Sorcerous Spyglass
Artifact
As this artifact enters, look at an opponent's hand, then choose any card name.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Throne of Eldraine
- Price
- $0.29
- EDHREC rank
- #15748
Sorcerous Spyglass enters, you look at an opponent's hand, name a card, and that card's activated abilities are shut off for as long as the Spyglass stays in play — all for two mana and no ongoing cost. It's not as punishing as Lethal Vapors, but it's clean, cheap, and hits commanders, planeswalkers, and mana rocks with equal indifference.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Sorcerous Spyglass punches above its mana cost because commanders are the most reliable activated-ability targets in the format — name the opposing Krenko, Mob Boss or Derevi, Empyrial Tactician on turn two and you've bought yourself significant time. In Legacy and Vintage, it sees fringe sideboard play as a catch-all for Deathrite Shaman, Wasteland, and Mishra's Workshop decks that lean on activated abilities. Modern and Pioneer have better-costed hate for specific targets, so Spyglass is a budget fallback rather than a first choice there. Standard legality rarely matters — the card is outclassed by more format-specific options whenever those exist.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Lethal VaporsSorcerous Spyglass
Destroy all creatures that enter the battlefield; Lock
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Aether StormSorcerous Spyglass
Players can't cast creature spells; Lock
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.29 bulk tier
At $0.29, Sorcerous Spyglass is deep bulk — you're paying pocket change for genuine utility. Bulk nonland artifacts with Commander applications tend to hold a floor around this price indefinitely, so there's no timing consideration here: pick up copies whenever you need them.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.