Lost Dreams requires a specific mana allocation to both cast and utilize its abilities, demanding white mana in its activation cost. This specific requirement can be restrictive in multicolored decks that have a diverse mana base or in situations where white mana isn’t readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Well of Lost Dreams is deemed expensive for the card advantage it potentially offers. In a competitive environment where efficiency is key, investing four mana in a card that doesn’t immediately affect the board may hinder gameplay and could be a considerable tempo loss, especially if the life gain condition isn’t met soon after its deployment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Well of Lost Dreams shines in decks that gain life consistently, offering card advantage that could turn the tide in drawn-out games or multiplayer engagements.

Combo Potential: This artifact pairs exceptionally well with cards that facilitate life gain, creating opportunities to draw multiple cards for each instance of life gained, bolstering combo-oriented decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where life gain strategies are prevalent and effective, the Well of Lost Dreams can become a crucial component, helping to maintain a full hand against opponents and ensuring that you’re always at the ready with answers or threats.


How to beat

The Well of Lost Dreams is a potent artifact in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to capitalize on life gain by drawing cards. The ability to convert each instance of life gain into potential card advantage makes it a powerful tool in decks built around life-gain strategies. To effectively overcome this card, disrupting the synergy it relies on is key. Strategies include countering life-gain triggers, removing the Well of Lost Dreams itself, or applying pressure to outpace the card advantage it provides. Aggressive decks can try to reduce their opponent’s life total before the Well becomes relevant, while control decks may employ artifact destruction or hand disruption to neutralize it. Keeping a watch on your opponent’s mana can also clue you in on the right time to act—they need enough mana to pay into the Well’s ability to make use of it.

Another angle is to deploy strategies that negate the benefits of extra cards, such as utilizing discard effects or leveraging Leyline of the Void to exile cards as they enter the graveyard. Anticipate the moments when your opponent seeks to gain life and capitalize on that opening to cast instant-speed removal or counter-spells. Identifying the optimal window to break the combo can turn the tide of the game in your favor against the Well of Lost Dreams.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the nuances of MTG can greatly enhance your gameplay, especially when wielding cards like Well of Lost Dreams. It’s a unique artifact that turns your life gain into a formidable card-drawing machine. If your deck thrives on life gain, it’s a must-have to maintain a competitive edge. Mastery comes from adapting and making every card count. We encourage you to expand your MTG horizons, integrating strategic card choices like Well of Lost Dreams into your arsenal. Embrace the depth of strategy and discover how such cards can shape the outcome of your battles. Learn more with us and ensure your deck’s potential is fully realized.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Well of Lost Dreams MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Commander 2013, 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 Well of Lost Dreams and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Well of Lost Dreams Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-02-06DarksteelDST 1592003NormalBlackJeff Miracola
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2712003NormalBlackJeff Miracola
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2312015NormalBlackJeff Miracola
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2272015NormalBorderlessMarija Tiurina
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11812015NormalBorderlessOri Toor
62020-09-26The ListPLST DST-1592003NormalBlackJeff Miracola
72021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2752015NormalBlackJeff Miracola
82022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 125z1997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
92022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 1251997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
102022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 621997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
112023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2912015NormalBlackJeremy Paillotin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Well of Lost Dreams has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal