IT'S BACK! YAAAAAAY! This and mana leak keep blue exactly where it was, as the best color in standard, assuming chandra doesn't explode in a nuclear fashion.
qwerty721
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Sooooo...Pyromancer's ascension is back in standard now?
How often to cards restricted in Vintage get reprinted? Not that I'm complaining.
Superllama12
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
IT'S BACK!!!!!!
Richard_Hawk
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I prefer this over Preordain, I miss Ponder.
CJM2
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Always liked this better than Preordain. Thanks, Wizards.
God_Of_The_Smurfs
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
They reprinted so much crazy sh*t this set. I'm so happy I could cry right now.
TheSwarm
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
I've been playing preordain so much I am seriously gonna miss it, and probably *** ponder up like a billion times until I get used to it. I am happy to see a one drop card advantage spell make it to standard, so I can't complain.
The_Trendkill
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Along with Solemn Simulacrum and Grim Lavamancer, perhaps the most exciting reprint in the set. How often does a card restricted in Vintage return to Standard?
Joseph_Leito
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Technically not strictly better than preordain because you can't dump to the bottom. But definitely much better than Preordain. Thanks Wizards!
NeoKoda
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
This is restricted in Vintage? Man I wish I could trade my preordains for it.
Lyoncet
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Works very will with Jace, Memory Adept's +1 for obvious reasons. Don't like all of the top three cards, but really want one or two? No problem! Same goes for Merfolk Looter.
Just happy I have my M10 playset. :)
tantallum99
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(5 votes)
I must be in the minority, but I like preordain better. ponder is still good though!
@mrroll, I've also wondered about the whole common that's restricted in vintage but keeps getting repeated thing also...
WarioMan
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Radagast
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Amazing card, and nice to see it back!
AngelPhoenix
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
@tantallum99: you and me both, I like that you have the option to pick a card that you want, and one that you don't from the two, draw the one you want, and bottom out the one you don't, letting you get something new next turn. With this, sure you can re-order 3 cards, and you still get the draw, but you MUST either take ALL 3 of those cards (over two turns), or take NONE of them, and gamble with the shuffle. It's excellent, don't get me wrong. But I will always prefer scrying over looking at top X.
JFM2796
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I only hsve one in my mono blue control. Once I get a playset I'm kicking the See Beyonds and Preordains out.
alblast
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
anyone ever notice there is a face in the background? Any guesses to who it might be?
FiveColorFinder
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I don't think this is going to flat out replace Preordain. Supplement, yes, work with, obviously, but not get rid off. For one thing, scry lets you get rid of junk cards entirely, rather than put them off, and the fact that Preordain is just a mite more flexible will help it, too.
Basically, its like Forked Lightning versus Lightning Bolt. One being seen as strictly better doesn't diminish the usefullness of the other.
Kryptnyt
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
I'm surprised at how many people prefer this to preordain. Everyone I know thinks the opposite. Me? I think they're about even. But ponder is restricted in Vintage, and Preordain is not. I'm sure there is a good reason for that.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(11 votes)
A legend returns.
Vinifera7
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
I was trying to compare this and Preordain to see which is better. Preordain gives you more options for controlling your draws, but Ponder lets you dig a little deeper.
Options for Ponder: A) Get 1 card among top 3, then order remaining 2 B) Get 1 random card
Options for Preordain: A) Get 1 card among top 2, then keep remaining 1 on top B) Get 1 card among top 2, then ditch remaining 1 C) Ditch top 2 cards, then get 1 random card
Dr_Fletchers
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It's Pinky and the Brain.....well anyway this card is a great 1 cost blue card that helps you set yourself up in an early game....a nice card that is well suited to its colour.
Nagoragama
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
If you have ways of shuffling your deck besides Ponder itself, Ponder is better. Otherwise use Preordain.
A3Kitsune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@alblast: Spock.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
I definitely prefer this over preordain. when you're digging for a card, you don't care about how many options you have, you just wanna find the right card!
DarthParallax
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
EDIT: Ponder is not, after all, Brainstorm...so maybe it will get unbanned in one of Modern or Extended...but still. Restricted in Vintage means it's a card to watch for. It's on the 'suspicious persons' list. Ponder will probably end up having more banned/restricted list announcements than any other card, as people break, fix, and re-break it in all the Formats. It may or may not actually get banned from Standard. That is a very extreme statement I know, but I think we're going to be seeing Standard decks that look a helluva lot like Old School decks, one or two turns slower.
The Graveyard Is My *** .dec, anyone? Decks with super high octane card advantage, with access to both Ponder shenanigans and Zombie Infestation shenanigans....I don't know how to call it yet. We will see what really happens, sometime halfway through Dark Ascension. That will be when we have the most knowledge about the format, before anything realy new comes along and changes back on us (M13, any summer surprises that may or may not affect Standard, etc.)
RJDroid
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?" "I think so Brain, but why would Gwendlyn Di Corci write a musical?"
morugatu
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Ok, can somebody please explain to me why this and preordain are so restricted/banned? Is it the card itself or combos people are pulling? I just don't see the massive card advantage this has over any other card that let's you scry and/or draw without combing it.
SgtSwaggr
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Banned in modern! :(
Philosophy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card.
Also, how many of you noticed the face behind the rotating earth?
TheWrathofShane
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I am very confused why this is banned. Its a simple draw card, that lets you have some minor deck control and not loose a card for one cmc. Very fair and in the right color.
The only reason they gave was to limit blue red decks of finding there combo cards. Well that seems very narrow to ban an entire utility card. Now if you want to splash blue to get some card draw, 2 great options at the 1 cmc slot are just gone. It does not seem right.
Plus, they said there goal in these bans was to prevent turn 3 wins. Blue red decks dont win on turn 3 there slower, needed the draws to help them run smoother.
I vote this should be unbanned right now, and that Magic BANS the people who passed this nonsense.
When using cheap cantrips like this one remember what I like the call the the Turbo Xerox Rule: "For every four 1-2 mana cantrips, you can remove two lands." Some explanation and history here: http://birdsofparadise-mtg.blogspot.com/2011/10/turbo-xerox-rule.html
Zokorad
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Preordain is Better because you may put some on BOTTOM OF LIBRARY!
Gabriel422
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Whenever I build a blue deck, I reach for four of these. Sometimes even Mana Leak and Forbidden Alchemy get cut, but if blue is in my deck anything more than a light splash -- four Ponders.
Totema
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
WotC: "We're reprinting this in M12." Players: "Yaaaay!" WotC: "We're also banning it." Players: ...
It means players have four less slots they need to fill with much rarer and more expensive cards, so it makes deckbuilder just a bit easier. They're reliable, effective, and everyone from newbies to pros will use them to good effect.
Say what you want about the Wizards and rarity, but at least they keep the utilities at common. Well, most of the time (cough Lotus Cobra cough)
Scormio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
How wizards thinks this is okay in Standard but bannable in modern/extended and even restricted in vintage is beyond me. Just because it doesn't break as much in Standard than it does in other formats doesn't mean it breaks stuff. 80% of the reason Delverblade is so good right now is because it has this AND quitaxian probe in standard at the same time...and you can do both on turn 1.
MindAblaze
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm wondering if they banned this card partly to break up the metagame a bit. Is it ok to automatically eat up four slots in every blue deck?
EmoJesus26
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of my favorite cards ever, just pure advantage
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I thought ponder was neat back in M10. Then they printed Preordain. Since I hate having to "mulligan" the top 3 cards of my library, I play the M11 card where its legal, and maybe this as a 2-of. It's still good, but my prior digging prejudices me towards preferring Preordain.
However, thanks to cards from Avacyn Restored with Miracle mana costs, it looks like Ponder's days in Standard are numbered.
KnexWiz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
just saw Temporal Mastery and the other miracles, the $ value of ponder just went up, i can feel it.
shotoku64
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I personally like ponder better because it digs deeper in my deck. Also, run both if you can, you don't always have to choose
Dream_Twist
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Thought Scour will be the new this. The direction blue is going, I can definitely see it.
PauperCubist
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've never drafted from a cube that didn't run both Ponder and Preordain. They're just such great tools for blue; you NEVER feel bad about topdecking one of these. By comparison, Brainstorm just doesn't live up to its full potential unless you have plenty of ways to shuffle away the junk you don't want to draw over the next two turns, which you can't always guarantee during a draft.
spartan7023
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i love this card i dont play blue with out four
SirZapdos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card. Efficient and always useful. The art and flavour text are also both great.
I hope that they'll reprint this card once Delver of Secrets and Miracles rotate.
SnackyNorph
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Am I crazy, or were this and Preordain Restricted in Modern not too long ago?
TastetheJace
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Arachibutyrophobia's comment explains why Ponder looks down, not up, on Preordain (which is an amazing card in itself).
Blue is insane. Blue for life.
RDorothy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
vampire nighthawk, meet your power creep twin in blue.
DeaTh-ShiNoBi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Kryptnyt Ponder is considered more powerful in Vintage entirely because of fetchlands allowing you to dig for more cards while also keeping what you want and getting rid of what you don't want, and also because of its interaction with Brainstorm (shuffling what you don't want). Preordain is a stronger card in most other situations.
Phelplan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@alblas I will admit that I never noticed the face till I saw your comment. That is amazing. Sometimes I notice things on cards that I haven't seen before too despite seeing it several times: ie. the reflection in the water in Twisted Image
Quotations
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
ill admit it, i never realized this card was powerful enough to me modern and extended banned... vintage limited too...
jonrds
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The obvious downside this has compared to preordain is that you have to either keep all 3 cards or lose all 3, whereas preordain lets you pick individually. Its the same reason Sage of Epityr needs help. It doesn't help that much to reorder the top few cards of your deck, you need to be able to take what you want and get rid of the rest.
This downside can be removed using other things to shuffle your library (like fetchlands). Just trigger the shuffle right before you start getting the cards you didn't want. Since these are pretty much necessary in some formats already, you can see why Ponder was too much for those formats.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
People complain about blue and complain about power-level:rarity ratio. How many of those mythics make it to legacy; let alone vintage. How many Blue 1-drop Commons control those formats?
Let Modern be a lessen to people: Even in a world of Cancel Blue will find a way.
In a world of mediocre counterspells blue matches aggro with Snapcaster Lightning Bolt; matches combo/control with Remand and in the same breath hoses everyone with Spell Pierce while having reliable decks because of brutal-good cantrips.
Comments (61)
This and mana leak keep blue exactly where it was, as the best color in standard, assuming chandra doesn't explode in a nuclear fashion.
Just happy I have my M10 playset. :)
@mrroll, I've also wondered about the whole common that's restricted in vintage but keeps getting repeated thing also...
Basically, its like Forked Lightning versus Lightning Bolt. One being seen as strictly better doesn't diminish the usefullness of the other.
Me? I think they're about even. But ponder is restricted in Vintage, and Preordain is not. I'm sure there is a good reason for that.
Options for Ponder:
A) Get 1 card among top 3, then order remaining 2
B) Get 1 random card
Options for Preordain:
A) Get 1 card among top 2, then keep remaining 1 on top
B) Get 1 card among top 2, then ditch remaining 1
C) Ditch top 2 cards, then get 1 random card
The Graveyard Is My *** .dec, anyone? Decks with super high octane card advantage, with access to both Ponder shenanigans and Zombie Infestation shenanigans....I don't know how to call it yet. We will see what really happens, sometime halfway through Dark Ascension. That will be when we have the most knowledge about the format, before anything realy new comes along and changes back on us (M13, any summer surprises that may or may not affect Standard, etc.)
"I think so Brain, but why would Gwendlyn Di Corci write a musical?"
Also, how many of you noticed the face behind the rotating earth?
The only reason they gave was to limit blue red decks of finding there combo cards. Well that seems very narrow to ban an entire utility card. Now if you want to splash blue to get some card draw, 2 great options at the 1 cmc slot are just gone. It does not seem right.
Plus, they said there goal in these bans was to prevent turn 3 wins. Blue red decks dont win on turn 3 there slower, needed the draws to help them run smoother.
I vote this should be unbanned right now, and that Magic BANS the people who passed this nonsense.
"For every four 1-2 mana cantrips, you can remove two lands."
Some explanation and history here:
http://birdsofparadise-mtg.blogspot.com/2011/10/turbo-xerox-rule.html
Players: "Yaaaay!"
WotC: "We're also banning it."
Players: ...
It means players have four less slots they need to fill with much rarer and more expensive cards, so it makes deckbuilder just a bit easier. They're reliable, effective, and everyone from newbies to pros will use them to good effect.
Say what you want about the Wizards and rarity, but at least they keep the utilities at common. Well, most of the time (cough Lotus Cobra cough)
However, thanks to cards from Avacyn Restored with Miracle mana costs, it looks like Ponder's days in Standard are numbered.
Also, run both if you can, you don't always have to choose
I hope that they'll reprint this card once Delver of Secrets and Miracles rotate.
Blue is insane. Blue for life.
Ponder is considered more powerful in Vintage entirely because of fetchlands allowing you to dig for more cards while also keeping what you want and getting rid of what you don't want, and also because of its interaction with Brainstorm (shuffling what you don't want). Preordain is a stronger card in most other situations.
This downside can be removed using other things to shuffle your library (like fetchlands). Just trigger the shuffle right before you start getting the cards you didn't want. Since these are pretty much necessary in some formats already, you can see why Ponder was too much for those formats.
Let Modern be a lessen to people: Even in a world of Cancel
Blue will find a way.
In a world of mediocre counterspells blue matches aggro with Snapcaster Lightning Bolt; matches combo/control with Remand and in the same breath hoses everyone with Spell Pierce while having reliable decks because of brutal-good cantrips.
Play Ponder, draw.
Play Gitaxian Probe, draw.