Cruel Tutor MTG Card


It guarantees precision deck searches, enhancing your ability to draw that game-changing card when most needed. Casting cost demands and the discard condition may deter its use, especially in fast-paced, resource-tight scenarios. With strategic inclusion, Cruel Tutor can offer unmatched versatility for a variety of deck types in changing metagames.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Search your deck for any card. Shuffle your deck and put that card on top of it. You lose 2 life.

The more you pay for the lesson, the better you'll remember it.


Cards like Cruel Tutor

Cruel Tutor presents an intriguing choice within the array of search spells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears some comparison to the staple Demonic Tutor. While both enable the player to search their library for any one card and put it on top, Cruel Tutor distinguishes itself with a steeper mana cost and the requirement of paying life. Demonic Tutor, being more mana-efficient, allows for an easier incorporation into a variety of strategies but doesn’t carry the same life point wager.

Matching closely in function is Vampiric Tutor, another powerful search card. Vampiric Tutor only costs two mana and also puts the chosen card on top of the library but requires life payment, much like Cruel Tutor. However, Vampiric Tutor acts at instant speed, granting flexibility in play that Cruel Tutor, as a sorcery, can’t offer. Grim Tutor is yet another related card, sharing a similar mana cost with Cruel Tutor but placing the searched card directly into hand at the cost of 3 life, offering immediate access to the needed resource.

While assessing the offerings, Cruel Tutor’s life payment is a nuanced trade-off for deck manipulation and future planning, carving its niche among MTG’s powerful tutoring cards.

Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cruel Tutor by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cruel Tutor offers players the ability to sift through their deck and select any single card, effectively tailoring their hand to the evolving needs of the match. This selective search is pivotal in clutch moments where having the right card can make or break a game outcome.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the card gives you the upper hand by drawing that crucial piece of your combo or perhaps land you might need, accelerating your strategy forward significantly. Gathering the right resources at the right time builds a path for victory.

Instant Speed: Although Cruel Tutor operates at sorcery speed, it enables critical setup during your turn, providing a strategic edge for the next cycle of plays. Its timing ensures you get the most utility from the information gathered, adapting your game plan effectively before your opponents can react on their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Cruel Tutor card necessitates discarding another card from your hand, leaving you with one less resource to utilize later on. For players who are already running low on hand options, this can create challenging decision points and potentially weaken your position.

Specific Mana Cost: Cruel Tutor requires a precise mana arrangement to cast: one black and two generic mana. This demand can be tricky in multicolored decks particularly where mana flexibility is crucial, and it may not always align with the player’s available mana pool at the critical moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of three mana, Cruel Tutor is on the higher end for similar search effects offered by other cards. This cost could impact tempo, especially in the early game where speed is crucial, and it may not be the most efficient use of a turn’s resources when faster options are available.


Reasons to Include Cruel Tutor in Your Collection

Versatility: Cruel Tutor offers a reliable way to search for any single card in your deck, thus fitting into a variety of archetypes that require specific pieces for their engine or combos. Whether you play control, combo, or even certain aggressive decks knowing you can find your key card can be game-changing.

Combo Potential: The tutor effect of Cruel Tutor can be a linchpin for combo decks. It enables players to search for missing combo pieces effectively, thereby increasing consistency and the likelihood of pulling off game-winning combinations early and decisively.

Meta-Relevance: In ever-shifting metagames, having access to a card that can find any solution or threat is invaluable. As meta decks rise and fall, Cruel Tutor can help adapt your deck on the fly, keeping it competitive as the game environment changes.


How to beat

Cruel Tutor, a powerful search spell in Magic: The Gathering, might seem daunting due to its ability to place any card on top of the player’s library. To effectively counter this card, consider strategies that disrupt your opponent’s deck manipulation or increase the cost of their search abilities. Cards like Aven Mindcensor limit searching to only the top few cards of a library, making it harder for your opponent to find the perfect answer or combo piece. Also, Stranglehold completely denies your opponent any benefit from searching their library, significantly diminishing Cruel Tutor’s advantage.

Furthermore, you can apply pressure by employing discard mechanics or cards that force a shuffle, such as Cosi’s Trickster, to counteract the tutor effect. Instant-speed deck shuffles or discard effects, such as those found in the card Cranial Extraction, can quickly render a carefully tutored card useless. By anticipating your opponent’s plays and staying one step ahead, you can mitigate the impact of Cruel Tutor and maintain control of the game.

Ultimately, understanding your opponent’s strategies and having a toolbox of countermeasures ready can help you turn the tide against Cruel Tutor and secure your victory in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG requires not just skill and luck, but also a profound understanding of how each card can strengthen your position. Cruel Tutor is a testament to the strategic depth the game offers. With its deck searching prowess, it serves as a beacon for those cunning enough to leverage its potential. Balancing its pros and cons is crucial, and matching it against similar cards can refine your deck’s competitive edge. We welcome you to further explore the multifaceted world of MTG, where every card and strategy can lead to undiscovered victories. Dive deeper with us and forge your path to MTG mastery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cruel Tutor MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Treasure Chest, 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 Cruel Tutor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cruel Tutor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 871997NormalBlackKev Walker
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 657972015NormalBlackKev Walker
32020-09-26The ListPLST POR-871997NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cruel Tutor has restrictions

FormatLegality
PredhLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal