Magic: The Gathering Card Review

Demonic Consultation: A Powerful Addition to Control and Mill Decks

TL;DR Summary

Demonic Consultation is an instant spell that allows its controller to choose a card name, exile the top six cards of their library, reveal cards until they find the chosen card, put it into hand, and exile all other revealed cards. This spell has significant strategic implications for control and mill deck archetypes.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Demonic Consultation is an instant spell that can manipulate the top six cards of a player's library in various ways. When played, the player chooses a card name at the time of play, followed by exiling the top six cards from their library. This means these cards are removed from the game and cannot be used or interacted with.

After exiling the top six cards, the player reveals cards from the top of their library one by one until they find the chosen card name. The moment this card is found, its controller puts it into their hand. This means the chosen card will now be available for use and can be played as a spell or used in combination with other spells.

A key interaction to consider is what happens when another player's card is revealed during this process. When a non-chosen card is revealed, it is exiled. This means that any cards not the chosen card will be removed from the game and cannot be used by either player.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Demonic Consultation can be played in various ways to gain an advantage over opponents. Here are a few examples:

• Using it as a card draw spell: By choosing a name that is unlikely to appear on the top cards of their library, such as Mountain, the player will exile six cards and then have to reveal all the rest until they find the chosen card. At this point, the chosen card can be put into hand and used.
• Combining it with other spells for card drawing or removal: For instance, using it with Liliana of the Veil allows drawing a card from their hand while gaining life, adding an extra layer of synergy to the chosen card.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Demonic Consultation is typically found in decks that involve card drawing or removal. Here are some deck archetypes where this spell would be particularly useful:

• Control archetype: Using it as a means of obtaining a specific card, such as a counterspell, and then using its power to disrupt opponents' plans.
• Mill archetype: As part of the game plan to remove unwanted cards from their opponent's hand, forcing them into unfavorable trades with the player.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Demonic Consultation is a relatively new addition to Magic: The Gathering formats. Its viability can be compared against other control-oriented spells that allow for card drawing or removal. In formats like Standard, where new sets are constantly being released, its effectiveness may vary.

In more casual formats such as Casual and Commander, it could become a staple spell in certain archetypes due to its potential for disruption and card advantage.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

A few technical interactions of Demonic Consultation are worth noting:

• It can only be played during one's turn and not while an opponent is playing, revealing cards from their library as part of a spell.
• If the chosen card name appears on both the top card and in the player's hand at any point during the process, the spell will put that card into its controller's hand instead of exiling it.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

The artwork for Demonic Consultation features an image of a demon sitting at a desk with books and papers scattered around. The overall design reflects the card's name, emphasizing a theme of seeking advice from mysterious powers. As new cards enter the game, this illustration remains consistent with the magical themes found in Magic: The Gathering.

Conclusion Summary

Demonic Consultation is an instant spell that allows its controller to manipulate their library and obtain specific cards through exiling and revealing processes. Its strategic implications make it a powerful addition to control and mill deck archetypes. However, its viability largely depends on the format and player style.

Additional Insights and Synergies

• Combining Demonic Consultation with other removal spells can create a powerful synergy.
• Using it in combination with cards that provide card advantage can further enhance its strategic impact.
• Its potential for disrupting opponents' plans makes it an attractive addition to control decks.