Prying Eyes MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 46
2020-11-20 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Prying Eyes can draw six cards at instant speed, enabling critical hand replenishment during gameplay.
- The necessity to discard two cards upon casting adds a layer of strategic depth to its use.
- Instant speed and draw capabilities make Prying Eyes a flexible tool for reactive playstyles.
Text of card
Draw four cards, then discard two cards.
"Citizen! Your crime has been recorded. Cease movement and await arrest, or further penalties will be immediately imposed."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drawing cards is crucial in MTG and Prying Eyes comes in handy as it allows you to delve six deep into your deck to replenish your hand. It’s an ideal option for turning the tides by refilling your grip when it’s running low.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources in the form of mana or tokens, the real acceleration with Prying Eyes lies in the potential to dig for the resources or answers you need in a pinch.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Prying Eyes is one of its greatest strengths. Being able to cast it at instant speed means you can keep up the pace of play and react during your opponent’s turn. This not only adds an element of surprise but also allows you to maximize your mana each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Prying Eyes comes with the downside that you must part with cards in hand to reap its benefits. Players must carefully balance the gain of new cards with the loss of potential strategic assets, which can be tricky when resources are scarce and each card’s value is maximized.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s blue mana requirement restricts its inclusion to blue-inclined or multicolor decks. This specialization might limit deck diversity, as you’ll need to ensure a steady source of blue mana to use this card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side, Prying Eyes can be a costly investment in the late game where every mana point counts. There are other draw options that deliver a similar effect without the steep investment, potentially making this card a less attractive option for players aiming for efficiency and speed in their deck’s performance.
Reasons to Include Prying Eyes in Your Collection
Versatility: Prying Eyes brings flexibility to blue-based decks with its instant speed, allowing you to keep mana open for counterspells and only cast it if the coast is clear at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Combo Potential: This card fits well in strategies revolving around hand size, synergizing with effects that benefit from the number of cards you hold or those that require discarding, such as reanimation tactics or enabling jump-start.
Meta-Relevance: Prying Eyes could be a handy tool against control decks that aim to go long. By refilling your hand in the later stages of the game, it ensures you maintain the resources to challenge control’s grip on the game.
How to Beat Prying Eyes
Prying Eyes presents a notable challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering. This blue instant spell is distinct for its ability to draw a significant number of cards at a critical moment, which can rapidly swing the game to your opponent’s favor. Resembling spells like Concentrate that also offer a card advantage, Prying Eyes goes further by drawing four cards, although at the cost of discarding two, making it a powerful but double-edged sword for late game scenarios.
How then can one navigate this potent spell? It requires strategic planning and precise timing. Employing instant-speed disruption like counterspells or discard effects can preemptively handle Prying Eyes. Cards like Negate or Thoughtseize have the flexibility to interrupt this play, ensuring your opponent doesn’t get the chance to replenish their hand. Additionally, applying pressure early in the game can force your opponent to use their mana inefficiently, making it harder for them to afford the six mana required for Prying Eyes when they need it most.
Addressing the balance of maintaining card advantage while not falling victim to your opponent’s setup is key. Though Prying Eyes can offer a late-game boost, proactively managing your resources and controlling the pace of the game can effectively diminish its impact, keeping you ahead in the match.
Cards like Prying Eyes
Prying Eyes is an interesting card within the realm of blue spells that focus on card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its kin in cards like Foresee, with both spells allowing a player to draw four cards, a significant boost in hand resources. However, Prying Eyes comes with the downside of discarding two cards, offering a form of selection alongside the card advantage. Foresee skips the discard but includes scry 4, granting a different type of control over upcoming draws.
Another comparable card is Opportunity, a card that also allows the drawing of a considerable number of cards at instant speed without any additional costs or requirements. Opportunity, while costing slightly more mana, doesn’t force the player to discard, presenting a direct increase in hand size. Conversely, we also have something like Tidings, a close relative in the card draw family. It draws four cards just as Prying Eyes does but operates at sorcery speed and doesn’t require discarding, a trade-off some might prefer for a more straightforward effect.
Bringing these parallels into perspective, Prying Eyes has its place in decks that benefit from both the discarding and the instant speed, allowing flexible responses during an opponent’s turn. It upholds its value as a card drawing option that also filters through your deck in a clutch situation.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Prying Eyes MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Commander Legends, 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 Prying Eyes 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 Prying Eyes Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Prying Eyes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
