Thoughtlace MTG Card


Thoughtlace offers strategic plays with instant speed color changes, impacting gameplay and opponent’s strategies. While versatile in blue decks, Thoughtlace’s usability can be limited by its specific mana and card cost. It can serve as a unique sideboard card in adaptable metagames, turning potential weaknesses into strengths.
Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Changes the color of one card either being played or already in play to blue. Cost to cast, tap, maintain, or use a special ability of target card remains entirely unchanged.


Cards like Thoughtlace

Thoughtlace is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of color alteration within Magic: The Gathering. This classic from the Alpha set allows players to change the color of any spell or permanent to blue until end of turn. Its subtle strength is often compared to cards like Mind Bend or Spectral Shift, which also focus on color change but with greater flexibility since they do not limit the resulting color to blue.

Much like Thoughtlace, Alter Reality adds another layer to the comparison with a twist in its ‘splice onto Arcane’ ability, offering strategic depth in archetypes that support it. Thoughtlace’s single-use and narrow focus present unique tactical opportunities but may seem underpowered when contrasted with the modularity of these more modern alternatives. Color-changing spells, such as Glamerdye, also deserve mention. They can be reused with buyback, giving players repetitive control over color changes throughout the game.

Despite its limitations, Thoughtlace holds a niche position in MTG meta due to its historical significance and potential synergies in decks exploiting color-specific strategies, demonstrating the diversity of gameplay that MTG is known for.

Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Spectral Shift - MTG Card versions
Alter Reality - MTG Card versions
Glamerdye - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Spectral Shift - MTG Card versions
Alter Reality - MTG Card versions
Glamerdye - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Thoughtlace by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
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Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
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Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Thoughtlace may not draw you extra cards directly, it opens up strategic plays that can lead to a roundabout form of card advantage. Altering the color of a spell or permanent can potentially turn one of your cards that was previously unusable due to color restrictions into a key piece in your game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Thoughtlace itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional manner of providing extra mana. However, in specific deck builds, changing the color of a card could enable synergies that accelerate your resources indirectly through the interaction of other cards affected by the change.

Instant Speed: Thoughtlace’s ability to be cast at instant speed is a tactical advantage, allowing you to wait for the perfect moment to alter the color of a spell or permanent. This can disrupt opponent strategies, create surprise defenses, or even alter the effectiveness of your own spells on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Thoughtlace demands you relinquish another card in hand, which can be a tough call when your options are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Tapping one blue mana specifically for this card means it’s best suited for blue-centric decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana to alter the color of a spell or permanent is a significant investment, especially when there are alternatives in the game that might offer more impactful results with less resource expenditure.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thoughtlace presents a unique flexibility in blue-centric decks. It’s capable of altering the color properties of spells or permanents, which can be strategic against color-specific hate cards or to assist in meeting color requirements for certain abilities.

Combo Potential: Although not a combo enabler on its own, this card can pair well with cards that benefit from color changes. For instance, using Thoughtlace to turn a permanent blue to then utilize a benefit from a card like “Engineered Explosives” that destroys all nonland permanents with the same color.

Meta-Relevance: In a highly adaptive metagame, Thoughtlace can be a counterintuitive sideboard choice. It addresses niche situations that may arise when playing against decks that rely heavily on color-based protection or targeting restrictions.


How to beat

Thoughtlace is a unique card in MTG that can turn any spell or permanent blue, a trick that may catch opponents off-guard or disrupt color-based strategies. To effectively tackle this card, one strategy is to minimize the impact of color-change. You can do this by running cards in your deck that aren’t severely hindered by color alterations. Alternatively, focus on cards that benefit from being blue, turning Thoughtlace’s effect against your opponent.

If you’re facing a deck that heavily relies on Thoughtlace, try to anticipate and counter it before the color change can be exploited. Counterspells, spell removal, or using cards like Pithing Needle to nullify Thoughtlace’s ability can be extremely effective. Decks that operate with less dependency on color are also less vulnerable to Thoughtlace’s effects, so consider colorless cards or artifacts as resilient plays. Another approach is to build a strong, colorless board presence that remains unaffected by color-changing mechanics, ensuring that your game plan proceeds unhindered.

While Thoughtlace might seem like a daunting card to some, with careful planning and smart deckbuilding, its influence can be minimized, rendering it a minor obstacle in your path to victory in a game of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thoughtlace MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Thoughtlace and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thoughtlace Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Mark Poole.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 821993NormalBlackMark Poole
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 831993NormalBlackMark Poole
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 831993NormalWhiteMark Poole
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 831993NormalBlackMark Poole
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 831993NormalBlackMark Poole
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 851993NormalWhiteMark Poole
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 851993NormalBlackMark Poole
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 851993NormalWhiteMark Poole
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1071993NormalWhiteMark Poole
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1071993NormalBlackMark Poole
112022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 822015NormalBlackMark Poole
122022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3791997NormalBlackMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thoughtlace has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal