Reconnaissance Mission MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Cycling

Key Takeaways

  1. Card draw ability triggers with combat, aiding your strategy during attacks.
  2. Cycling offers adaptability, letting you swap the card when unneeded.
  3. Precise mana cost can challenge deck-building with tight mana curves.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"The bonders work with creatures that fly, slink, and burrow. Assume they know everything." —Jirina Kudro


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Reconnaissance Mission comes into play, it gives you an edge by letting you draw a card each time a creature you control deals combat damage to a player. This continuous draw effect can quickly replenish your hand and keep your options open as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Alongside the potential for multiple draws, Reconnaissance Mission can indirectly accelerate your resources by allowing you to cycle it for a new card. This cycling feature not only keeps your deck flowing but can also bring you closer to other cards that directly ramp up your mana or provide additional value.

Instant Speed: While Reconnaissance Mission itself isn’t an instant, its cycling ability can be activated at instant speed. This allows you to maintain flexibility and adapt to the board state as required. If you find the enchantment unnecessary at any given moment, you can cycle it away without sacrificing the tempo of your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a player draws with Reconnaissance Mission, they must have another creature deal combat damage to a player to trigger the ability. Without multiple attacking creatures, the upside of the card may not be fully realized, effectively causing a card disadvantage if the player cannot consistently meet the attacking criterion.

Specific Mana Cost: This blue enchantment requires two generic and two blue mana, which may not always align with a multicolor deck’s mana base. The necessity for specific blue mana can be a hurdle, especially in a deck with a tight color curve or one that depends on various mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, the investment into Reconnaissance Mission could be considered steep when compared to other draw spells or enchantments. Understanding that its value is intrinsically tied to creature combat, other cards at a lower mana cost might be more beneficial for immediate board impact or for decks not centered around combat.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Reconnaissance Mission offers broad utility, capable of integrating into multiple blue-based strategies. Its ability to draw cards while creatures are committing to attacks enables ongoing hand replenishment, essential in both aggressive and control archetypes.

Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs remarkably well with creatures that have evasion or tokens that swarm the battlefield. Whether it’s supporting a flying-heavy deck or working with proliferate mechanics to enhance the volume of tokens, Reconnaissance Mission consistently fuels the engine.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the board state can become stalemated, Reconnaissance Mission maintains momentum by rewarding natural combat behaviors. As players confront the challenge of outpacing opponents’ resources, this card proves its worth by transforming every attack into a potential draw.


How to beat

Reconnaissance Mission is a nifty card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to convert combat maneuvers into additional card draw. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you draw a card, mirroring the effects of the esteemed Coastal Piracy. But unlike Coastal Piracy, Reconnaissance Mission has the added edge of cycling, offering versatility in both deck design and mid-game decisions.

To effectively counteract Reconnaissance Mission, it’s critical to neutralize the chance for your opponent’s creatures to land those combat hits. This can be achieved through board control strategies, such as removal spells and sweepers, to keep their board clear. Effective counters also include enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can directly target and dispose of Reconnaissance Mission. Additionally, cards that provide protection for your life total, such as jump blockers or lifegain spells, can mitigate the card advantage that your opponent seeks to gain through this enchantment.

In essence, disrupting the combat phase or directly dealing with the enchantment itself are both valid paths to nullify Reconnaissance Mission’s influence on the game. A well-timed piece of interaction can not only save you from a potential array of new threats but can also swing the tempo in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the depths of MTG strategy with Reconnaissance Mission. This enchantment is a staple for players who want to maintain a full hand while their creatures are on the offensive. As our exploration of this card’s pros and cons suggests, it’s a fantastic addition for blue-focused decks that revel in drawing cards and keeping the pressure on opponents. Join us in deepening your understanding of MTG gameplay, where Reconnaissance Mission could be the linchpin in your next wave of attacks. To wield this powerful enchantment to your advantage, learn more and enrich your MTG experience.


Cards like Reconnaissance Mission

Reconnaissance Mission is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, providing consistent card advantage for players with creatures that connect with opponents. Its closest cousin is Coastal Piracy, a card revered for its ability to turn each successful attack into an extra card in hand. While Coastal Piracy exclusively benefits from combat damage to a player, Reconnaissance Mission adds an optional upside – it can be cycled away if not immediately useful.

Another card with synergy in creature-heavy decks is Bident of Thassa. Not only does Bident of Thassa offer a similar card advantage ability, but it also has an activated ability that can force opponents to attack. This can be pivotal in controlling the flow of a game. Reconnaissance Mission lacks this functionality but makes up for it with its more flexible cycling feature.

Militia’s Pride is also worth mentioning, providing a different approach to leveraging creature attacks. Rather than drawing cards, it creates additional token creatures upon attacking. This alternative strategy can overwhelm opponents but doesn’t offer the direct card draw Reconnaissance Mission does. Examining these cards reveals that while each shines in its own right, Reconnaissance Mission holds a valuable position for players prioritizing direct card draw and cycling flexibility.

Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Militia's Pride - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bident of Thassa - Theros (THS)
Militia's Pride - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reconnaissance Mission MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Crimson Vow Commander, 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 Reconnaissance Mission and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Reconnaissance Mission Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 652015normalblackJohannes Voss
22021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1112015normalblackJohannes Voss
32022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1932015normalblackBilly Christian
42022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 193★2015normalblackBilly Christian
52023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1052015normalblackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reconnaissance Mission has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Reconnaissance Mission card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-04-17 Reconnaissance Mission's triggered ability triggers for each creature you control that deals combat damage to a player. You may draw one card each time the ability resolves, no matter how much damage was dealt.

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