Mysteries of the Deep MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Landfall |
| Released | 2010-02-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Worldwake |
| Set code | WWK |
| Number | 33 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Véronique Meignaud |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage through drawing reflects the number of islands you control, significantly boosting hand options.
- At instant speed, it allows flexible play, holding mana back and casting to replenish cards at crucial moments.
- The need to discard a card for activation and its specific mana cost may pose strategic limitations in gameplay.
Text of card
Draw two cards. Landfall — If you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn, draw three cards instead.
"The Roil is destructive, but not random. It's Zendikar's way of revealing secrets." —Ilori, merfolk falconer
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Diving into the depths of your deck, Mysteries of the Deep offers a surge of card advantage. Drawing cards equal to the number of islands you control, it tantalizes players with the potential to amass a tidal wave of options in hand, turning the tides of the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: This spell’s synergy with island-rich decks not only propels your card advantage but also cascades into resource acceleration. Each island becomes a deeper well of potential, allowing you to more effectively summon creatures of the briny abyss or cast spells that bend the currents of the game.
Instant Speed: Waiting in the murk until the moment is right, the instant speed of Mysteries of the Deep provides the element of surprise. Hold back the mana during your turn, and if the sea remains calm, cast it at the end of your opponent’s turn. Your card stock replenishes like the relentless waves, keeping you ready for whatever the next turn washes ashore.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mysteries of the Deep requires you to pitch another card from your hand into the graveyard to activate its full potential. In a game where card advantage is crucial, having to discard could set you back, especially in tight situations where each card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of blue mana to cast, which might not align with the manabase of multicolored decks. Decks without a strong blue mana base may struggle to cast it consistently, limiting its versatility in diverse deck constructions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to cast Mysteries of the Deep might feel steep, especially when you’re trying to maintain tempo with your opponents. In situations where every mana could turn the tide, a five-mana investment could be a significant hurdle, and there are alternative draw spells in MTG that provide more immediate value for a lesser cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mysteries of the Deep is a dynamic addition to blue-focused decks, lending itself to various play styles. Its ability to replenish your hand at instant speed allows it to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of a game.
Combo Potential: This card’s potential to draw multiple cards late in the game opens up synergies with strategies that thrive on hand size or the number of cards drawn in a turn. It can be a crucial piece in setting up the perfect combo finish.
Meta-Relevance: With many players focusing on resource advantage and card selection, Mysteries of the Deep can play a pivotal role in keeping up with or even outpacing the intricacies of the current meta. Its ability to dig deeper into your deck can uncover the solutions you need to stay competitive.
How to beat
Diving into the depths of strategy, Mysteries of the Deep is a blue instant that offers a significant card advantage when played at the right moment. Comparable to spells like Divination, it grants you the ability to draw cards, but with a twist—the potential to draw even more if you’ve reached the land drop for the turn. This card can be a game-changer, especially if timed correctly to maximize your card draw.
To counteract Mysteries of the Deep, one must plan strategically. Cards like Thoughtseize allow you to disrupt your opponent’s hand before they can cast their spells, effectively neutralizing the threat. Counterspells are also effective by providing a direct way to prevent Mysteries of the Deep from resolving. Denial through disruption is key. Furthermore, applying pressure with a fast-paced deck can limit the usefulness of Mysteries of the Deep, forcing your opponent to use their mana defensively instead of seeking the bounty of the deep sea of their library.
In essence, Mysteries of the Deep requires precise timing and a calm approach to waves of opposition. By understanding your own deck and being able to predict and respond to your opponent’s strategies, you can ensure that the mysteries remain unsolved on your watch.
Cards like Mysteries of the Deep
Mysteries of the Deep is an intriguing card draw spell in the vast ocean of Magic: The Gathering’s library. With its ability to let players draw two cards for five mana, it draws comparisons to the card Accumulated Knowledge, which can potentially draw multiple cards for less mana over time. However, Mysteries of the Deep boasts an additional upside – the option to draw an extra card if it’s played in the main phase, giving a net gain of three cards in total.
Comparably, Tidings is another spell in this matchup, allowing players to draw four cards outright at sorcery speed. Though it offers one more card than Mysteries of the Deep’s maximum, it doesn’t provide the flexibility of holding mana open for instant tricks. Opportunity, on the flip side, provides the instant-speed allure but at six mana for four cards, which can be a steeper cost without the conditional main phase advantage.
Delving into the depths of the card pool, Mysteries of the Deep provides a strategic edge for players looking to maximize their card advantage, making it worthy of consideration in decks that favor the balance of quantity and versatility in card draw spells in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Mysteries of the Deep by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mysteries of the Deep MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake, 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 Mysteries of the Deep 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 Mysteries of the Deep has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mysteries of the Deep card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-03-01 | Having more than one land enter the battlefield under your control this turn provides no additional benefit. |
| 2010-03-01 | Once the spell resolves, having a land enter the battlefield under your control provides no further benefit. |
| 2010-03-01 | The effect of this spell’s landfall ability replaces its normal effect. If you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn, only the landfall-based effect happens. |
| 2010-03-01 | The landfall ability checks for an action that has happened in the past. It doesn’t matter if a land that entered the battlefield under your control previously in the turn is still on the battlefield, is still under your control, or is still a land. |
| 2010-03-01 | Whether you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn is checked as this spell resolves, not as you cast it. |
