Sorcerous Spyglass

Artifact

As Sorcerous Spyglass enters the battlefield, look at an opponent's hand, then choose any card name.

Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.

Discussion (51)

StopShot on Legendary Equipment - Custom Card ...

2 weeks ago

@abby315, Ah, no the formatting is correct if you check the oracle text of Splinter Twin on Gatherer.

I get what you're saying about Splinter Twin being a risk as its easy to get 2-for-1 if you're the Twin player. I tried to replicate that here where you could destroy the equipment with the copy ability on the stack which would cause the combo player to lose the creature later due to the ability. This 2-for-1 only works for artifact removal however.

Do keep in mind Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker does exist in the format as there's no way to 2-for-1 that set-up and both my custom card and the Kiki-Jiki setup can only be pulled off no earlier than turn 5 which is pretty slow/late in the Modern format. While my custom card doesn't die to creature spot-removal like Kiki-Jiki, it does get removed easily to a wide myriad of format staples such as Inquisition of Kozilek, Natural State, Abrupt Decay, Smash to Smithereens, Abrade, Stony Silence, Kolaghan's Command, Rakdos Charm, Collector Ouphe and Karn, the Great Creator. There's also been more cards printed since Splinter Twin's banning that could be effective at countering the strategy that weren't present before such as Dovin's Veto, Authority of the Consuls, Thalia, Heretic Cathar, Fry, Unmoored Ego, Trespasser's Curse, Harsh Mentor, Wilt, Force of Negation, Tyrant's Scorn, Spell Queller, Aether Gust, Sorcerous Spyglass, Cindervines and Assassin's Trophy. Given the card pool and turn 5 being the earliest the combo can go off, is the late-game flexibility too strong?

Also this card is designed for Modern competitive and casual EDH value, but more emphasis on Modern.

Brutal_B on Activated ability?

2 weeks ago

Does the Rally trigger on Grovetender Druids offer an activated ability? My buddy is trying to name Grovetender Druids via his Sorcerous Spyglass but were in a disagreement as to whether the ability is a legitimate "activated ability" cuz there is no colon.

juanchite86 on Snow Monster

3 weeks ago

Thanks a lot for your comment Destroyerbirb! I definitely love the snow archetype. If you have your deck posted please share it, I would love to see more snow decks (at least for casual play).

As for your suggestions, these are my thoughts:

• Add Diamond Faerie: the issue I have with it is that, is not only hard to cast, but the +1/+1 ability does not do a lot for me in this deck.

• Add Phyrexian Soulgorger: is definitely a card I would consider as a one of or 2 max, because once I play it I need to win on that turn.The fact that is colorless helps a lot. Is probably worth trying.

• Add Icehide Golem: I like this card a lot and I used to have them in the deck, but my experience with it is mostly negative. It dies to everything, it is hard to keep in in play for more than one turn.

• Add Engineered Explosives: is definitely a card to include, I just do not own one at this moment, but is the natural replacement for Ratchet Bomb.

• Add Pithing Needle: I do have a couple of them, the only reason I went with Sorcerous Spyglass is because this is kind of a ramp deck and 2 mana is not hard to get.

• Remove Dryad of the Ilysian Grove: I find it hard to cut him from the deck since it not only fixes the mana, but also adds an extra snow permanent into play as early as turn 2 if you get a perfect opening hand by playing extra lands. The only way to replace it would be to lower the mana curve a lot so as to be able to put something into play every turn, like the options you suggested, Phyrexian Soulgorger and Icehide Golem are probably the best options to replace him since they are colorless and cost little mana.

Destroyerbirb on Snow Monster

3 weeks ago

Have you thought of adding Diamond Faerie for more casual play, plus Phyrexian Soulgorger as a threat and Icehide Golem. (It's such an underrated card) I play a snow deck like this, and it's fun. I would add the Engineered Explosives in the sideboard instead of the Sorcerous Spyglass, and a Pithing Needle instead of the other Sorcerous Spyglass. Also, the Dryad of the Ilysian Grove has little synergy in the deck, so I would cut it. But that's just my opinion.

HELLcaster19 on Brago - where did all my friends go?

1 month ago

CaptainToll Fair enough. I won't argue with your logic behind Sorcerous Spyglass :)

As for the Reflector Mage and Phyrexian Revoker, I personally prefer the mage. Just because Revoker can be situational, and can not really be abused in the same way the mage can, as Revoker can only have one target unless you have a Panharmonicon on board or clone its trigger with Strionic Resonator.

Reflector Mage just seems a little more valuable in my opinion. Especially against tribal decks (ie. Slivers, that give each other additional effects or strength. Reflector can at least remove them for an entire turn, removing the effects from the other remaining ones).

Again though, it is all based on how you gear your deck. :) I like trying to put as much as I can back into your hand, and removing mana sources (rocks, lands) to force discards. Or just counter their synergy cards as they come out!

CaptainToll on Brago - where did all my friends go?

1 month ago

I recently imposed a little monetary embargo on myself due to just having finished my tenth commander deck ;D but my scope's already set on Trickbind believe me that. Reflector Mage I tend to switch in and out with Phyrexian Revoker. Also I like to think of Sorcerous Spyglass as a permanent version of Trickbind, which also gives you info about your opponents hands, which often is invalueable, PLUS it is fetchable via Tribute Mage and resettable for upcoming threats via bragoblinks.

isaacmartin623 on Through the looking glass

2 months ago

I really like the thematic deck idea! How apposed are you to using unset cards? While they technically aren't legal in commander, this deck doesn't exactly strike me as trying to play in tournaments. I'm mostly asking for Pippa, Duchess of Dice who seems pretty thematically appropriate. Even if you decide not, Ancestral Memories directly references the book, as does Pearled Unicorn. Others include Zodiac Rabbit (For obvious reasons) Diminish (Shrinking) Into the Story or Once Upon a Time also work well. Grumgully, the Generous could also be a mad-hatter character, still bested by Mad Ratter though. Also, Sorcerous Spyglass

Brutal_B on Possibility Storm Mishra

2 months ago

Seems pretty narrow. I mean, what if someone blows out your Possibility Storm or ends up casting Nevermore, Meddling Mage or something else that locks you out of Possibility Storm?

You could throw in something like Curator's Ward to protect your Possibility Storm or even an artifact or legendary since you can draw cards off enchantee's LTB.

Have you considered Mirage Mirror?