Spellbook

Spellbook
Mechanic
Introduced	Alchemy: Innistrad
Last used	Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Statistics	24 cards 8.3% 12.5% 12.5% 16.7% 12.5% 29.2% 4.2% 4.2%
Scryfall Search
	fulloracle:"Spellbook"

Not to be confused with Signature Spellbook.

To draft from a spellbook is a designed-for-digital mechanic for MTG Arena that allows you to access a card from outside the game.^[1]^[2]

Description

A spellbook is a curated list of 15 resonant cards tied to specific cards in the game. Cards with the spellbook mechanic only appear on Alchemy cards.^[2]

Drafting from a spellbook may occur as part of an activated or triggered ability. When you pay the activation cost of such a card or fulfill its trigger, you may draft a card from their spellbook. You will see three cards from outside the game chosen from among a curated list and select one, usually to put into your hand. You can choose the same card twice if it comes up again later.^[3]

The cards of the spellbook are not visible on the main cards themselves. Spellbooks are browsable in-game by right-clicking (or long-pressing) on the cards, much like looking at dungeons or cards that make multiple tokens. Outside of MTG Arena, lists are available online.

History

A spellbook was first named in Tome of the Infinite from Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, but there it was used in combination with conjure instead of draft. The mechanic also has similarities with Davriel, Soul Broker's offers and conditions from the same set. Drafting from a spellbook was formally introduced in Alchemy: Innistrad.^[2]

List of spellbooks

Spellbook card	Theme	Alchemy set	Link to card list
Celestial Vault	Angels	New Capenna	Cards
Faithful Disciple	Enchantments	Innistrad	Cards
Slayer's Bounty	Justice and detainment	Innistrad	Cards
Experimental Pilot	Vehicles	Kamigawa	Cards
Tireless Angler	Marine life	Innistrad	Cards
Tome of the Infinite	Utility spells	Jumpstart: Historic Horizons	Cards
Break Expectations	Artifacts	Innistrad	Cards
Cursebound Witch	Witches and witch tropes	Innistrad	Cards
The Hourglass Coven		Baldur's Gate	Cards
Xander's Wake	Party scoundrels	New Capenna	Cards
Arms Scavenger	Adventuring Equipment	Innistrad	Cards
Big Spender	Artifacts	New Capenna	Cards
Tibalt, Wicked Tormentor	Devils	Innistrad	Cards
Boseiju Pathlighter	Lands	Kamigawa	Cards
Follow the Tracks		Baldur's Gate	Cards
Garruk, Wrath of the Wilds	Wild creatures	Innistrad	Cards
Hinterland Chef	Unusual edible creatures	Innistrad	Cards
Ishkanah, Broodmother	Spiders	Innistrad	Cards
Loose in the Park	Wild beasts	New Capenna	Cards
Oyaminartok, Polar Werebear		Baldur's Gate	Cards
Bind to Secrecy	Graveyard recursion	New Capenna	Cards
Imperial Blademaster	Samurai	Kamigawa	Cards
Key to the Archive	Mystical Archive spells	Innistrad	Cards
Ominous Traveler	Innistrad's monsters	Innistrad	Cards

Example

Example

Ishkanah, Broodmother
Legendary Creature — Spider
3/5
Reach
Other Spiders you countrol get +1/+2
, Exile two cards from your graveyard: Draft a card from Ishkanah, Broodmother's spellbook.

Ishkanah's spellbook

References

↑ Wizards of the Coast (December 2, 2021). "MTG Arena: State - Alchemy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ ^a ^b ^c David Humpherys (December 8, 2021). "Designing for Alchemy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Blake Rasmussen (December 4, 2021). "We talked about it on stream.". Twitter.

[1] Wizards of the Coast (December 2, 2021). "MTG Arena: State - Alchemy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[Designing_for_Alchemy-2] David Humpherys (December 8, 2021). "Designing for Alchemy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[3] Blake Rasmussen (December 4, 2021). "We talked about it on stream.". Twitter.

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