Review: Inquisition of Kozilek

TL;DR Summary

Inquisition of Kozilek is a powerful sorcery that forces the target player to reveal their hand, allowing the opponent to scry on non-land cards with a mana value of 3 or less and then discard them. This spell creates an opportunity for opponents to disrupt their plans by stealing valuable cards or forcing them to discard unwanted ones.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Inquisition of Kozilek is a sorcery that requires two main components: the target player's hand and the existence of non-land cards with a mana value of 3 or less. When played, the spell forces the target player to reveal their entire hand, allowing the opponent to scry on any non-land card within it that meets the specified criteria.

The key interaction in this spell is the ability to scry on the chosen non-land card with a mana value of 3 or less from the revealed hand. The opponent can choose which card to scry and then discard the corresponding card, effectively removing it from the game. This mechanic creates an opportunity for opponents to disrupt their opponent's plans by stealing valuable cards or forcing them to discard unwanted cards.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Inquisition of Kozilek is a versatile spell that can be employed in various strategic contexts:

• Mid-game disruption: Play Inquisition of Kozilek to disrupt an opponent's plan by stealing their most valuable card or forcing them to discard an unwanted card.
• Early game tempo control: Use this spell to force an opponent to reveal their hand early, giving you more information about their deck and allowing you to adjust your strategy accordingly.
• Combo pieces: In combination with other spells, such as Exsanguinate or Dreadbore, Inquisition of Kozilek can become a powerful combo piece for stealing cards from the opponent's hand.

In addition to its individual uses, Inquisition of Kozilek can also be used in various combinations with other spells and cards to create powerful synergies. For example, pairing it with Exsanguinate or Dreadbore can make it easier to steal key cards from the opponent's hand.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Inquisition of Kozilek is typically included in decks that focus on disrupting opponents' plans, controlling tempo, or generating card advantage. Some deck archetypes that often feature this spell include:

• Control decks: Decks focused on disrupting opponents' plans and controlling the pace of the game.
• Combo decks: Decks built around specific combos that rely on Inquisition of Kozilek to steal key cards from the opponent's hand.
• Tempo-control decks: Decks designed to generate card advantage by disrupting opponents' plans early in the game.

In addition to its inclusion in control and combo decks, Inquisition of Kozilek can also be used in tempo-control decks to disrupt opponents' plans early in the game.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

The viability of Inquisition of Kozilek can vary depending on the format and metagame. In recent formats, such as Modern or Commander, this spell has become more popular due to its ability to disrupt opponents' plans and control tempo.

However, in some formats, such as Standard or Pioneer, Inquisition of Kozilek may be less relevant due to the presence of more powerful disruption spells like Sword of Fire and Ice or Dissolve. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable inclusion in many control decks and combos.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

• Target player's hand: The spell forces the target player to reveal their entire hand, which must be done at the time of casting.
• Non-land cards with mana value 3 or less: Only non-land cards within a certain mana range are eligible for scrying and discarding.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

The artwork on Inquisition of Kozilek depicts a dark, mysterious figure wielding an inquisitorial staff. The flavor text reads: "Uncover the secrets hidden in their heart." This reflects the spell's mechanics of forcing opponents to reveal their hand and making them discard non-land cards with a specific mana value.

Historically, this card was first released in 2012 as part of the Innistrad block. Since then, it has become a staple in many control decks and combo strategies across various formats.

Conclusion Summary

Inquisition of Kozilek is a powerful sorcery that allows opponents to disrupt their plans by stealing valuable cards or forcing them to discard unwanted ones. Its strategic uses include mid-game disruption, early game tempo control, and combo pieces when paired with other spells. In deckbuilding roles, it often appears in control decks, combos, and tempo-control decks.

Format viability can vary depending on the metagame, but it remains a valuable inclusion in many control strategies across various formats. Its rules interactions are straightforward, requiring only the target player's hand to be revealed at casting time. The artwork and flavor text evoke a dark, mysterious atmosphere, reflecting the spell's mechanics of uncovering secrets.

Overall, Inquisition of Kozilek is a versatile and powerful spell that can add value to many different deck archetypes and strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Example Decks Featuring Inquisition of Kozilek

• Mono-Red Burn Deck: A classic example of a control deck featuring Inquisition of Kozilek. This deck focuses on disrupting opponents' plans with cheap spells like Lightning Bolt and dealing significant damage with burn spells.
• Azorius Control Deck: An example of an Azorius color identity deck that features Inquisition of Kozilek for tempo control and combo pieces. This deck relies on cards like Counterspell and Mana Leak to disrupt opponents' plans.

Combos Featuring Inquisition of Kozilek

• Exsanguinate Combo: Pairing Inquisition of Kozilek with Exsanguinate can make it easier to steal key cards from the opponent's hand. This combo is particularly effective in combo decks that rely on stealing cards for their win condition.
• Dreadbore Combo: Combining Inquisition of Kozilek with Dreadbore can create a powerful tempo-control deck. This combo allows players to disrupt opponents' plans early in the game and then use other spells like Dismember to deal significant damage.

Deckbuilding Tips for Including Inquisition of Kozilek

• Focus on disrupting opponents' plans: When building a deck around Inquisition of Kozilek, focus on creating an arsenal of cheap spells that can disrupt opponents' plans. This can include cards like Lightning Bolt and Shock.
• Control the tempo: Use Inquisition of Kozilek to force opponents to reveal their hand early in the game, giving you more information about their deck and allowing you to adjust your strategy accordingly.

By following these tips and understanding how to effectively use Inquisition of Kozilek in various deck archetypes, players can unlock its full potential and create powerful control decks that dominate the competition.