Wizened Snitches MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Faerie Rogue |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2005-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica: City of Guilds |
| Set code | RAV |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 75 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Text of card
Flying Players play with the top card of their libraries revealed.
"Be careful what information you ask them to find, for it will likely be the subject of tale time at the alehouse." —Sirislav, Dimir spy
Understanding Wizened Snitches
Wizened Snitches is a unique card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Its specialty lies in its ability to grant its controller insight into opponents’ upcoming moves by revealing the top card of their library. This specific functionality echoes the capabilities of cards like Telepathy, which offers a broader scope by revealing each opponent’s entire hand, sans the library insight. Although Telepathy’s reveal is more comprehensive, it lacks the creature presence that Wizened Snitches offers on the battlefield.
Cards like Wizened Snitches
The Wizened Snitches card bears resemblance to the Lantern of Insight, as both cards share the trait of providing information about the opponent’s next draw. While Lantern of Insight is an artifact with lower casting cost, enabling earlier game deployment, Wizened Snitches has the added benefit of being a creature, possibly presenting a body for blocking or applying pressure. Comparatively, cards like Future Sight are also notable, allowing players to play with the top card of their library exposed, giving them a strategic advantage. Nevertheless, it is a double-edged sword, as this also applies to the opponents, starkly contrasting with Wizened Snitches’ focused approach on opponents’ libraries only.
Each card has its respective pros and cons, and in MTG, context is king. Cards like Wizened Snitches offer a strategic peek into upcoming threats, allowing crafty players to anticipate and counter opponents’ moves. This form of information warfare can be a cornerstone in control decks, where foreknowledge is a hefty asset in the intricate dance of MTG strategy.
Cards similar to Wizened Snitches by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wizened Snitches come into play, providing the foresight to view the top card of an opponent’s deck, offering a strategic advantage that could inform crucial decisions and maintain pressure.
Resource Acceleration: This card can be paired with shuffle effects or spells that exploit the knowledge of the top card, potentially speeding up your access to resources by orchestrating more favorable draws.
Instant Speed: Although Wizened Snitches itself may not be an instant, its ability synergizes well with instant speed interaction, allowing for informed decision-making when casting spells during an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Wizened Snitches comes with the hitch of having to discard a card. This can be a setback when your hand is already dwindling, and losing one more card could put you at a tactical disadvantage, especially when every card in hand could potentially turn the tide of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana required to summon Wizened Snitches includes colors that are not universally abundant in every deck, potentially making it a tough fit outside of specific deck builds. A card’s adaptability is crucial in diverse game scenarios, and this specific mana cost could hinder its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its abilities, Wizened Snitches could be competing for a slot with other cards that may offer more bang for your buck. In the fast-paced games where tempo is key, the cost of deploying Wizened Snitches might not align well with your strategy, making it less desirable compared to other cards with similar or better effects at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Wizened Snitches in Your Collection
Versatility: Wizened Snitches offers a unique effect that allows you to see the top card of each player’s library. This ability can be useful in any deck that seeks to manipulate or gain knowledge of draw strategies, particularly in formats where information is power.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that rearrange the top of the library, such as scry or shuffle effects. It can also combo with cards that benefit from knowing or manipulating opponents’ decks, enhancing strategic plays and deck control.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where top-deck manipulation is key, such as with miracles or forecast abilities, Wizened Snitches can be incredibly impactful. By having insight into upcoming threats or potential answers, this card could give you the upper hand in a variety of matchups.
How to beat
Wizened Snitches is an intriguing card that comes with an ability that could potentially disrupt your strategy in Magic: The Gathering. It allows your opponent to see the top card of your library, which in turn can give them strategic advantage. While this ability is not directly detrimental, informed opponents can make more calculated moves.
To counteract Wizened Snitches, consider employing deck shuffling strategies or cards that manipulate the top of the library. This can include cards with the scry mechanic, allowing you to reorganize forthcoming cards and protect valuable draws. Another approach is to utilize instant-speed removal spells to dispatch the Snitches before their ability has a significant impact on the game.
Additionally, playing cards that allow you to draw and therefore change the top card of your library frequently can mitigate the advantage Wizened Snitches provides your opponent. In essence, maintaining a dynamic and unpredictable library through careful planning and the right card selection will help in diminishing the effectiveness of Wizened Snitches during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wizened Snitches MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Wizened Snitches and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wizened Snitches has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wizened Snitches card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If the top card of your library changes while you’re casting a spell or activating an ability, the new top card won’t be revealed until you finish casting that spell or activating that ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | The top card of your library isn’t in your hand, so you can’t suspend it, cycle it, discard it, or activate any of its activated abilities. |
| 2013-04-15 | When playing with the top card of your library revealed, if an effect tells you to draw several cards, reveal each one before you draw it. |