Distant Memories MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2011-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirrodin Besieged |
| Set code | MBS |
| Number | 24 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Karl Kopinski |
Key Takeaways
- Distant Memories can provide card advantage or unexpected mana, enhancing strategic plays in MTG.
- The card’s discard and mana cost require careful deck-building and hand management.
- Its versatility and meta-relevance make it a worthwhile addition to diverse MTG strategies.
Text of card
Search your library for a card, exile it, then shuffle your library. Any opponent may have you put that card into your hand. If no player does, you draw three cards.
"The fleeting shadows of his primitive self have all but vanished." —Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Distant Memories lets players dig through their library for a particular card, potentially securing key pieces for their strategy. If the opponent chooses not to pay the mana cost, card draw ensues, netting extra resources.
Resource Acceleration: The choice given to the opponent can lead to an unexpected boon. If the searched card is allowed to remain hidden, the resulting three mana of any color can significantly ramp your capabilities or facilitate crucial multicolor plays earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: While Distant Memories is a sorcery, it plays well in conjunction with instant speed spells. It lets you open the turn to advance your board, while keeping mana ready to react with instants later, adapting to the unfolding game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Distant Memories requires a toss-up that might not always play in your favor. Upon activation, you must discard another card, a price that could be steep if your hand is already depleting.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to fuel Distant Memories leans heavily on blue, necessitating two blue mana sources. This specificity could pose a deckbuilding conundrum if your deck diversifies beyond mono-blue tactics.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For something as fundamental as searching your library, the three mana investment followed by an additional reveal or toss denotes a substantial cost. In a realm where lower-cost alternatives exist, some players might balk at the opportunity cost of playing Distant Memories.
Reasons to Include Distant Memories in Your Collection
Versatility: Distant Memories is not restricted to one type of strategy or deck archetype. Its ability to potentially search for any card in your deck allows for a wide range of tactical implementations, from snatching a needed piece for your combo to bluffing your way into drawing three cards.
Combo Potential: The card carries significant potential when combined with effects that can manipulate or utilize the knowledge of the opponent’s choices. You can plan ahead, either pitching a card your opponent is likely to let you have or skewing a critical game-changing card they might deny you, turning the situation to your advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where information is power, Distant Memories gives you insight into your opponent’s decision-making process, which can be crucial depending on the prevalent deck trends. Understanding your opponent’s priorities can inform your plays and sideboard strategies in competitive settings.
How to beat
Distant Memories is a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, captivating players with its intriguing risk-and-reward mechanic. When you cast this sorcery, you search your library for any card and exile it, then shuffle your library. Opponents are then given the option to either let you add that mysterious card to your hand or forgo the knowledge and instead grant you a trio of cards as consolation. This provides a mental game unlike any other, where your opponent’s decision-making can be influenced by the board state and their perception of your strategy.
To counteract Distant Memories, savvy play and strategic deck construction are key. Utilize hand disruption to disrupt your opponent’s plans before they can cast their sorcery, or include counter spells that can negate Distant Memories as it’s cast. Alternately, graveyard recursion effects can capitalize on the exiled card if your opponent opts to deny you the card draw. Be mindful of the psychological play at work and try to predict your opponent’s choices. By anticipating their strategies and remaining adaptable, you can turn Distant Memories into a distant concern.
Remember, critical thinking and foresight are vital in ensuring that Distant Memories becomes more of an advantage for you than for your opponent. By dissecting the game’s dynamics and understanding the multifaceted interactions, you can effectively neutralize this potentially game-altering card and maintain the upper hand.
Cards like Distant Memories
Distant Memories adds a thought-provoking twist to the arsenal of blue spells in Magic: The Gathering that delve into a player’s library. Comparable to cards like Telling Time, which also offers a glimpse at the top cards of the deck, Distant Memories allows a nuanced approach by potentially drawing a specific card but with the risk of it being exiled and replaced by three tokens if an opponent intervenes.
When looking at other options, we see Ponder, which lets the player observe the top three cards and rearrange them or shuffle the deck before drawing a card. The guarantee of drawing without the potential penalty of interference makes it a consistent choice. In addition, there’s Gifts Ungiven, allowing you to search for four cards, two that will land into your hand and two into the graveyard, decided by the opponent. This can set up future plays, albeit with a higher mana expense but without the token consolation Distant Memories offers.
Ultimately, Distant Memories stands its ground in the MTG card pool by offering a unique risk-reward dynamic that can either yield a specific card advantage or create token resources, a flexibility that can be strategically invaluable in the right deck.
Cards similar to Distant Memories by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Distant Memories MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Distant Memories 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Distant Memories has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Distant Memories card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-01 | If no opponent has you put the card into your hand, the card remains exiled. |
| 2011-06-01 | In multiplayer formats, your opponents each make the decision in turn order. |
| 2011-06-01 | The card is exiled face up. Each opponent will know what the card is when deciding whether to have you put it in your hand. |
