Wu Spy MTG Card


Wu Spy - Portal Three Kingdoms
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier Rogue
Released1999-05-01
Set symbol
Set namePortal Three Kingdoms
Set codePTK
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number63
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderwhite
Illustred byZhao Tan

Key Takeaways

  1. Wu Spy provides valuable intelligence, allowing players to anticipate and counter opponents’ actions effectively.
  2. While it requires discarding a card, its strategic benefits can outweigh the cost in many situations.
  3. Recognize when to deploy Wu Spy for maximum impact, considering both your and your opponent’s resources.

Text of card

When Wu Spy comes into play, look at the top two cards of any player's library. Put one of them on the top of that player's library and the other in his or her graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Wu Spy card skillfully factors into the card advantage equation in MTG, providing you with essential insights into your opponent’s hand. This lets you make informed decisions and potentially guide the flow of the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Wu Spy may not directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, like ramping up mana, but it can indirectly affect your resource management by informing you of the optimal times to play or hold back your key spells and lands.

Instant Speed: Thanks to its instant speed, Wu Spy can be a valuable addition to your arsenal. It enables you to cleverly navigate through your turn or react promptly to your opponent’s moves, maintaining the element of surprise and strategic depth that can be crucial for victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A key disadvantage of the Wu Spy card is its discard condition. Activating its abilities means you’ll have to part with another card from your hand, which can leave you at a resource deficit, especially if your hand is already small.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a Wu Spy requires a precise combination of mana, specifically from the blue and white parts of the color pie. This necessity restricts the card to decks that can consistently produce both colors, potentially limiting its widespread adoption in various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card presents interesting abilities, its casting cost could be considered considerable when compared with other options available in the game. With a mana cost that must be met to deploy the card, players might find better efficiency or synergy in lower-costing alternatives, particularly in competitive scenes where mana curve optimization is paramount.


Reasons to Include Wu Spy in Your Collection

Versatility: Wu Spy can seamlessly slide into various deck types, offering key information about an opponent’s upcoming moves. Its ability to peek at the top card of an opponent’s library ensures that it can be a strategic asset regardless of your deck’s primary objective.

Combo Potential: Knowledge of the top card of the library can synergize with shuffle effects or other ways to manipulate both players’ decks. Wu Spy’s insights pave the way for potent plays and enhance combo executions based on upcoming draws.

Meta-Relevance: Monitoring the evolving game scene reveals the significance of having a foresight advantage. In metas where predicting and responding to opponent’s strategies is crucial, Wu Spy holds significant value by providing a continuous stream of information, which can pivot the tide of any match in your favor.


How to beat

Wu Spy is a card that can often be underestimated in MTG due to its subtle impact on the game. Its ability, which allows for the unique interaction of looking at another player’s hand, doesn’t directly affect the board state but can provide strategic advantage. To effectively counter this espionage tactic, consider using cards that shuffle your hand into your library, like Echo of Eons or similar effects that disrupt hand visibility. Instant speed shuffling effects are especially potent as they can be triggered in response to Wu Spy’s ability.

Another strategy is to employ cards that benefit from being targeted, thus turning the table on the spy’s information gathering. Cards with hexproof are also a valuable countermeasure by making your creatures immune to Wu Spy’s effect, reinforcing your defenses against such subterfuge. Always be aware of your opponent’s untapped mana and potential responses before committing to your plays. A well-timed countermeasure can neutralize Wu Spy’s advantage and maintain the secrecy of your strategy. Knowledge is power, and in this case, keeping your knowledge hidden is key to the game.


Cards like Wu Spy

Discovering the capabilities of the Wu Spy MTG card invites a deep dive into a niche of special MTG operatives. Wu Spy firmly positions itself within the intrigue-laden realm of stealthy creatures. A card like Looter il-Kor, springs to mind when considering alternatives. Both have the ability of being unblockable, ensuring their potential as reliable damage dealers and information gatherers.

However, our Wu Spy stands out with its unique ability to gather knowledge about an opponent’s hand at the cost of being revealed while Looter il-Kor employs a different tactic, that of the classic loot effect. With Thalakos Seer, we’re introduced to another spy-themed candidate bearing shadow, guaranteeing evasion. Yet, unlike Wu Spy, Thalakos Seer offers card draw upon leaving the battlefield, focusing on long-term resource advantage rather than immediate reconnaissance.

Each card in this clandestine category brings its distinct blend of espionage skills to the table, pushing players to evaluate their strategies accordingly. Wu Spy—with its exceptional intelligence-gathering capabilities—stands as a valuable asset for any player looking to preempt and counter their opponent’s plans.

Looter il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Thalakos Seer - MTG Card versions
Looter il-Kor - Time Spiral (TSP)
Thalakos Seer - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Wu Spy by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wu Spy MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms, 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 Wu Spy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wu Spy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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