As regular readers know by now, I play a lot
of singleton formats. I don't really like tutors
in those formats. Oh, they're certainly
powerful, and there are decks that basically
don't function without them, but to me the joy
of a singleton format is that decks don't play
exactly the same cards every time and you might
not have any given card at any given time. When
you do . . . well, it feels more like
constructed, which is a different thing.
But when you really, really want to cast that
one particular spell or pull off that one
particular combo (would Warp World even be a
thing in multiplayer without this card?), there
is almost nothing better in the entire game to
get you there. Maybe Demonic Tutor, but only
maybe and not by a lot - the fact that Mystical
Tutor is instant speed is what really sets it
apart. Many of the most powerful plays in
Commander and other multiplayer formats are
instants or sorceries anyway.
Today's card of the day is Mystical Tutor which
is a two mana Blue instant that allows you to
search your library for an instant or sorcery
card, reveal it and shuffle your library, then
place it on top of your library. This is an
excellent card for setting up your next move,
particularly with Miracles, draw effects to add
it to hand immediately, or effects that allow
you to play the top card of your library. This
will always see play in formats that it is
allowed in and is one of the best support
options for many decks, not just those needing
combo pieces.
In a Limited format with this it is an easy
second or third pick in Booster after a Blue
first choice, particularly if that card is an
instant or sorcery or even if not Blue when
planning on a two color
build. In Sealed this should always be played
when using Blue unless
the deck is completely lacking in instants in
sorcery cards, which is possible though unlikely
and not recommended. The lack of multiple copies
of most cards in the format makes this a low
mana cost way to get what you need when you need
it.
Anything that allows you to search for a card
is usually worth a second look.
If it costs you only one mana at instant
speed, it's almost undoubtedly going to be
played a lot.
With the amount of good instants and
sorceries that are out there these days, I'm not
even going to go into the things you might
search for with this. Use it to find the second
half of your combo or just a much-needed kill
spell. The fact that it's instant means you can
use it at the end of your opponent's turn and
then draw it almost immediately after. Or, use
it at any time combined with an instant speed
draw effect to get your card immediately.
One key to a good competitive Magic deck,
whether you're playing legacy, modern, standard,
commander, or whatever format, is consistency.
You want to be able to predict what your deck is
going to do and have a dependable path to
victory. Anything that allows you to search your
library is a big way to make sure you get what
you need. It's no wonder it's been banned in
many formats.
Constructed: 4 (Would be 5, but it's only
legal in Vintage and Commander)
Casual: 5
Limited: 4
Multiplayer: 5
