Expressive Iteration MTG Card


Ensures a consistent flow of options, giving players more control over their hand and potential plays. Strategically sifts through the deck, aiding in finding the perfect card combination for crucial turns. Boosts efficiency in multi-color decks, elevating its prowess beyond single-color card arrangements.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand, put one of them on the bottom of your library, and exile one of them. You may play the exiled card this turn.

Prismari students dance in the tension between passion and perfection.


Cards like Expressive Iteration

Expressive Iteration is a riveting addition to the category of card manipulation abilities in MTG. It’s akin to spells such as Anticipate, which provides the choice of top three cards to keep. However, Expressive Iteration gains the upper hand with a dual-function – the potential to play a card and place one into your hand.

In comparison, there’s Strategic Planning. Although it shares the ‘look at the top three cards’ mechanism, it allows only for one card to be added to the hand, relegating the rest to the graveyard. Here, Expressive Iteration shines, providing the additional benefit of playing an exiled card that turn.

We also have See the Truth, an interesting contender in this group. Similar to Expressive Iteration, it enables viewing three cards from the deck but restricts its advantage by permitting two cards addition only if the spell is cast from anywhere other than the hand. Henceforth, Expressive Iteration stands out due to its flexibility and strategic advantage.

Summarizing, after tremendous comparison, Expressive Iteration quite impressively stands its ground within card manipulations spells in MTG, thanks to its extra benefits and strategic dominance.

Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Strategic Planning - MTG Card versions
See the Truth - MTG Card versions
Anticipate - MTG Card versions
Strategic Planning - MTG Card versions
See the Truth - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Expressive Iteration. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Temur ProwessTemur Prowess ModernTemur ProwessModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
Domain ZooDomain Zoo ModernDomain ZooModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
Murktide RegentMurktide Regent ModernMurktide RegentModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
UBRGUBRG VintageVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-19 (1)
Izzet BreachIzzet Breach ModernIzzet BreachModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
Izzet ControlIzzet Control ModernBlue-Red ControlModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
Grixis ControlGrixis Control ModernGrixis ControlModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Expressive Iteration, an epic draw spell in MTG, is a masterstroke in maintaining or gaining card advantage. With this card, you get to peek at the top three cards of your library, add one to your hand, and another you can play this turn. It’s an ingenious way to keep your game going strong.

Resource Acceleration: This card might not directly bring in mana, but it’s smartly speeding things up. Its ability to let you play an extra card from the top of the library provides a clever way to speed up your game, which can indirectly lead to faster resource acceleration. This serves as an enchanting blend of card advantage and tempo in your match.

Instant Speed: Even though Expressive Iteration is a sorcery and not an instant speed card, it shines in decks that prioritize fast plays and value turns. It’s a smooth addition to decks emphasizing speed, pulling powerful cards to the frontline quicker, even if it’s only usable in your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The casting of Expressive Iteration mandates you to position one of the cards into your library’s bottom and can put you at a disadvantage if you have a limited selection of valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity of one blue mana in its cost can potentially limit its functionality and usage outside of blue decks or multi-color decks that include blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a complete casting value of two mana, and considering its application being ideal at later stages of the game, it can in some cases be less efficient than other one-mana card draw spells or resource ramping alternatives.


Reasons to Include Expressive Iteration in Your Collection

Versatility: The card Expressive Iteration stands out for its flexibility. This potent sorcery fits smoothly into a variety of deck types. Regardless of whether you opt for control, aggro, or combo, this card’s dual utility of deck manipulation and card advantage promises to enhance your game.

Combo Potential: Expressive Iteration’s strength is magnified in decks built around instants and sorceries. It can act as a spark to ignite a cascade of spells, significantly enriching your battlefield strategies. With the right sequence of plays, this card can easily pave the way to secure victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current metagame landscape, Expressive Iteration holds a crucial position. Its ability to provide card advantage, combined with deck manipulation, can provide noticeable leverage against mid-range or control-focused decks, ensuring that you adapt and thrive in the evolving MTG meta.


How to beat

Expressive Iteration is an exciting card from the Strixhaven set in Magic: The Gathering. This card is fascinating because it allows you to look at the top three cards of your library and then place one into your hand, one is exiled till the end of your next turn, while the other goes back to the bottom of your deck. It is an exceptional feature that not only aids in the deck manipulation, but it also provides spell casting flexibility.

Yet, conquering an Expressive Iteration can be carried out effectively by clever deck construction and strategic game play. Employing counter spells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto can disrupt your opponent’s plan of casting Expressive Iteration. In addition, there are many built-in deck strategies that involve card such as Narset, Parter of Veils which can limit your opponent’s ability to draw cards.

In conclusion, countering Expressive Iteration is all about intelligent deck building and choosing the right cards that can neutralize or limit the benefits of this potent card from the Strixhaven set in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the realm of Magic the Gathering, where card expertise and strategic plays can bring you to the pinnacle of victory. The spellbinding power of Expressive Iteration awaits, ready to reveal the next chapter in your MTG saga. This potent card from Strixhaven can effortlessly boost your deck’s potency. As seasoned MTG enthusiasts, we extend our warmest invitation to join us on a journey full of deep insights, captivating stories, and the thrill of the game. Learn the finest strategies, uncover new twists on classic maneuvers, and meet the community that lives for the shuffle of decks and the clash of spells. Step into our circle and elevate your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Expressive Iteration MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Expressive Iteration and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Expressive Iteration Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 901742015NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3792015NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 1862015NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova
42022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1251997NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova
52024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 2242015NormalBlackAnastasia Ovchinnikova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Expressive Iteration has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyBanned
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerBanned
GladiatorLegal
PioneerBanned
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 Cards exiled are always exiled face up unless specified otherwise by the effect that exiled it.
2021-04-16 If you choose to play the exiled card this turn, you must still pay all costs and follow all timing restrictions required by that card. If it's a land, you can't play it unless you have a land play available.
2021-04-16 If you don't play the exiled card, it remains exiled. It won't be available to be played on future turns.