Psychic Network MTG Card


Psychic Network - Unglued
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1998-08-11
Set symbol
Set nameUnglued
Set codeUGL
Number26
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byClaymore J. Flapdoodle
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Psychic Network delivers consistent hand intel, allowing advanced strategic planning against adversaries.
  2. Requires careful hand management due to the discard condition, balancing its strategic benefits.
  3. Combos and meta relevance make Psychic Network a valuable piece in any MTG arsenal.

Text of card

Each player reveals the top card of his or her library to all other players by continuously holding it against his or her forehead. This does not allow a player to look at his or her own card. (That card still counts as the top card of your library. Whenever you draw a card, draw that one and replace it with the next card of your library.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Psychic Network presents a dynamic way to keep your hand fueled. With its ability to sift through the top card of your library, you can strategize and plan your moves to maintain a lead over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s mechanism can also contribute significantly to resource acceleration by potentially revealing additional land cards or spells that generate mana, thus amplifying your ability to cast more spells or play more substantial cards sooner.

Instant Speed: Being able to cast Psychic Network at instant speed offers an element of surprise and strategic depth. It allows you to adjust your tactics in response to your opponent’s actions, which can be a critical factor in turning the tide of the game to your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the main hindrances of Psychic Network is its discard condition. Activating the card’s ability comes at the price of another card from your hand. This can be especially detrimental when your hand is already dwindling and you’re in need of more resources rather than fewer.

Specific Mana Cost: Psychic Network’s mana cost is not only particular but also somewhat restrictive, requiring a combination of blue mana. This can be taken as a limitation as it fits primarily into blue or blue-inclusive decks, potentially excluding it from a wide variety of other deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Moreover, the card comes with a relatively steep mana cost that might not pair well with its benefits. A total of three mana, including double blue, can be a significant investment in the early to mid-game, by which time a player could have other, potentially more impactful, plays at their disposal.


Reasons to Include Psychic Network in Your Collection

Versatility: Psychic Network is an enchantment which offers adaptability across various deck styles, especially for those that thrive on manipulating the top card of both players’ libraries.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key element in combinations, working harmoniously with cards that enable peeking at the opponent’s deck, rearranging top cards, or capitalizing on knowing what’s coming next in either player’s draw.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the card interacts with the intricacies of the MTG meta, it can gain significant value in formats where foreknowledge of the next draw can dictate the pace and outcome of matches.


How to beat

The Psychic Network stands out in the realm of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. This unique card allows its controller a peek into the opponent’s hand once each turn, providing a strategic advantage through information. Its power lies in the continuous flow of knowledge it grants the player, affecting the tempo and decisions of the game.

To counteract Psychic Network’s ability effectively, one strategy is utilizing cards that limit hand visibility, such as Orbs of Warding, which grants you hexproof, thus preventing opponents from targeting you to see your hand. Another method is to employ hand disruption tactics. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress force the Psychic Network’s controller to discard, diminishing the value of the knowledge they’ve gained by making their hand knowledge obsolete. Of course, enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize offer a direct solution by eliminating Psychic Network from the battlefield entirely, allowing you to maintain secrecy over your hand and reclaim control of the informational aspect of the game.

By prioritizing the removal of Psychic Network or weakening its effects, you can neutralize the strategic advantage it provides and keep your hand shielded from prying eyes, thus restoring the balance of knowledge and power in your Magic: The Gathering matches.


Cards like Psychic Network

Psychic Network stands out in the field of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering due to its unique effect of revealing players’ hands. This attribute shares common ground with cards such as Telepathy which also unveils the hands of all players, bar the one who controls the spell. Yet, Psychic Network offers a persisting insight by continuously updating hand information as players draw or discard.

Conversely, we identify Glimpse the Unthinkable in terms of impactful knowledge acquisition. While Glimpse targets the library rather than the hand, and mills cards rather than revealing them, the thread of gaining an advantage through opponent’s card exposure ties them together. Glimpse benefits from being more aggressive, potentially disrupting an opponent’s strategy before those cards could ever be played.

To sum up, Psychic Network serves as a notable option for those looking to leverage the strategic edge of knowing opponents’ cards throughout the game. It’s a different approach compared to the one-off effects of similar spells, offering continuous advantages versus immediate but fleeting glimpses provided by other surveillance mechanisms within Magic: The Gathering.

Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - Urza's Saga (USG)
Glimpse the Unthinkable - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Cards similar to Psychic Network by color, type and mana cost

Flight - MTG Card versions
Unstable Mutation - MTG Card versions
Field of Dreams - MTG Card versions
Dream Coat - MTG Card versions
Tangle Kelp - MTG Card versions
Tidal Flats - MTG Card versions
Flood - MTG Card versions
Backfire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Essence Flare - MTG Card versions
Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Mana Chains - MTG Card versions
Robe of Mirrors - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Veiled Sentry - MTG Card versions
Air Bladder - MTG Card versions
Seal of Removal - MTG Card versions
Shimmering Wings - MTG Card versions
Aboshan's Desire - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Flight - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Unstable Mutation - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Field of Dreams - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Dream Coat - Legends (LEG)
Tangle Kelp - The Dark (DRK)
Tidal Flats - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Flood - Renaissance (REN)
Backfire - Renaissance (REN)
Mystic Remora - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Essence Flare - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Cloak of Invisibility - Mirage (MIR)
Mana Chains - Weatherlight (WTH)
Robe of Mirrors - Tenth Edition (10E)
Telepathy - Magic 2010 (M10)
Veiled Sentry - Urza's Saga (USG)
Air Bladder - Nemesis (NEM)
Seal of Removal - Nemesis (NEM)
Shimmering Wings - Invasion (INV)
Aboshan's Desire - Odyssey (ODY)
Curiosity - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

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

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