Eyes of the Wisent MTG Card


Eyes of the Wisent - Lorwyn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeTribal Enchantment — Elemental
Released2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameLorwyn
Set codeLRW
Number210
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAleksi Briclot

Key Takeaways

  1. Eyes of the Wisent creates a strong board presence by generating 4/4 tokens during the opponent’s turn.
  2. The card excels in blue-heavy metagames, serving as a strong deterrent against blue spells.
  3. Its specific mana requirements and cost may limit its versatility and inclusion in decks.

Text of card

Whenever an opponent plays a blue spell during your turn, you may put a 4/4 green Elemental creature token into play.

Calm as a wisent's watch —Elvish expression meaning "safe"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Eyes of the Wisent gives players a key strategic advantage by creating a token whenever an opponent casts a blue spell during your turn. This benefit ensures that you maintain pressure by consistently developing your board presence without expending extra cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: The tokens generated are 4/4 creatures, which not only contribute to your offensive capabilities but can also be crucial blockers in a pinch. While not directly accelerating your resource pool in terms of mana, these tokens are a valuable asset that can deter opponents from casting spells at a time that would be otherwise advantageous to them.

Instant Speed: This enchantment affects the game the moment it hits the battlefield, immediately changing the dynamics of spell casting for your opponent. Its presence forces an opponent to reconsider their plays on your turn, providing you a subtle form of tempo control that can lead to significant advantages as the game progresses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limiting factor of Eyes of the Wisent is the absence of an instant discard effect or ability to affect an opponent’s hand directly. In games where you’re looking to disrupt the enemy’s strategies, lacking this trait can be seen as a downside.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two green mana can sometimes restrict the versatility of Eyes of the Wisent. This specific color requirement means that the card might not easily fit into multi-colored decks that do not heavily feature green mana or mana-fixing capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its two green mana cost, Eyes of the Wisent can be considered as having a comparatively high mana cost for an enchantment that is situationally beneficial. This can impact deck-building decisions, as players might opt for lower-cost options that provide more consistent benefits or fit into a wider range of scenarios.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Eyes of the Wisent is a versatile sideboard card that shines in environments where blue spells are heavily played. Its reach stretches across multiple formats, from Legacy to Commander, where countering noncreature spells is a common strategy.

Combo Potential: This card offers strategic advantage by generating a stream of 4/4 green Elemental creature tokens, providing both offensive and defensive benefits. These tokens can reinforce your board presence or combine with effects that reward you for summoning creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift, a card like Eyes of the Wisent remains relevant in scenarios where blue-based control decks are dominant. In these games, it acts as a deterrent, making opponents think twice about casting spells on your turn, potentially turning the tide in your favor.


How to beat

Eyes of the Wisent is a unique sideboard card that often appears in blue-heavy metagames of Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment provides a strategic advantage by creating a 4/4 green Elemental creature token whenever an opponent casts a blue spell during your turn. The key to overcoming Eyes of the Wisent lies in avoiding casting spells on the opponent’s turn or relying on non-blue spells. Artifacts, removals, or strategies that operate mainly on sorcery speed can be viable options to circumvent the token generation. Additionally, employing enchantment removal before engaging in instants on your turn can nullify the threat posed by Eyes of the Wisent. Planning and adapting your playstyle to either work around the card or directly counteract it before it leverages more value is crucial for maintaining control of the game.


Cards like Eyes of the Wisent

Eyes of the Wisent is a unique card in the MTG universe with its specific focus on noncreature spell deterrence. It bears a resemblance to cards such as Mystic Remora, which also taxes opponents for casting noncreature spells. However, Eyes of the Wisent differs by creating a tangible threat—a 4/4 green Elemental creature token for each spell your opponent casts during your turn.

Comparatively, there is Guttural Response, a card that serves to counter blue instant spells, offering players a way to protect their own strategies without generating creature tokens. Another parallel card is Seedtime, providing an additional turn if an opponent has cast a blue spell during your last turn. While Seedtime can potentially offer a significant strategic advantage, it lacks the recurring feature of Eyes of the Wisent, which can consistently apply pressure.

To conclude, Eyes of the Wisent stands out in its ability to disrupt opponents’ tempo by converting their actions into resources that bolster your board state. Its persistent nature coupled with a creature token generation capability serves to make it noteworthy amongst cards designed to deter and punish opponents for casting noncreature spells.

Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Guttural Response - MTG Card versions
Seedtime - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Guttural Response - MTG Card versions
Seedtime - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Eyes of the Wisent by color, type and mana cost

Lignify - MTG Card versions
Lignify - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eyes of the Wisent MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Eyes of the Wisent and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Eyes of the Wisent has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks