Curse of Surveillance MTG Card


Delivers a persistent card draw, maintaining card advantage over opponents each turn. Requires a specific mana combination, restricting its use to certain deck types. High mana cost but offers long-term benefits, particularly in control strategies.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Aura Curse
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant player At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, any number of target players other than that player each draw cards equal to the number of Curses attached to that player.

For every eye gouged out, two blinked open.


Cards like Curse of Surveillance

Curse of Surveillance stands out in the realm of enchantment cards within the MTG universe. It’s akin to other curse enchantments like Curse of Echoes. Both cards aim to trouble your opponent by offering some advantage to each player other than the one cursed. Where Curse of Surveillance provides ongoing card insight, Curse of Echoes focuses on copied spells which makes it engaging for players who like to strategize with their opponent’s tools.

Another comparable enchantment is Curse of Verbosity. This card encourages multiplayer interactions by rewarding each participant with card drawing whenever the cursed player is attacked, similar to Curse of Surveillance’s approach in gathering information from the cursed opponent’s hand. The aims are similar — to generate card advantage — but they differ in the means of how that’s accomplished.

Overall, while all these curses disrupt the play patterns of an opponent in their unique ways, Curse of Surveillance offers consistent knowledge of the opponent’s potential moves, a crucial edge in formats where information is power. This card fits strategically into decks that capitalize on control and foresight, maintaining its distinct gameplay influence.

Curse of Echoes - MTG Card versions
Curse of Verbosity - MTG Card versions
Curse of Echoes - MTG Card versions
Curse of Verbosity - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Curse of Surveillance by color, type and mana cost

Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Power Struggle - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Mind Control - MTG Card versions
Future Sight - MTG Card versions
Dispersing Orb - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Cowardice - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Power Struggle - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Mind Control - MTG Card versions
Future Sight - MTG Card versions
Dispersing Orb - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Cowardice - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Curse of Surveillance delivers consistent card draw every turn. This enduring source of new cards enables you to outpace your opponents with more selections from your deck leading to potential game-winning moves.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, the persistent card draw can lead to a quicker access of land cards and other mana sources, thus indirectly speeding up your resource accumulation.

Instant Speed: As an enchantment, Curse of Surveillance isn’t played at instant speed, but its benefits are enjoyed at the beginning of the upkeep, guaranteeing new cards are ready for you each turn. This renews your options consistently, ensuring your play remains flexible and responsive without delay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The process of setting up Curse of Surveillance can be cumbersome for some players. As a card that leverages the future information-gathering advantage, having to let go of a card already in hand just to meet the upfront needs can be unsettling, especially if your hand already feels scarce in options.

Specific Mana Cost: To bring Curse of Surveillance into play, it demands a precise mana combination, including blue mana. This requirement pigeonholes it into specific blue or multi-color decks, potentially excluding it from a wider variety of decks where it could otherwise be a strategic addition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: One of the sticking points for Curse of Surveillance is its mana cost, tipped slightly towards the higher end of the spectrum. For a five-mana investment, players might expect a more immediate impact on the game state, whereas Curse of Surveillance provides a more gradual, longer-term benefit that may not necessarily turn the tide in fast-paced matches where tempo is crucial.


Reasons to Include Curse of Surveillance in Your Collection

Versatility: Curse of Surveillance offers a consistent card draw mechanism that can be crucial in a variety of deck builds. Its ability to be attached to any opponent makes it a flexible addition, suitable for control or multiplayer-focused decks.

Combo Potential: This enchantment synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on drawing cards or spending spells. It can set up powerful plays in combo decks that seek to win through card advantage and manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where information is power, Curse of Surveillance provides insight into opponents’ hands. Knowing what your opponents are holding can be the key to making informed decisions, making this card particularly relevant in the current meta.


How to beat

Curse of Surveillance presents a unique challenge for players navigating the complex strategies in MTG. This enchantment card encourages a tactical change as it ails the cursed player with a continuous disadvantage by granting their opponent a card draw each turn. To dismantle the effect of this debilitating curse, it’s crucial to implement removal spells that can target enchantments directly. Cards such as Disenchant, a simple yet effective piece, or the versatile Naturalize, which can handle both enchantments and artifacts, can be particularly useful.

Another strategy lies within preemptive measures like countering the spell before it takes hold. For those equipped with blue mana, a well-timed Counterspell or the more recent and flexible Neutralize can keep Curse of Surveillance from ever hitting the battlefield. Should the curse make it through, employing cards that benefit from drawing such as Alms Collector or Notion Thief can flip the script, turning what is your disadvantage into your benefit. Considering your deck’s makeup in relation to your opponent’s potential plays is the key to outmaneuvering a spell like Curse of Surveillance and maintaining the upper hand in your match.

Ultimately, the ability to anticipate, react, and adapt to enchantment threats marks the difference between losing critical ground and maintaining control over the course of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Maximizing your gameplay in MTG hinges on strategic card selections and understanding their potential within your deck. Curse of Surveillance opens a window to steady card draw, granting you the advantage of choice and foresight, essential for outmaneuvering opponents. Although it has specific mana requirements and a higher casting cost, its ability to consistently replenish your hand each turn can’t be overlooked. Combining it with enchantment removal strategies and counter spells ensures you stay ahead of the curve in controlling the flow of the game. Dive deeper into card synergy and tactics to make Curse of Surveillance a formidable asset in your collection. Discover more strategic insights and enhance your MTG experience with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Curse of Surveillance MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos, 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 Curse of Surveillance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Curse of Surveillance Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 939442015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 46p2015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
32021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3342015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
42021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 462015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
52021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 46s2015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
62022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 462015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Curse of Surveillance has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-09-24 The controller of Curse of Surveillance chooses the targets for its triggered ability, no matter which player it is attached to. If you control Curse of Surveillance and it's attached to another player, you can (and probably should) choose yourself as a target.