Blatant Thievery MTG Card


Blatant Thievery excels in multiplayer games, providing substantial card advantage by commandeering opponents’ permanents. Despite its sorcery speed, the strategic timing of its thefts can decisively disrupt opponent game plans. High mana cost and color specificity can limit its inclusion to certain decks, impacting overall card utility.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

For each opponent, gain control of target permanent that player controls. (This effect doesn't end at end of turn.)

"I'll leave subtlety to the rich."


Cards like Blatant Thievery

Blatant Thievery stands out in the pool of blue control cards within Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique game-shifting effect by allowing a player to gain control of permanents across the board. In line with this card’s control style, it bears resemblance to Control Magic, which also grants control of a creature to the caster, but it’s limited to a single target and lacks Blatant Thievery’s broad impact.

Expropriate is another spell to consider when looking at broad-scope control cards. Much like Blatant Thievery, it can drastically turn the tides of a multiplayer game. The difference is its added versatility, since Expropriate not only steals permanents but also gives a choice of extra turns, at a higher mana cost. Insurrection is a key competitor too, as it temporarily shifts control of all creatures in play, yet it doesn’t provide the lasting control or encompass non-creature permanents as Blatant Thievery does.

In evaluating these cards, Blatant Thievery shines as a strategic mid to late-game play, affording a comprehensive advantage in multiplayer formats. Its ability to permanently gain control of multiple key permanents across all opponents places it among the formidable choices in Magic: The Gathering’s array of control cards.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Expropriate - MTG Card versions
Insurrection - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Expropriate - MTG Card versions
Insurrection - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blatant Thievery by color, type and mana cost

Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn - MTG Card versions
Alrund's Epiphany - MTG Card versions
Temporal Cascade - MTG Card versions
Temporal Mastery - MTG Card versions
Roiling Waters - MTG Card versions
Coastal Breach - MTG Card versions
Overflowing Insight - MTG Card versions
A-Alrund's Epiphany - MTG Card versions
Arcane Endeavor - MTG Card versions
Subjugate the Hobbits - MTG Card versions
Hunted by The Family - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn - MTG Card versions
Alrund's Epiphany - MTG Card versions
Temporal Cascade - MTG Card versions
Temporal Mastery - MTG Card versions
Roiling Waters - MTG Card versions
Coastal Breach - MTG Card versions
Overflowing Insight - MTG Card versions
A-Alrund's Epiphany - MTG Card versions
Arcane Endeavor - MTG Card versions
Subjugate the Hobbits - MTG Card versions
Hunted by The Family - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blatant Thievery shines in multi-player formats, allowing you to seize control of a permanent from each opponent. This not only provides a massive swing in resource allocation but also severely disrupts opponents’ board presence, leaving you with significant strategic flexibility.

Resource Acceleration: While Blatant Thievery itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it effectively ‘borrows’ the acceleration already done by opponents. By taking their mana rocks or creatures with tap abilities, you can turn their hard work into your own advantage without expending additional resources.

Instant Speed: The mastery of Blatant Thievery is in its sorcery speed, which, while not as reactive as instant speed spells, allows you to plan your thefts strategically on your turn. This calculated maneuver can dismantle opponents’ strategies before they can respond with instant-speed tricks, ensuring your gains are safe through their turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Blatant Thievery necessitates a strong hand, as its high cost can whittle down resources, leaving few options for subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s stringent blue mana demand might pigeonhole it into mono-blue or heavy blue decks, potentially squeezing out variety in deck construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial seven mana to activate, Blatant Thievery is a costly way to take control of what you want on the battlefield, which can be cumbersome in faster-paced games where tempo is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blatant Thievery is a highly adaptable card, seamlessly fitting into various Commander and Cube draft decks. Its ability to disrupt multiple opponents by taking their best permanents makes it a game-changer in multiplayer formats.

Combo Potential: This card excels at creating sudden advantages when paired with cards that bounce it back to your hand or copy its effect. It’s perfect for decks that aim to leverage the power of their opponents’ boards for a decisive swing in the tides.

Meta-Relevance: In environments teeming with powerful singular threats or decks dependent on a few key permanents, Blatant Thievery emerges as a critical piece. It can dismantle an opponent’s strategy or even turn their victory into your own, adapting effortlessly to the evolving meta.


How to Beat

Blatant Thievery is a card that can turn the tide of a game in MTG, presenting a unique challenge to players. It allows you to seize control of permanents across the battlefield, which can disrupt your strategic setup. To counter this, the most straightforward strategy is to utilize counterspells such as Negate or Counterspell itself to prevent Blatant Thievery from resolving. Keeping mana available to activate these responses is key.

Another tactic is to limit the impact of Blatant Thievery by reducing the number of valuable targets. Cards that grant permanents hexproof or shroud can safeguard your most critical assets. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can be used to sacrifice your own permanents in response, ensuring there’s less for the opponent to steal. It’s about being preemptive and reactive; by cleverly managing your resources, you can effectively diminish the potency of Blatant Thievery and protect your position in the game.

Building a versatile deck with a mix of countermeasures and proactive defense mechanisms will help keep your board state safe from high-impact cards like Blatant Thievery, ensuring that your strategy remains uninterrupted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG, strategic play is key, and Blatant Thievery can be a cornerstone for those looking to tip the scales in their favor. Understanding its impact on gameplay, particularly in multiplayer scenarios, positions you to make informed choices about incorporating this powerhouse into your deck. But there’s more to explore beyond a single card – the surrounding meta, deck synergy, and counterplay are all crucial for achieving victory. We encourage you to delve deeper, refine your strategies, and embrace the continuous evolution of your gameplay. For more insights and to enhance your MTG acumen, join us on this journey of discovery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blatant Thievery MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Commander 2015, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Blatant Thievery and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blatant Thievery Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2017-11-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 711997NormalBlackRon Spencer
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 872015NormalBlackRon Spencer
32017-11-24Explorers of IxalanE02 82015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blatant Thievery has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blatant Thievery card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 If a permanent changes controller after being targeted but before this spell resolves, you won't gain control of that permanent.
2004-10-04 You gain control of only one permanent from each player.