Withering Gaze MTG Card

Provides card advantage by disrupting opponent’s hand and exposing their strategy to the player. Instant speed casting allows disruptive play during an opponent’s turn, affecting game dynamics. Resource acceleration is achieved as opponents lose key cards, slowing their game plan.

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 78

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 113

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 113★

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Look at your opponent's hand. For each forest and green card there, you draw a card. (You draw from your deck.)

Cards like Withering Gaze

Withering Gaze takes its place in the pantheon of hand disruption spells within Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives are cards like Duress, allowing players to peek into an opponent’s hand and choose a noncreature, nonland card to dispose of. Where Withering Gaze diverts from Duress is in its ability to target only cards with converted mana cost 3 or greater, giving it a narrower focus but with the advantage of potentially hitting more impactful spells.

Then comes Thoughtseize, a robust competitor in this arena. Thoughtseize doesn’t have the mana cost restriction, but it does strip any nonland card at the cost of 2 life. Lastly, Inquisition of Kozilek deserves a mention as it also allows checking an opponent’s hand but limits the expulsion to cards with converted mana cost of 3 or less. This limitation can be strategical, but it doesn’t reach the larger game-changers like Withering Gaze can.

Each of these spells offers a unique approach to disrupting opponents, with Withering Gaze sitting comfortably in a strategic niche for controlling the board against high-impact cards in Magic: The Gathering games.

Inquisition of Kozilek - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Withering Gaze by color, type and mana cost

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Counsel of the Soratami - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Withering Gaze allows players to peek into an opponent’s hand and potentially exile a spell, effectively diminishing the opponent’s strategic options while bolstering your own hand knowledge. Gaining insight into an opponent’s plan can significantly shift the tide of the match in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: By exiling a nonland card from your opponent’s hand with Withering Gaze, you can indirectly accelerate your resources. This is because your opponent may lose access to a key card that would have enabled faster gameplay on their side, thereby giving you the upper hand and time to develop your board unhindered.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Withering Gaze at instant speed adds a layer of versatility to your strategy. It opens up the option to disrupt your opponent’s tactics during their turn, especially before they make a pivotal play. This can significantly impact your opponent’s plans and can be a game-changer in tight situations where timing is crucial.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Withering Gaze compels the caster to discard a card, potentially depleting their hand and diminishing their strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Withering Gaze has a mana cost that necessitates black mana, thus only fitting seamlessly into mono-black or specific multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its targeted discard effect, Withering Gaze’s cost may be seen as steep, especially when benchmarked against other discard spells in the MTG universe.

Reasons to Include Withering Gaze in Your Collection

Versatility: Withering Gaze fits seamlessly into a variety of black-centered decks, particularly those that aim to disrupt opponent strategies by removing key cards from their hand.

Combo Potential: This card can be a cog in a machine that whittles down an opponent’s resources, making it easier to execute your game-winning combos unopposed.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to scout and discard important spells, Withering Gaze is a useful tool in environments where knowing and strategically dismantling your opponent’s hand is crucial.

How to Beat

Withering Gaze is a powerful card in the realm of MTG, known for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand. This spell allows a player to look at an opponent’s hand and choose a nonland card from it, forcing them to discard that card. The impact of this on a game’s dynamics cannot be overstated, as it can significantly weaken an opponent’s strategic options.

However, to counter Withering Gaze, consider playing cards that benefit from being in your graveyard or utilize mechanics like flashback or jump-start. These can help turn the tide by making the discarded card an asset rather than a setback. In addition, running a deck with a low curve and redundancy in your spell types can minimize the impact of discard spells. One should also be mindful of holding back key cards if a Withering Gaze is anticipated, and prioritize casting less critical spells that can afford to be discarded. Adapting your play style and deck strategy can make Withering Gaze less daunting and keep you one step ahead of the competition.

Ultimately, while Withering Gaze poses a significant threat, its effect can be mitigated with clever deck building and thoughtful gameplay, ensuring that its presence in your opponent’s arsenal doesn’t guarantee your defeat at the match.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Withering Gaze MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Ninth Edition, 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 Withering Gaze and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Withering Gaze Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	78	1997	Normal	Black	Scott M. Fischer
2	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	113	2003	Normal	White	Randy Gallegos
3	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	113★	2003	Normal	Black	Randy Gallegos

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Withering Gaze has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal