Strategy, Schmategy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by disrupting opponents and refilling your hand, potentially improving your game position.
  2. Instant speed cast enhances strategic flexibility, enabling responses during opponent’s turn for a tactical edge.
  3. Its high mana cost and red mana specificity may limit deck integration, calling for careful strategy calibration.

Text of card

Roll a six-sided die for Strategy, Schmategy. On a 1, Strategy, Schmategy has no effect. Otherwise, it has one of the following effects. 2 Destroy all artifacts. 3 Destroy all lands. 4 Strategy, Schmategy deals 3 damage to each creature and player. 5 Each player discards his or her hand and draws seven cards. 6 Roll the die two more times.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Strategy, Schmategy thrives by potentially disrupting the opponent’s hand while simultaneously refilling your hand, thus tipping the scales towards card advantage. Should the chaos mode strike in your favor, you could end up with a better hand than before.

Resource Acceleration: Though this card itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, playing it smartly can disrupt your opponent’s mana curve or strategy, effectively slowing them down and giving you the relative lead in resource development.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Strategy, Schmategy at instant speed opens up strategic play choices, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s actions or optimize your own moves during their turn, keeping them guessing at your actual game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Strategy, Schmategy demands you discard a card, which could be detrimental when your hand is already dwindling and each card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s cost necessitates a combination of red mana and other mana types. This specificity can restrict its integration into multi-color decks that might struggle to generate the required red mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost sitting at four mana, including two red, players may find the investment hefty when considering alternative play options that offer more impactful board presence or utility at a similar or lower mana cost threshold.


Reasons to Include Strategy, Schmategy in Your Collection

Versatility: Strategy, Schmategy is a wildcard entry that enables you to tailor the game to your advantage, whether you’re up against a single opponent or a group. Its open-ended play style means it can adapt well across various deck types.

Combo Potential: This card’s nature to disrupt and offer surprising twists can be pivotal in creating devastating combos, aligning particularly well with decks focused on unpredictability and interactive play.

Meta-Relevance: In constantly evolving playing environments, a card like Strategy, Schmategy can become instrumental. Its ability to offset and adapt to prevalent strategies makes it a smart choice for players aiming to stay competitive.


How to beat

Strategy, Schmategy is an intriguing wildcard in the Magic: The Gathering deck roster, capable of turning the tide of the game by introducing a random factor. This card boldly challenges players to embrace unpredictability with its coin flip mechanic that can lead to a diverse range of impacts on the game state. This level of randomness can be daunting, yet the key to overcoming the card lies in maintaining a finely tuned deck that hinges less on chance and more on consistent win conditions.

Decks that focus on predictable and controlled playstyles can often outmaneuver the chaos that Strategy, Schmategy introduces. Cards that allow for card draw manipulation or hand peeking, such as Brainstorm or Thoughtseize, let players anticipate and prepare for potential outcomes. Additionally, having counter spells ready can neutralize the potentially game-altering effects that Strategy, Schmategy captures. The watchwords against this card are preparation and control — by having these strategies in place, any player can tilt the odds in their favor, even when facing the whims of this chaotic card.

Ultimately, a well-constructed, synergy-focused deck with a clear strategy and a suite of responses is the best countermeasure to Strategy, Schmategy’s erratic nature and can assure that its influence over the game is minimized.


Cards like Strategy, Schmategy

Strategy, Schmategy is a quirky and unpredictable option for players who enjoy the element of surprise in Magic: The Gathering. It is reminiscent of cards like Goblin Game, where players also participate in a mini-game of sorts, impacting the game’s outcome beyond the typical combat and spellcasting. While Goblin Game asks players to hide objects and wager life, Strategy, Schmategy offers a broader range of potential effects, giving players a random selection of explosive possibilities wrapped up in a single card.

Warp World is another card that shakes up the playing field by rearranging permanents in an unexpected fashion. However, Strategy, Schmategy can be even more chaotic since it doesn’t just reshuffle what’s already on the battlefield but can also introduce entirely new elements from outside the game. Lastly, Thieves’ Auction divides all nonland permanents among players, but its method is more controlled compared to the random and whimsical nature of Strategy, Schmategy.

Stacking up these alternatives highlights Strategy, Schmategy’s unique position in Magic: The Gathering as a wildcard that encourages players to embrace chaos and unpredictability. This card doesn’t just change the state of play; it disrupts it with a touch of humor and a lot of potentials.

Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Warp World - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - Planeshift (PLS)
Warp World - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Thieves' Auction - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

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Nahiri's Lithoforming - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
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Burning Wish - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mana Seism - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
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Face to Face - Unhinged (UNH)
Pyroclasm - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Goblin Sleigh Ride - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Hurly-Burly - Lorwyn (LRW)
Brood Birthing - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Strategy, Schmategy 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 Strategy, Schmategy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Strategy, Schmategy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-08-11 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-08-11UngluedUGL 521997normalsilverDaniel Gelon
22020-02-29UnsanctionedUND 582015normalsilverDaniel Gelon

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-02-29 The “Do nothing” on a result of 1 refers to that individual roll, not to all of Strategy, Schamtegy. For example, if you roll a 6 and then on the next roll you roll a 1, you’ll still roll again and process that result.

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