Witness the Future MTG Card


“Witness the Future” facilitates card advantage and strategic graveyard positioning, enhancing resource planning. Instant-speed casting provides flexibility, allowing for tactical surprises and advantageous timing. Despite its strengths, the card’s specific mana cost and discard requirement may limit versatility.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Target player shuffles up to four target cards from their graveyard into their library. You look at the top four cards of your library, then put one of those cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.


Cards like Witness the Future

Witness the Future is a unique card that offers players the ability to peek into upcoming draws in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other cards that allow manipulation of the top of the library, such as Brainstorm. Much like Witness the Future, Brainstorm allows for the rearrangement of cards, but with the added advantage of drawing into your hand immediately. However, Brainstorm does not offer the shuffling flexibility that Witness the Future provides.

Another card to consider is Ponder, which not only lets you look at the top three cards of your library but also permits a shuffle if the cards aren’t favorable. While it’s valuable for its lower casting cost and immediate draw, Ponder lacks the returning cards aspect of Witness the Future. Then there’s Preordain, which is efficient for its scry ability to filter draws, yet it doesn’t offer the same level of control over shuffle and reuse of your own graveyard’s cards that Witness the Future does.

Comparing these options, Witness the Future stands out for its potential in longer games where strategic recycling of the graveyard can tip the scales in your favor. It demonstrates how various card library manipulation strategies can be beneficial in different play scenarios in Magic: The Gathering.

Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Preordain - MTG Card versions
Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Preordain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Witness the Future by color, type and mana cost

Volcanic Eruption - MTG Card versions
Baleful Stare - MTG Card versions
Déjà Vu - MTG Card versions
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Sanity Grinding - MTG Card versions
Divination - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Eruption - MTG Card versions
Baleful Stare - MTG Card versions
Déjà Vu - MTG Card versions
Exhaustion - MTG Card versions
Time Ebb - MTG Card versions
Dream Cache - MTG Card versions
Tinker - MTG Card versions
Sage's Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Undo - MTG Card versions
Ingenious Mastery - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Reminisce - MTG Card versions
Timetwister - MTG Card versions
Fabricate - MTG Card versions
Counsel of the Soratami - MTG Card versions
Vacuumelt - MTG Card versions
Wistful Thinking - MTG Card versions
Savor the Moment - MTG Card versions
Sanity Grinding - MTG Card versions
Divination - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Bant ControlBant Control StandardBant ControlTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024
WUBWUB StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 5, 2024
Azorius ControlAzorius Control StandardAzorius ControlCommunity Turnier 4/2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: “Witness the Future” shines in its ability to sift through your deck and strategically position key cards into your graveyard while simultaneously replenishing your hand. This provides a dual advantage, ensuring your resources are maximized for upcoming turns.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly generating additional mana, the card indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by allowing you to access specific cards faster, making your game plan more efficient and effective.

Instant Speed: The power of instant-speed spells cannot be overstated, and “Witness the Future” is no exception. Casting it at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action not only surprises the opposition but also offers flexible timing to best manage your plays and gain a tactical edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of Witness the Future is its discard condition, which forces you to part with another card in your hand. This effect can become a strategic pitfall if you’re in a situation where your card supply is dwindling, which might restrict your ability to sustain momentum and respond to opponents’ threats effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a stringent mana requirement that could be cumbersome in a multicolored deck. Decks that don’t focus on blue might find it too costly to integrate, potentially compromising their carefully constructed mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the landscape of MTG, cards that fulfill similar roles often do so at a lower cost. The mana investment for Witness the Future might not always align with its impact on the game, particularly when other cards can achieve comparable outcomes without such a steep mana demand.


Reasons to Include Witness the Future in Your Collection

Versatility: Witness the Future is a card that offers remarkable flexibility in gameplay, allowing players to carefully strategize their upcoming moves. Its use is not confined to a single deck archetype, making it a prudent choice for players who appreciate adaptable strategies.

Combo Potential: The intricacies of Witness the Future can be woven into various combos, regardless of the current board state. Seasoned players will recognize its potential to synergize with cards that capitalize on knowledge of the forthcoming turns or graveyard manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: Meta shifts can often precipitate a change in the viability of certain cards. Witness the Future maintains its relevance due to its ability to adapt and serve as a counter to an unpredictable competitive environment, proving to be a wise investment for serious players.


How to beat

Witness the Future is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, with its ability to manipulate both players’ libraries. To counter this card effectively, players need to adopt strategies that can minimize its impact on the game. A good start is incorporating graveyard hate cards into your deck, such as Tormod’s Crypt or Rest in Peace, which can remove the targets for Witness the Future before they can be used to the opponent’s advantage.

Another efficient approach is to employ counter spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, which can stop Witness the Future before it resolves. Fast-paced decks focusing on aggressive creatures can also pressure opponents, forcing them to use their mana on defending rather than planning ahead with cards like Witness the Future. By staying agile and responsive, you can outmaneuver the strategic depth that Witness the Future brings to the table, ensuring you maintain the upper hand in your matches within the diverse landscape of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Witness the Future MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Crimson Vow Art Series, 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 Witness the Future and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Witness the Future Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Anato Finnstark.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 902015NormalBlackAnato Finnstark
22021-11-19Crimson Vow Art SeriesAVOW 272015Art seriesBorderlessAnato Finnstark
32022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3572015NormalBlackAnato Finnstark

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Witness the Future has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-11-19 If the player is an illegal target as Witness the Future resolves, the library won't be shuffled and any targeted cards remain in the graveyard.
2021-11-19 If you choose zero target cards or the cards are illegal targets as Witness the Future resolves, the target player will still shuffle their library.