Split Decision MTG Card
2014-06-06 - Number 25
2022-10-14 - Number 39
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Will of the council |
Key Takeaways
- Split Decision provides strategic options, either escalating spell effects or disrupting enemy tactics.
- At instant speed, it offers reactive play to maintain game flow and surprise opponents.
- Voting mechanic adds a unique interactive element, influencing both your and your opponent’s game strategy.
Text of card
Will of the council — Choose target instant or sorcery spell. Starting with you, each player votes for denial or duplication. If denial gets more votes, counter the spell. If duplication gets more votes or the vote is tied, copy the spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Split Decision offers a strategic edge by letting players choose between copying or countering a target instant or sorcery spell. This can lead to significant card advantage, especially when the right spell is multiplied or a key spell from an opponent is negated at a critical moment.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing resources, the flexible nature of this card allows for smart plays that can indirectly accelerate your resources by copying your own ramp spells, setting you ahead on the mana curve.
Instant Speed: The instant speed attribute of Split Decision enables you to make decisions with the utmost precision. Its reactive capability lets you surprise opponents and disrupt their plans during their own turn, keeping them on their toes and you in control of the game flow.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Split Decision requires a strategic mind, as the need to discard can pose a setback when resources are scarce or when every card in hand is valuable for upcoming plays.
Specific Mana Cost: With its blue mana requirement, Split Decision fits best in decks that are geared towards this color. This can be limiting for decks that are not focused on blue mana, as it may clash with their mana base or overall strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana, Split Decision offers a choice between duplicating or countering a spell, but this is conditional depending on the spell your opponent chooses. Certain situations might render it less efficient compared to other counter-spells or copy effects that are lower in cost or offer more predictable outcomes.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Split Decision is a card that can seamlessly adapt to various situations on the battlefield. Its ability to duplicate or counter a spell provides strategic flexibility whether you’re aiming to outwit opponents or advance your own agenda.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with spells that have desirable effects. With the right setup, Split Decision can amplify these effects or protect them from your opponents’ counterspells, creating game-changing moments.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to interact with significant spells, its application in a meta characterized by combo or control decks can be substantial. Being able to disrupt or replicate key spells makes it a worthy addition to a player’s collection for navigating through competitive environments.
How to beat Split Decision
Split Decision from Magic: The Gathering can be a tricky card to navigate, as it offers the caster and their opponent a choice that can tip the game’s balance. This instant allows players to vote for either a Dictate or a Duplicate effect, with Dictate countering the original spell and Duplicate copying it. Knowing when to play your spells can be crucial in games involving Split Decision.
One approach to circumvent the disruption Split Decision brings is to bait it out with less critical spells or by holding onto counter-magic of your own to protect your more valuable plays. Moreover, since Split Decision requires a target, avoiding playing into it when the opponent has open mana could be the difference between victory and defeat. Understanding the opponent’s strategy and potential choice can also guide you in making decisions that align with your overall game plan.
Additionally, it is often fruitful to play around with the number of votes. For instance, waiting until your opponent is tapped out or unable to respond can ensure your vote for the spell’s outcome is the one that gets fulfilled. In the end, Split Decision’s effectiveness hinges on the current game state and both players’ foresight, making it an intellectual challenge to overcome.
BurnMana Recommendations
Exploring the strategic depth of MTG is a continuous journey, and Split Decision embodies this complexity beautifully. Its ability to either copy or counter spells at instant speed brings a tactical edge to your gameplay. Whether outmaneuvering an opponent’s plan or advancing your own arsenal, it’s pivotal to have such a versatile card in your deck. Combine Split Decision with spells of expansive effects for thrilling combos that can pivot the tide of battle. For players who thrive on adaptability and foresight, this card is a must-have. Elevate your deck’s potential—learn more with us and enhance your MTG expertise.
Cards like Split Decision
Split Decision invites intriguing strategic decisions in the MTG universe, functioning similarly to other counter or copy spells like Redirect or Twincast. Redirect, for instance, merely changes the target of a spell with a single outcome, whereas Split Decision provides the choice to counter that spell or copy it, depending on a vote. This duality offers a unique twist, albeit at the same converted mana cost as Redirect.
Twincast stands as another counterpart, strictly allowing a player to copy an instant or sorcery spell. Again, Split Decision shines by offering an additional layer of interaction through the voting mechanism, despite sharing the same mana requirement. The adaptability of Split Decision can mean the difference between disrupting an opponent’s plan or amplifying your own strategic play.
Dotting the landscape of versatile spells in MTG, Split Decision stakes its claim with a balance of flexibility and potential for psychological play. It’s a prime example of a card that not only provokes thought but also brings a social aspect to decision-making at the table, elevating it amongst its counterparts particularly for those who relish in the interactive nature of the game.
Cards similar to Split Decision by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Split Decision MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy and Game Night: Free-for-All, 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 Split Decision 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 Split Decision Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-06-06 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Robbie Trevino.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 25 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino | |
| 2 | 2022-10-14 | Game Night: Free-for-All | GN3 | 39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Split Decision has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Split Decision 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 | Because the votes are cast in turn order, each player will know the votes of players who voted beforehand. |
| 2014-05-29 | Effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell will be copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy. For example, if a player exiles three cards from their graveyard to cast Skeletal Scrying, and you copy it, the copy will also cause you to draw three cards and lose 3 life (but you won’t exile any cards from your graveyard). |
| 2014-05-29 | If duplication gets more votes, Split Decision creates a copy of the spell. You control the copy. That copy is created on the stack, so it’s not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won’t trigger. The copy will resolve like a normal spell, after players get a chance to cast spells and activate abilities. |
| 2014-05-29 | If the spell being copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast (like Skeletal Scrying has), the copy will have the same value of X. |
| 2014-05-29 | If the spell being copied is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode. You can’t choose a different one. |
| 2014-05-29 | No player votes until the spell or ability resolves. Any responses to that spell or ability must be made without knowing the outcome of the vote. |
| 2014-05-29 | Players can’t do anything after they finishing voting but before the spell or ability that included the vote finishes resolving. |
| 2014-05-29 | The copy will have the same targets as the spell it’s copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can’t choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal). |
| 2014-05-29 | The phrase “the vote is tied” refers only to when there is more than one choice that received the most votes. For example, if a 5-player vote from among three different choices ends 3 votes to 1 vote to 1 vote, the vote isn’t tied. |
| 2014-05-29 | You must vote for one of the available options. You can’t abstain. |
