Crystal Ball

Artifact

{1}, {T}: Scry 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (42)

DemonDragonJ on Clash of the Titans

4 days ago

I have replaced Crystal Ball and Pain Magnification with Black Market Connections and Mayael's Aria, since I feel that those cards are better suited to this deck.

DemonDragonJ on Which Card Should Replace Pain …

2 weeks ago

legendofa, that is actually a good point to consider, and I believe that it should not be too difficult to have a creature with 20 power in this deck, considering that Progenitus is already a 10/10 by default, but I think that I should wait for several more responses, before I make my final decision on this matter.

FormOverFunction, I almost put Titans' Nest in my The Mimeoplasm EDH deck, but its activated ability is slightly too strict in how the mana that it produces can be used.

Actually, how badly do I need Crystal Ball in this deck? It is a nice card, but scrying is rarely as good as direct card drawing, so, if I do not need that card, I can put both enchantments in the deck; does anyone else here think that that is a good idea?

DemonDragonJ on All Creatures Great and Small

4 months ago

I have replaced Crystal Ball with Sylvan Library, which reduced the average converted mana cost of this deck from 3.65 to 3.63, because I feel that the latter card provides better card advantage.

Gidgetimer on Crystal Ball or Sylvan Library?

4 months ago

Sylvan Library doesn't work quite as either Caerwyn or DemonDragonJ have said, but it is still leagues better than Crystal Ball. It triggers on your draw step, after you have drawn for turn. So yes you will have drawn 3 cards by the time you have to pick 2 drawn this turn and either pay 4 life or put each of them back; but it is not drawing you an extra card each turn. Life is a resource though and 1/10 of your starting life total for each of up to 2 cards is pretty cheap. I don't think I have ever got it out and not paid at least 4 life a turn for an extra card. If my life isn't being actively pressured I'll usually pay 8 life a turn just because of how great the card advantage is.

There is a reason that one of them is 35¢ and the other is $10.

Caerwyn on Crystal Ball or Sylvan Library?

4 months ago

Crystal Ball is a bad card; Sylvan Library is a great card. Let us compare:

Crystal Ball gives you information and the ability to sculpt your draws, but does not actually give you any actual assets on its own. You are paying {3} for an artifact that costs another {1} to actually use, and you still need to either wait until your next draw step or use additional resources to get any value out of the information Crystal Ball provided.

Sylvan Library gives you actual assets. It lets you draw an additional card per turn and gives you information about your next draw. But the benefits do not stop there. Did you draw two great cards? Pay a measly four life and get two additional cards that turn. Draw a crappy card you do not want to top deck? Pay four life to keep it in your hand, so you can get something else next time you draw.

Not even a close call on this.

DemonDragonJ on Crystal Ball or Sylvan Library?

4 months ago

I have a copy of Crystal Ball in my Ghired, Conclave Exile EDH deck, but I am considering replacing it with Sylvan Library, because scrying is excellent, but actually drawing cards is better in most situations, but I am not entirely certain about that decision, so I would like to ask the other users of this forum for advice.

Crystal Ball's ability can be used at any time, but it requires mana to use, whereas Sylvan Library's ability triggers only during it's controller's upkeep step, but it requires no additional mana to use, only life, which should not be a problem, for this deck, as the deck does contain at least some life gaining.

What does everyone else say about this? Should I replace Crystal Ball with Sylvan Library, or leave the former card in my Ghired deck?

wozislightning on Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign

7 months ago

I currently run Yennett as well. A few cards that have overperformed for me: Crystal Ball Aminatou, the Fateshifter Haunted Crossroads Baneful Omen and Telling Time. Good luck and happy brewing!

DemonDragonJ on 100 Shades of Gray

9 months ago

I have replaced Crystal Ball with Markov Purifier, because the creature has better synergy with this deck than does the artifact.