Infernal Tutor: A Comprehensive Review

TL;DR Summary

Infernal Tutor is a highly versatile and powerful sorcery that allows players to draw into specific cards, create new opportunities, or disrupt their opponents' plans. Its unique mechanic of revealing a card from the hand and searching for a matching name in the library offers a wide range of strategic possibilities.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Infernal Tutor functions as a search-and-replace mechanism, offering a crucial setup for specific interactions or generating value. When cast, it reveals a card from your hand, allowing you to identify the exact card you're targeting. This revelation step can be critical in setting up for precise draws or interactions.

Next, Infernal Tutor searches your library for a card with the same name as the revealed card. If found, it's revealed, placed into your hand, and then shuffled back into the library. This process effectively replaces the original card in your hand with its library equivalent, giving you access to the desired card.

The Hellbent clause is activated if you have no cards in hand when casting Infernal Tutor. In this case, it searches your library for any card, puts it into your hand, and then shuffles. This alternate functionality creates opportunities for players with aggressive or midrange strategies who need to maintain a consistent draw engine.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Infernal Tutor shines in decks that rely on specific card draws or require precise resource management. Its primary benefits include:

• Draw Engine: By targeting specific cards, players can generate additional resources for their spellcasting plans.
• Card Advantage: Infernal Tutor creates new opportunities by replacing weaker cards with more valuable ones.
• Disruption: Hellbent mode allows aggressive decks to adapt and recover from unfavorable hand situations.

Some notable combos include:

• Golgari Midrange: Pairing Infernal Tutor with cards like Fungal Behemoth, Sylvan Caryatid, or Llanowar Visionary creates a powerful midrange engine.
• Boros Aggro: Combining Infernal Tutor with aggressive creatures like Magma Spray or Chandra, Torch of Defiance enables players to recover from unfavorable hand situations.

Infernal Tutor also synergizes well with cards that benefit from card advantage or generate additional resources, such as:

• Card draw: Spells like Simian Spirit Guide, Sanguine Bond, or Goblin Matador enhance the value generated by Infernal Tutor.
• Mana acceleration: Cards like Falkenrath Gorger, Mox Opal, or Golgari Signet accelerate the casting of Infernal Tutor, making it easier to access desired cards.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Infernal Tutor is a versatile card that can fit into various deck archetypes. Some potential roles include:

• Midrange Decks: Aggressive decks often use Infernal Tutor to recover from unfavorable hand situations.
• Combo Decks: Players seeking specific card draws or interactions will appreciate the flexibility offered by Infernal Tutor.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Infernal Tutor has been a staple in various formats, including Modern, Commander, and Pauper. Its versatility makes it an attractive inclusion for decks looking to add depth and strategic value.

• Modern: As part of midrange or combo decks, Infernal Tutor offers significant card advantage and disruption potential.
• Commander: This format's emphasis on multiplayer interactions benefits from the sorcery's adaptability.
• Pauper: In this budget-friendly format, Infernal Tutor provides a valuable source of card draw and resource management.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

When playing Infernal Tutor, it's essential to consider the following rules interactions:

• Hellbent Mode: When casting with no cards in hand, the Hellbent clause replaces the normal search-and-replace mechanism.
• Revealing Cards: Players must reveal a card from their hand during the sorcery's resolution phase.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

The art for Infernal Tutor depicts a hellish landscape with twisted, nightmarish creatures. This illustration reflects the card's dark, infernal theme.

• Flavor Text: The flavor text of Infernal Tutor reads: "You shall not depart without your reward."
• Rarity and Release: Originally released as a rare card in the 2016 set Kaladesh, Infernal Tutor has since been reprinted in various sets.

Summary of Key Points

Key Takeaways

• Infernal Tutor offers powerful draw engine capabilities and card advantage.
• Hellbent mode creates new opportunities for aggressive decks to recover from unfavorable hand situations.
• The card synergizes well with various archetypes, including midrange and combo decks.

Conclusion

Infernal Tutor is a versatile and impactful sorcery that enhances draw engines, provides card advantage, or disrupts opponents' plans. Its unique mechanic offers a wide range of strategic possibilities, making it an attractive inclusion in various deck archetypes.

The versatility of Infernal Tutor makes it an attractive addition to many decks. With its ability to provide both card advantage and disruption, players can use it to their advantage in various situations.