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Scheming Symmetry

Sorcery

Choose two target players. Each of them searches their library for a card, then shuffles and puts that card on top.

CMC
1
Mana cost
{B}
Color identity
B
Rarity
rare
Set
Secret Lair Drop
Price
—
EDHREC rank
#1836
Buy on TCGplayer
Scheming Symmetry card art
Scheming Symmetry puts any card on top of your library for one black mana — the catch is that an opponent gets the same. That symmetry collapses the moment you pair it with Ob Nixilis, Unshackled, who punishes the search, or Gwenom, Remorseless, who turns the opponent's draw into a liability, making the "cost" functionally zero.

Best Commanders

Commanders with the highest synergy

01
Gwenom, Remorseless

Gwenom, Remorseless

52.9% of decks · synergy 0.49

Gwenom, Remorseless penalizes opponents for drawing cards, so handing one of them a free tutor is actually feeding the engine — Scheming Symmetry becomes a one-mana setup that advances your game plan while accelerating the punishment loop.

02
Maralen of the Mornsong

Maralen of the Mornsong

34.9% of decks · synergy 0.31

Maralen of the Mornsong already locks everyone into tutoring on their upkeep, so Scheming Symmetry layers on top: you get to name your own card immediately while Maralen's tax makes your opponent's "free" search as painful as possible.

03
Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

Xanathar, Guild Kingpin

28.1% of decks · synergy 0.24

Xanathar, Guild Kingpin lets you play cards from the top of opponents' libraries, so Scheming Symmetry can set up their deck to reveal exactly what you want to cast — the symmetry becomes asymmetric advantage in Xanathar's hands.

04
Shadrix Silverquill

Shadrix Silverquill

24.1% of decks · synergy 0.23

Shadrix Silverquill thrives on political deals, and Scheming Symmetry is one of the most overtly political tutors in the format — you can offer the search as a favor while still grabbing whatever combo piece you need.

05
Gonti, Night Minister

Gonti, Night Minister

24.6% of decks · synergy 0.20

Gonti, Night Minister cares about opponents' libraries and turning their cards against them, so Scheming Symmetry's gift to an opponent telegraphs exactly what will hit the top of their deck — useful information in a deck already built to exploit it.

Format Analysis

Where it lives, where it can’t

FormatVerdict
commander legal
legacy legal
modern legal
pioneer legal
standard not legal
vintage legal
pauper not legal
oathbreaker legal

In Commander, Scheming Symmetry is a role-player rather than a staple — its symmetry is a real downside at a four-player table, but decks built to punish or exploit the opponent's search flip it into a one-mana tutor with upside. In Legacy and Vintage, it doesn't see meaningful play because those formats offer unconditional black tutors that cost the same or less without the drawback. Modern and Pioneer are similar stories — Scheming Symmetry's symmetry is a liability in one-on-one games where the opponent immediately cashes in, and neither format has the political infrastructure to offset that. The card's home is firmly in multiplayer Commander shells with a specific punishment or exploitation angle.

Key Combos

Combo lines featuring this card

Price Context

Current price

unknown tier

Pricing data for Scheming Symmetry isn't available at the moment, so check Scryfall or a major singles retailer for the current market price. It's a casual-Commander card with a narrow competitive application, which typically keeps it affordable relative to unconditional tutors.

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Sources

Mentioned

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Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.