Common Courtesy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Trading cards for an advantage, Common Courtesy lets you keep pace and ensure you have the right answers ready.
  2. Playing at instant speed, it grants strategic flexibility and allows for effective use of mana and resources.
  3. Demands discard and specific mana, potentially making it less compatible or too costly for certain deck strategies.

Text of card

Counter any spell unless its caster asks your permission to play that spell. If you refuse permission, Sacrifice Common Courtesy and counter the spell.

"You didn't say the Magic word."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Common Courtesy facilitates replenishing your hand by enabling you to exchange cards, possibly more than you give away. This exchange often ensures you have the right responses or threats to keep up with the pace of the game.

Resource Acceleration: By possibly granting you additional lands or spells while disrupting your opponent’s hand, it accelerates your own resource development. This can result in a substantial shift in momentum.

Instant Speed: The versatility of playing Common Courtesy at instant speed is a significant strategic asset. It allows players to utilize their mana efficiently during their opponent’s end step and remain reactive to threats and opportunities throughout the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to cast Common Courtesy, players need to discard a card. This can be a considerable downside, especially when their hand is holding key pieces of the strategy or when they are facing a resource denial deck.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a precise mana cost that needs both blue and white mana. This requirement can present a challenge in multicolor decks that are not focused on those two colors, potentially making the card a less compatible choice for some strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the requirement to pay both two blue and two white mana, the card’s cost is on the higher end for its effects. For the same or lower cost, there may be alternatives available that can provide players with similar or even better value.


Reasons to Include Common Courtesy in Your Collection

Versatility: Common Courtesy is a card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of strategies, affording players flexibility in deck building. Whether you’re seeking to enhance a control deck or complement a politicking multiplayer style, this card offers unique tactical advantage.

Combo Potential: For those who enjoy crafting intricate combos or seeking synergies that amplify their deck’s capabilities, Common Courtesy can be a linchpin. With its ability to interact with both specific card types and opponent behaviors, you can use it to orchestrate unexpected wins.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames fluctuate and evolve, having cards that can adapt and counter prevailing tactics is crucial. Common Courtesy can disrupt common play patterns and offer an edge against decks that rely heavily on noncreature spells, making it a valuable tool in the ever-changing MTG landscape.


How to beat

Common Courtesy is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that challenges players to maintain strategic decorum. Its effect, which can disrupt opponents from executing their game plans, requires a thoughtful approach to overcome. When facing Common Courtesy, the key is to anticipate and adapt. This involves adjusting your strategy to play fewer spells during your opponent’s turn, thereby minimizing the card’s impact on your own plans.

One effective tactic is to incorporate instant-speed removal or counterspells into your deck, which allows you to address threats on your terms. Additionally, playing cards that can’t be countered or using abilities instead of spells can circumvent the constraints imposed by Common Courtesy. Moreover, cards with flash enable you to cast spells on your turn while still leaving mana open for responses, streamlining your playstyle in such a scenario.

Ultimately, overcoming Common Courtesy involves a blend of foresight, deck customization, and in-game adjustments. Keeping these elements in mind will ensure that you maintain control and can sideline this obstruction from allowing your opponent to dictate the pace and rules of the game.


Cards like Common Courtesy

Common Courtesy is a unique spell with a twist on player interaction in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels other cards that allow for reciprocal benefits, such as Wishclaw Talisman. This artifact grants a wish to both you and an opponent, though Common Courtesy does it through spell casting ability rather than artifact tutoring. The difference lies in the potentially immediate advantage Common Courtesy offers during spell casting phases.

Join Forces cards like Minds Aglow are also akin to Common Courtesy in their cooperative aspect. However, Minds Aglow invites all players to pool mana to collectively draw cards, whereas Common Courtesy specifically targets a single opponent’s spell choice. Additionally, Hive Mind is a card to consider when comparing its similar duplicating effects, yet it copies spells for all players, increasing the chance for widespread impact unlike the more selective nature of Common Courtesy.

Evaluating its role in player dynamics and game strategy, Common Courtesy stands out among MTG cards that embrace the concept of shared benefits. Its diplomacy-laced approach to spell casting can lead to complex alliances and unexpected gameplay turns, marking its place in the social sphere of Magic: The Gathering.

Wishclaw Talisman - MTG Card versions
Minds Aglow - MTG Card versions
Hive Mind - MTG Card versions
Wishclaw Talisman - MTG Card versions
Minds Aglow - MTG Card versions
Hive Mind - MTG Card versions

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Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
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Mystic Restraints - MTG Card versions
Ambiguity - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Leyline of Singularity - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Common Courtesy MTG card by a specific set like Unglued and Unsanctioned, 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 Common Courtesy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Common Courtesy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-08-11 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Mike Raabe.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-08-11UngluedUGL 211997NormalSilverMike Raabe
22020-02-29UnsanctionedUND 222015NormalSilverMike Raabe

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-02-29 You do have to ask yourself permission to cast spells, although you can give yourself a one-time permission that applies to all future spells you cast.

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