Sylvan Library — Magic: The Gathering card

Sylvan Library

{1}{G}
Enchantment

At the beginning of your draw step, you may draw two additional cards. If you do, choose two cards in your hand drawn this turn. For each of those cards, pay 4 life or put the card on top of your library.

Set Renaissance
Rarity Uncommon
Artist Harold McNeill

Why Play Sylvan Library

Green decks that want card selection and advantage run this powerful two-mana enchantment to filter through their library consistently. The ability to see three cards each turn lets you find key pieces like combo enablers or answers while putting back dead draws. Mid-range and control decks especially value the long-term advantage, though aggressive strategies can use it to maintain pressure by finding threats while paying life as a resource.

Format Notes

Commander represents its strongest format, appearing in nearly every green deck as one of the format's premier card advantage engines. Legacy sees regular play in various green strategies, from Lands to Maverick, where the card selection proves invaluable. Vintage inclusion varies based on the meta, competing with other powerful card draw options but offering unique filtering capabilities that pure draw spells cannot match.

Combos & Synergies

Life gain effects like Courser of Kruphix help offset the life payment while providing additional value from the top-deck manipulation. Sensei's Divining Top creates an incredibly powerful lock, letting you arrange the top three cards optimally before drawing them with the Library. Shuffle effects such as fetchlands or Crop Rotation allow you to put back unwanted cards and immediately shuffle them away, turning the drawback into pure advantage.

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Enchantment