Rhystic Scrying MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	44
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Roger Raupp

Key Takeaways

This card provides foresight and deck thinning, granting valuable insight into potential future draws.
At instant speed, Rhystic Scrying permits flexible play, reacting swiftly to evolving game conditions.
Although it demands a discard and specific mana, it remains a compelling inclusion for tailored decks.

Text of card

Draw three cards. Then, if any player pays , discard three cards from your hand.

"The trick is to ask when no one's listening." —Alexi, zephyr mage

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rhystic Scrying offers a peek into forthcoming plays by allowing you to sift through the top few cards of your library. This strategic foresight not only helps in planning your moves but also thins your deck to improve the quality of your draws.

Resource Acceleration: By facilitating the clearing of less useful cards from the top of your deck, Rhystic Scrying indirectly accelerates your access to essential resources. This can lead to more meaningful and impactful draws as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: One of Rhystic Scrying’s strengths lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions or end-of-turn decisions maximally. This adaptability keeps you on your toes and ready to react instantaneously to the shifting tides of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rhystic Scrying necessitates that players discard a card in order to activate its ability. This prerequisite can be quite taxing, especially when a player’s hand is already running low on cards, potentially leading to a disadvantageous state where crucial hand resources are lost.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for this card includes the need for one blue mana. This specification could potentially restrict Rhystic Scrying to being included primarily in blue-oriented or multicolored decks, limiting its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that sits at a total of three, including both generic and blue mana, Rhystic Scrying’s cost is considered high for the effect it provides. There are alternative card scrying or drawing options available within the game that are more mana-efficient and could offer better value in a tight match scenario.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rhystic Scrying offers exceptional flexibility for various deck builds, providing critical card selection to fine-tune your draws and keep pace with the game.

Combo Potential: This card excels when paired with decks that manipulate the top of the library or benefit from knowing what’s coming next, enhancing strategic depth and synergy.

Meta-Relevance: With a continuously evolving MTG landscape, Rhystic Scrying remains relevant, allowing players to adapt to diverse scenarios that demand quick access to the right answers.

How to beat

Rhystic Scrying stands as a distinctive card in Magic: The Gathering for its blend of card advantage and strategic flexibility. Unlike cards that provide immediate card draw, Rhystic Scrying adds a layer of anticipation to the game. Players need to navigate their strategy, knowing they can potentially access a range of options, but with payment deferred to their upkeep. This build-up can impart pressure not only on the user’s resources but also on opponents who must consider the potential information and strategic advantage that Rhystic Scrying can reveal.

Confronting Rhystic Scrying requires understanding the tempo it introduces. It’s imperative to prioritize threats and manage one’s own resources skillfully. For instance, you might opt to deploy counterspells or discard effects preemptively to mitigate the card’s impact. In essence, countering Rhystic Scrying with instant disruption can curb the advantage it aims to provide, ensuring you maintain the upper hand. It is these decisions and timely responses that can serve as the crux to outmaneuver Rhystic Scrying’s long-term benefits.

Therefore, when it comes to prevailing over Rhystic Scrying, it involves a keen sense of the current game state and poised execution of countermeasures. Recognizing the right moment to disrupt your opponent’s plans can turn the tide, making Rhystic Scrying less of a threat and more of a missed opportunity for them.

Cards like Rhystic Scrying

Rhystic Scrying serves as an intriguing option for card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. This card’s closest relative is perhaps Crystal Ball, which provides a repeatable scry effect. While both cards offer insight into upcoming draws, Rhystic Scrying differs by allowing you to fill your hand immediately and variably based on the mana invested. Conversely, Crystal Ball offers a more sustained approach but lacks the potential for instant card gain.

Another comparable card is Tidings, which delivers a straightforward benefit of drawing four cards without additional costs or conditions. Rhystic Scrying’s flexibility in the number of cards drawn can outshine Tidings when copious mana resources are available. Then enters Deep Analysis, which presents card draw not just once, but offers a flashback ability for added longevity in a game, though it cannot match Rhystic Scrying’s potential for a larger, one-time draw.

Analysing these options, Rhystic Scrying stands out for its scalability, able to adapt to different game states and mana availability, while offering the chance to dramatically shift a game’s momentum in your favor with a well-timed play.

Cards similar to Rhystic Scrying by color, type and mana cost

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Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rhystic Scrying MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Rhystic Scrying and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rhystic Scrying has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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