Except you're pretty much always going to get the option that benefits you the least because your opponent is choosing.
SlackWareWolf
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(7 votes)
Ummm, "Draw 3 or tutor for what you want" is worth it.
Who cares? Benefits you the least is rarely a problem when the choices are to get whatever you want, or draw up 3 cards. Either way is a win no matter if the opponent picks or not. I'm not saying there isn't better stuff, I'm just saying I use it quite well, and I'm a big fan of the Card Dominance thing so this fits right there just fine. I trade one card for either one I REALLY want, or, for 3 more. I think that's fair :)
Kirbster
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I agree that the effect is fine, I just think they could have made the card four mana instead.
Anyways, cards that let your opponent make decisions aren't all bad. Look at Fact or Fiction.
"Ummm, "Draw 3 or tutor for what you want" is worth it."
Not for five mana and the opponent's choice between the two effects. The mana cost makes it inferior to Concentrate and Diabolic Tutor, both of which see nothing but the most casual play. Additionally, you never get the more beneficial of the two effects.
Would you play a five mana Concentrate or Diabolic Tutor, if either existed? How does allowing the opponent to choose between the two effects for you make either of the hypothetical cards better?
elhajjaj
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Huh? I guess the one fact everybody seems to have missed with this card is that it's the only blue spell to date in all of Magic that (if the opponent permits) allows you to search your library for any card (not just a specific card type) and put that card in your hand. Every other deck-diver in blue looks only for specific card (sub)types: Merfolk, instant, sorcery, land, artifact... Sometimes the card is put on top of the library, or it's exiled. Only this card lets you look for anything, then puts it in your hand.
Diabolic Tutor is a 4 CMC which makes the 5 CMC of the Library of Lat-Nam not such a bad price. Demonic Tutor at a 2 CMC is much better, though it's restricted. Moreover, those previous tutors are black, not blue, which would require additional color fixing. And, yup, there are cheaper CMC draw three cards like Ancestral Recall which is also restricted, and I favor the $$$ I'd have to spend for Lo'L-N much better.
To be fair, this is a card that would only see play in casual because it's high CMC prohibits it's use in quick-fire Legacy or Vintage decks. But in casual, it's fun to play with stuff like Word of Winds, for example--let me search for a card or bounce three of your permanents. Not always an easy choice...
This is not the only blue tutor that puts any card in your hand. See Distant Memories. It's basically the same as this except it costs one mana less and makes you reveal the card you searched for. Also, you draw the cards immediately with Distant Memories.
TheHandyman
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Looks like Alan's about to get clocked.
Morgaledh
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh lol at the brokenness of this awesome, awesome card.
Rancid_Raptor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
1. Play EDH RU
2. Play this card
3. Since it targets a single opponet, Radiate it
4. talk polotics with other players
5. ???
6. PROFIT
NARFNra
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Is...
Is that Reggie File-Aime throwing a book at Chuck Norris?
SirDrak909
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As a person who plays a lot of EDH in multiplayer, this card is EDH gold in my book.
BagOfBags
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The only place where more than 50 books are in the same room together. O.O
VDZx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Rancid_Raptor Unfortunately, that doesn't work. This card has been errata'ed to no longer target an opponent - you instead just choose an opponent. This is because modal spells require you (or your opponent) to pick a mode BEFORE targets are declared.
Which makes me wonder - how would this card work with R&D's Secret Lair? As the spell's effect is determined at announcement, the choice your opponent makes at resolution should be meaningless - so if I'm not mistaken, you get both of the effects, right?
Comments (15)
Who cares? Benefits you the least is rarely a problem when the choices are to get whatever you want, or draw up 3 cards. Either way is a win no matter if the opponent picks or not. I'm not saying there isn't better stuff, I'm just saying I use it quite well, and I'm a big fan of the Card Dominance thing so this fits right there just fine. I trade one card for either one I REALLY want, or, for 3 more. I think that's fair :)
Anyways, cards that let your opponent make decisions aren't all bad. Look at Fact or Fiction.
Not for five mana and the opponent's choice between the two effects. The mana cost makes it inferior to Concentrate and Diabolic Tutor, both of which see nothing but the most casual play. Additionally, you never get the more beneficial of the two effects.
Would you play a five mana Concentrate or Diabolic Tutor, if either existed? How does allowing the opponent to choose between the two effects for you make either of the hypothetical cards better?
Diabolic Tutor is a 4 CMC which makes the 5 CMC of the Library of Lat-Nam not such a bad price. Demonic Tutor at a 2 CMC is much better, though it's restricted. Moreover, those previous tutors are black, not blue, which would require additional color fixing. And, yup, there are cheaper CMC draw three cards like Ancestral Recall which is also restricted, and I favor the $$$ I'd have to spend for Lo'L-N much better.
To be fair, this is a card that would only see play in casual because it's high CMC prohibits it's use in quick-fire Legacy or Vintage decks. But in casual, it's fun to play with stuff like Word of Winds, for example--let me search for a card or bounce three of your permanents. Not always an easy choice...
OK, I'll bite: Intuition, Noble Benefactor, Archmage Ascension, Distant Memories (looks familiar), and of course, Johnny, Combo Player.
This is not the only blue tutor that puts any card in your hand. See Distant Memories. It's basically the same as this except it costs one mana less and makes you reveal the card you searched for. Also, you draw the cards immediately with Distant Memories.
2. Play this card
3. Since it targets a single opponet, Radiate it
4. talk polotics with other players
5. ???
6. PROFIT
Is that Reggie File-Aime throwing a book at Chuck Norris?
Unfortunately, that doesn't work. This card has been errata'ed to no longer target an opponent - you instead just choose an opponent. This is because modal spells require you (or your opponent) to pick a mode BEFORE targets are declared.
Which makes me wonder - how would this card work with R&D's Secret Lair? As the spell's effect is determined at announcement, the choice your opponent makes at resolution should be meaningless - so if I'm not mistaken, you get both of the effects, right?