Cogwork Spy MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Bird Construct |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2014-06-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conspiracy |
| Set code | CNS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 59 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Key Takeaways
- Cogwork Spy grants knowledge of opponents’ next draw, a subtle form of card advantage.
- Despite its flying ability, it can be outclassed by creatures with higher stats or cost efficiency.
- Incorporating Cogwork Spy in decks can significantly enhance strategic play and meta relevance.
Text of card
Reveal Cogwork Spy as you draft it. You may look at the next card drafted from this booster pack. Flying
Paliano's creations provide ample opportunities to plot the downfall of a neighbor.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cogwork Spy allows you to peek at the top card of an opponent’s library, which isn’t direct card draw but still provides you with valuable information throughout the game. This knowledge can effectively be card advantage by informing your play decisions, helping you to outmaneuver your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to mana ramp, understanding an opponent’s upcoming draw can guide your resource allocation. When you know what to prepare for, you optimize the use of your mana and spells, somewhat accelerating your effective resource management.
Instant Speed: Although Cogwork Spy itself does not have instant-speed capabilities, the information it provides can complement your instant-speed interactions. By knowing the upcoming threats, you can better strategize the timing and targets of your instant-speed spells, making your plays more efficient and impactful.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Cogwork Spy doesn’t have a discard requirement, certain deck strategies relying on it for consistent draws may face setbacks if forced to discard this card for another’s effect. This can compromise the deck’s aerial advantage and surveilling capability.
Specific Mana Cost: Cogwork Spy requires three mana, including one specific to artifacts or blue. This could potentially limit deck inclusion, as it necessitates either a commitment to artifacts or a splash of blue, thereby restricting seamless incorporation into various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a cost of three mana, the return is a 2/1 flyer that allows players to peek at the top card of their library. While surveilling is helpful, there are alternative spy-themed creatures or artifacts offering greater stats or additional abilities at a similar or lower cost, leading to preference over the Cogwork Spy in competitive play.
Reasons to Include Cogwork Spy in Your Collection
Versatility: Cogwork Spy blends into a diverse array of deck strategies due to its ability to offer repeatable reconnaissance of the top card of an opponent’s library, an insight often vital for strategic planning.
Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Cogwork Spy synergizes with mechanics that capitalize on artifact count or type, such as Improvise or Affinity, allowing for deeper combo layers within artifact-centric decks.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where foreknowledge can be the thin line between victory and defeat, Cogwork Spy serves as an efficient tool to gain the upper hand against control or combo opponents, making it a prudent tactical choice.
How to Beat
Cogwork Spy presents a unique challenge in the realm of MTG due to its ability to fly undetected, previewing the top card of an opponent’s library. In essence, it’s a tool for gathering information rather than a direct threat. However, overcoming this artifact creature requires strategic adjustments. Targeted removal spells that bypass the Spy’s flying capability such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can deal with it efficiently. Cards with the Reach ability, allowing non-flying creatures to block flying units, also serve as excellent counters.
Another effective tactic involves leveraging spells that alter deck order. Effects from cards like Brainstorm or Sensei’s Divining Top allow players to reorganize their libraries, rendering the Spy’s reconnaissance less impactful. Furthermore, enchantments like Grafdigger’s Cage can inhibit abilities that manipulate or exploit library knowledge, indirectly weakening the Cogwork Spy’s utility. By incorporating these diverse strategies, players can nullify the advantages the Cogwork Spy brings to the table, maintaining the secrecy of their library and preserving their tactical edge.
Lastly, the key is being mindful of the Spy’s presence and adapting one’s play style accordingly. Swift removal, strategic deck manipulation, and a careful approach to library secrecy can ensure this mechanical peeper doesn’t compromise your game plan.
Cards like Cogwork Spy
In the world of artifacts, Cogwork Spy offers a unique perspective from the skies. This card shares its mechanical wings with Ornithopter, both presenting the option to deploy a flying artifact creature for zero mana. Cogwork Spy distinctively allows players to peek at the top card of the opponent’s library whenever it attacks, a utility that’s absent in the straightforward Ornithopter.
Looking at Spire Golem, another creature that benefits from reduced casting cost, we see a similar evasion capability with flying. Although Spire Golem doesn’t provide the information gathering perk of Cogwork Spy, it compensates with a more robust defense. Evaluating Whirler Rogue gives us an insight into another artifact creature with a tactical advantage. While it doesn’t fly on its own, it offers the ability to make other creatures unblockable, an offensive angle that can complement Cogwork Spy’s reconnaissance mission.
Cogwork Spy stands out for its surveillance mechanism coupled with the airborne approach. Within the pantheon of MTG artifacts, it offers a strategic tool for those looking to subtly gain upper hand by gathering crucial information about the enemy’s upcoming moves.
Cards similar to Cogwork Spy by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cogwork Spy MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy, 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 Cogwork Spy 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cogwork Spy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cogwork Spy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-05-29 | If you are the next person to draft from the booster pack (perhaps because of Cogwork Librarian), the first ability doesn’t do anything. |
| 2014-05-29 | You may look at the card even if it’s removed from the draft face down by Cogwork Grinder. |
