Ponder — Magic: The Gathering card

Ponder

{U}
Sorcery

Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. You may shuffle.

Draw a card.

Set Through the Omenpaths Bonus Sheet
Rarity Common
Mana Value 1
Artist Ernanda Souza
Collector # 13
Scryfall

Why Play Ponder

One-mana cantrips that provide card selection are among the most powerful effects in Magic, and Ponder delivers exceptional library manipulation at minimal cost. Combo decks and control strategies prize its ability to dig for specific pieces while maintaining card advantage, especially when you can shuffle away unwanted cards. The flexibility to either keep a favorable arrangement or reset with a shuffle makes it superior to simple card draw in decks that need specific answers or combo pieces.

Format Notes

Banned in Modern for enabling too-consistent combo kills, Ponder remains a cornerstone of Legacy storm and combo decks where turn-one library sculpting is crucial. In Vintage, it's restricted alongside other premium cantrips, highlighting its power level in competitive formats. Pauper combo decks frequently run the full playset, while Commander players appreciate its low cost and instant deck improvement, making it an auto-include in blue spellslinger and combo builds.

Combos & Synergies

Fetchlands create incredible synergy by providing shuffle effects on demand, letting you exile bad cards seen with Ponder for fresh options. Storm decks pair it with Brainstorm for unparalleled early-game consistency, often chaining cantrips to find Tendrils of Agony or other win conditions. Miracle cards like Terminus benefit from Ponder's ability to set up the top of your library, ensuring you can miracle expensive spells at their reduced cost when needed.

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Sorcery Cantrip