Arcane Encyclopedia MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 227
2020-07-17 - Number 459
2022-06-10 - Number 297
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Ensures a steady flow of options with its consistent ability to draw cards at instant speed.
- Useful across various decks due to its versatility and non-color specific benefits.
- Strategic removal and hand disruption are effective counters to minimize its impact.
Text of card
, : Draw a card.
Knowledge itself is neither good nor evil. Just as the wrong book in the wrong hands could doom all existence, the same book in the right hands could save it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Arcane Encyclopedia allows players to continuously draw cards, ensuring a steady flow of options and maintaining card advantage throughout the game. This can be pivotal in outpacing an opponent in longer matches where resources are crucial.
Resource Acceleration: Although Arcane Encyclopedia doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of producing mana, it provides consistent access to more cards, which can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by drawing into lands or ramp spells.
Instant Speed: The card’s ability to draw at instant speed is highly valuable, enabling players to utilize mana efficiently. If no immediate plays are necessary, the Encyclopedia can be used to draw a card at the end of an opponent’s turn, keeping options open and responses ready without sacrificing card advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Arcane Encyclopedia requires no discard, but its value might suffer in deck archetypes that benefit from discarding, such as those that trigger madness or reanimation strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of the card requires three mana, which can be a drawback when players are looking to keep mana open for instant-speed responses or when competing against decks that capitalize on more efficient mana usage.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the casting cost is three generic mana, which is flexible, the ongoing requirement of three mana to draw a card can be too slow or resource-heavy in comparison to other draw engines or cards that offer card advantage with less mana investment or additional benefits.
Reasons to Include Arcane Encyclopedia in Your Collection
Versatility: Arcane Encyclopedia is a valuable inclusion in a variety of decks, providing consistent card draw to keep your hand replenished, irrespective of color identity. This utility in mana-fixing is crucial for decks that need to maintain momentum and options.
Combo Potential: This artifact can be the linchpin in combos revolving around card draw or artifacts. Whether it’s empowering draw-related triggers or adding fuel to strategies that capitalize on artifact synergy, Arcane Encyclopedia is an enabler that slots into many game-winning combos.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where long, grindy matches are common, having steady access to additional cards can be the difference between victory and defeat. Arcane Encyclopedia helps to ensure a consistent flow of resources, making it a staple for decks looking to stay competitive in such environments.
How to Beat Arcane Encyclopedia
Arcane Encyclopedia offers players in Magic: The Gathering a steady wellspring of card advantage. It reminds keen players of the formidable Jayemdae Tome. However, unlike its predecessor, Arcane Encyclopedia requires no card discard, granting you a pure draw effect for the cost of three mana and the tap. While not a quick sprinter in the realm of card drawing artifacts, its marathon-like endurance makes it a valuable asset over the course of a longer game.
To effectively counter this artifact’s influence, targeted removal should be a key piece of your strategy. Cards such as Disenchant excel in this role, offering an efficient means to eliminate Arcane Encyclopedia from the field. As it settles into a game slowly, prompt action against it minimizes its impact on your opponent’s card availability. Moreover, incorporating hand disruption tools such as Thoughtseize or Duress into your game plan hampers your opponent’s ability to set up the artifact and dictate the pace of the match. And let’s not overlook counter spells; a well-timed Negate or Disallow can prevent Arcane Encyclopedia from ever hitting the battlefield, ensuring that your opponent’s reservoir of knowledge remains firmly capped.
Ultimately, thwarting Arcane Encyclopedia is about timing and choosing the right moment to strip away your opponent’s advantage. By doing so, you keep the field level and your chances of victory high.
Cards like Arcane Encyclopedia
Arcane Encyclopedia is a versatile tool in MTG, providing a steady stream of cards into a player’s hand. This artifact bears similarity to the iconic Jayemdae Tome, which also requires mana investment for card draw, but Arcane Encyclopedia’s lower activation cost offers more flexibility in mana-tight situations. Another comparable card is Mind’s Eye, which allows card draw by spending mana whenever an opponent draws, potentially offering a greater yield in multiplayer games. However, Arcane Encyclopedia’s unconditional draw has its own appeal, especially in formats where consistency is key.
Then there’s Endless Atlas, which shares the same casting cost as Arcane Encyclopedia and allows for card draws but necessitates a commitment to basic lands to function. While Endless Atlas can be effectively free to activate under the right conditions, Arcane Encyclopedia’s reliability regardless of land type proves to be its advantage in more diverse mana bases. Finally, we find the Commander’s Sphere, which can be sacrificed for a card draw, and it also fixes mana, yet its one-time use contrasts with the repeatable nature of Arcane Encyclopedia.
In essence, while assessing the utility of card draw artifacts in MTG, Arcane Encyclopedia offers a durable, cost-effective drawing option that can be used in a wide range of decks, making it a valuable asset in any player’s collection.
Cards similar to Arcane Encyclopedia by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arcane Encyclopedia MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Jumpstart, 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 Arcane Encyclopedia and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Arcane Encyclopedia Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 227 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nic Klein | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 459 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nic Klein | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 297 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Harmatiuk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arcane Encyclopedia has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
