Widespread Thieving MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Hideaway,Treasure

Key Takeaways

  1. Creates card advantage by getting resources when targeted by opponents.
  2. Accelerates resources via Treasure tokens for flexible play strategies.
  3. Features instant speed for reactive play and strategic versatility.

Text of card

Hideaway 5 Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, create a Treasure token. Then you may pay . If you do, you may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Widespread Thieving allows you to generate card advantage each time you or a permanent you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls. This puts you in a beneficial position by offering potential new plays or answers within your deck and can easily tip the scales in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: This card grants you a Treasure token in addition to the spell’s other effects whenever an opponent targets you or a permanent you control. These tokens can be a significant boon, boosting your mana resources and allowing for more flexible and impactful plays in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The utility of Widespread Thieving is amplified by its instant speed, providing strategic versatility. You can cast it reactively in response to an opponent’s actions, ensuring you don’t miss out on the valuable opportunity to disrupt their plans while simultaneously padding your resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Widespread Thieving necessitates parting with a card from your hand, which can backfire when your hand is lacking options or you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost demands a mix of blue and red mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and two colored mana, it’s on the higher end of the curve, especially when compared to other cards that might provide similar effects for less — a factor that’s crucial in formats where speed and efficiency are key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Widespread Thieving seamlessly integrates into a variety of deck archetypes, notably those seeking to capitalize on treasure creation and mana-fixing capabilities.

Combo Potential: This card becomes a linchpin in decks that exploit treasure for combo execution, enhancing plays that synergize with artifacts or require diverse mana sources.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors interactive or slower-paced play, Widespread Thieving offers a strategic edge by allowing you to keep pace with resource generation and denial tactics.


How to beat

Widespread Thieving is a unique card in the MTG realm, adding a strategic layer for players who love to capitalize on mana from any source. This enchantment allows its controller to create Treasure tokens whenever they cast a spell from a nonbasic land their opponents control. To effectively counter this advantage, you’ll need to employ smart deck construction and game play. One tactic is prioritizing the use of basic lands to limit the benefit the card provides to your opponent. This nullifies the trigger of Widespread Thieving, preventing the accumulation of those pesky Treasure tokens.

Another strategy is to include enchantment removal spells in your deck. Directly dealing with Widespread Thieving through cards like Disenchant or Thrashing Brontodon can help you regain control. Additionally, since Treasures are artifacts, including cards that specifically target artifacts, such as Abrade or the versatile Natural State, could be effective. The key is acting swiftly since the longer Widespread Thieving remains on the battlefield, the more resources your adversary will gather, strengthening their position.

Taking on Widespread Thieving requires foresight and prompt responses. Adapt your deck and be ready to dismantle your opponent’s benefits quickly, ensuring that Widespread Thieving doesn’t derail your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the deep strategic elements of MTG, Widespread Thieving emerges as a compelling card to enhance your gameplay. Its unique ability to generate card advantage makes it a key contender for decks that thrive on mana acceleration and resource control. While considering its inclusion, factor in the mana requirements and casting cost to guarantee it aligns with your deck’s strategy. Assess its strengths and weaknesses and compare it to similar MTG cards to measure its true value. For players geared towards dynamic and interactive playstyles, mastering the tactics to counter Widespread Thieving is equally crucial. If you’re ready to harness this card’s potential or devise strategies to outmaneuver it, delve further with us. Expand your collection strategically and pave your way to MTG success.


Cards like Widespread Thieving

Widespread Thieving from Magic: The Gathering showcases an innovative approach to reward players for multi-colored spells. This artifact parallels cards such as Smothering Tithe which capitalizes on opponent’s strategies to create Treasure tokens. Yet, Widespread Thieving triggers directly off your own spells, offering a more proactive strategy to accumulate wealth.

Compared to the aforementioned Smothering Tithe, Widespread Thieving requires an initial mana investment but then can provide a consistent source of Treasure production with the right deck composition. Examine Storm the Vault, for instance, which transforms into a land that taps for mana of any color, similar to Widespread Thieving’s ability to produce mana. However, Storm the Vault requires four or more artifacts to flip, demanding a higher threshold for optimization.

Assessing the functionality and flexibility of MTG cards, Widespread Thieving stands out for its ability to generate a stream of resources while encouraging a diverse spell sling. Its competitive edge is rooted in leveraging your own spells rather than relying on opponents, delineating a unique path for deck building strategies.

Smothering Tithe - MTG Card versions
Smothering Tithe - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Widespread Thieving MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Streets of New Capenna, 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 Widespread Thieving and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Widespread Thieving Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Andrew Mar.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 997772015NormalBlackAndrew Mar
22022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 4282015NormalBlackAndrew Mar
32022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 1302015NormalBlackAndrew Mar
42022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 130p2015NormalBlackAndrew Mar
52022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 130s2015NormalBlackAndrew Mar

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Widespread Thieving has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-04-29 Any player who has controlled a permanent with a hideaway ability since a card was exiled with it may look at that card.
2022-04-29 Hideaway now causes you to put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in a random order instead of any order.
2022-04-29 Previously, permanents with hideaway entered the battlefield tapped. This ability has been removed from the definition of hideaway. Older cards have received errata to have an additional paragraph that reads “
-his permanent] enters the battlefield tapped,” and they now have hideaway 4.
2022-04-29 You may use the Treasure token created by the first part of Widespread Thieving's last ability to pay part of the cost in the second part of that ability.
2022-04-29 “Hideaway N” means “When this permanent enters the battlefield, look at the top N cards of your library. Exile one of them face down and put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. The exiled card gains ‘The player who controls the permanent that exiled this card may look at this card in the exile zone.'”