Tunnel Vision MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Number	72
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dany Orizio

Key Takeaways

Massive milling through Tunnel Vision can be decisive, turning the tide by depleting an opponent’s library.
While not an accelerator, it synergizes with graveyard strategies, speeding up game plans significantly.
Its sorcery speed offers no element of surprise, yet timed well, this can be a game-ending move.

Text of card

Name a card. Target player reveals cards from the top of his or her library until the named card is revealed. If it is, that player puts the rest of the revealed cards into his or her graveyard and puts the named card on top of his or her library. Otherwise, the player shuffles his or her library.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tunnel Vision offers the distinct advantage of potentially milling a substantial portion of a player’s deck, paving the way for a strategic win. By naming the right card, you can establish a formidable advantage by depleting your opponent’s resources, ultimately edging you closer to victory.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct resource accelerator, the strategic use of Tunnel Vision can accelerate your game plan. In a deck designed to leverage the graveyard, sending a high volume of cards to the bin can quickly turn into potential value, effectively speeding up your win conditions.

Instant Speed: Playing at sorcery speed, Tunnel Vision may not have the element of surprise like an instant, but it can be a game-ending play when timed correctly. Being able to cast it immediately after your opponent has shuffled their library or revealed their top cards can drastically increase the chances of hitting the named card and achieving massive card advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tunnel Vision demands a precise naming of the card to be found, which can lead to a disadvantage if you misjudge the contents of your or an opponent’s library. This requirement can result in essentially discarding a card from hand, which might be a high-opportunity cost if your prediction is off.

Specific Mana Cost: As a card with a unique casting cost that includes both blue and underutilized hybrid mana, Tunnel Vision may not easily slot into many decks. Decks that cannot consistently generate the required mana may find it challenging to play this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a significant investment of six mana can be restrictive, especially since it may not always result in an immediate or impactful game state change. There are alternatives that could either set up your library or disrupt others for a lower cost, which might be more attractive in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include Tunnel Vision in Your Collection

Versatility: Tunnel Vision stands out for its unique ability to target a player and a card, becoming a tactical element in any build. Its usefulness is not limited to mere deck cycling; it can shape the course of the game depending on how it is wielded. This makes Tunnel Vision adaptable to different strategies, shining in both casual and competitive scenes.

Combo Potential: The combo potential of Tunnel Vision is noteworthy. Pair it with cards that reorganize the library or known top-deck cards to create startling game-ending combos. It’s a hinge piece in strategies that revolve around knowing or arranging the order of your opponent’s deck, playing into a larger, intricate plan.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where certain strategies dominate, Tunnel Vision can be the ace up your sleeve. With a carefully chosen target card, it can disrupt common game plans, remove critical threats or even serve as a finisher. Its relevance fluctuates, but having it on hand when it aligns with the meta can be a game-changer.

How to beat

Tunnel Vision is a unique and potentially game-ending card that causes a player to reveal cards from the top of their library until they find a card they named, putting the rest into their graveyard. To play effectively against this strategy, it’s crucial to implement preventative measures, such as including cards that can shuffle your library. Cards with scry abilities can help keep essential cards safe from being discarded. Additionally, leveraging graveyard recovery abilities allows you to benefit from what Tunnel Vision discards.

Counterspells are also a valuable asset, as they can stop Tunnel Vision from being cast in the first place. Control decks that can consistently deny the opponent’s key spells often have the upper hand. Remember, forecasting and adapting are svelte strategies to mitigate the risks posed by Tunnel Vision. Deck architecture that is resilient to such strategies can often circumvent the devastating effects of Tunnel Vision with ease.

Being aware of Tunnel Vision’s presence in the meta enables you to prepare your deck to withstand its impact or even utilize opponent’s reliance on this tactic to your advantage. A vigilant player that is alert to the possibilities can effectively navigate a path to victory.

Cards like Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its unique ability to create a win condition by targeting a single card in a player’s library. This is somewhat akin to cards like Hinder or Spell Crumple, which can place a player’s card on the bottom of their library. However, Tunnel Vision can be used in conjunction with these cards to potentially eliminate an opponent in one swoop by naming the tucked card and milling the entirety of the library.

Another relative in this distinctive category is Traumatize, a card that also mills a significant portion of a player’s library. While Traumatize doesn’t provide the precision of Tunnel Vision, it does promise to halve an opponent’s remaining deck, often setting up endgame scenarios. Lastly, Jace, the Mind Sculptor’s fabled “Brainstorm” ability somewhat mirrors Tunnel Vision’s targeted approach. Jace allows a player to reorder the top of a library which can be manipulated alongside Tunnel Vision for a desired outcome.

Ultimately, Tunnel Vision’s blend of specificity and potential for game-ending impact secures its position in MTG strategy as a card with the right mix of risk and reward.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tunnel Vision by color, type and mana cost

Govern the Guildless - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tunnel Vision MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Tunnel Vision and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tunnel Vision 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 Tunnel Vision card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2005-10-01	If the named card is found, everything from the top of the library down to the named card is put into the graveyard and the library isn’t shuffled. If the named card isn’t in the library, no cards are put into the graveyard and the library is shuffled.