Many years ago, when Magic: The Gathering was not nearly as ridiculous as it is today (don’t worry, it’s a good thing), there was a card that dominated in the tournament scene simply because of its amazing ability to set up a win.  That card was Fact or Fiction.

This card was awesome if you knew how to use it, because if you had the right strategic mindset you’d basically be winding up with exactly the cards you needed every single time, and there wouldn’t be a damn thing your opponent could do about it.  I’m mentioning this card because, in today’s Standard, there is a card that, for the price of one more mana, has the potential to be even more powerful than Fact or Fiction.  Ladies and gentlemen: Covenant of Minds!

The reason this card can be more powerful than Fact or Fiction is that not only will you be guaranteed three cards (the Invasion uncommon would oftentimes net you only two (as if “only” two cards is a bad thing)), your opponent doesn’t even get to see everything that you potentially have coming to you.  If the first three revealed cards look like a crappy draw, your opponent is more than likely just going to give them to you, because they’d rather fill your hand with what looks like crap than give you five cards they don’t get to see.  The advantage here is the fact that your opponent is essentially letting you dig through three turns worth of garbage to potentially get to the good stuff.  If the first three cards look threatening, though, your opponent is stuck trying to decide whether to let you have them or take five cards that could be as good or better instead.  Those first three cards will then end up in your graveyard, and if you’re playing the right type of deck you’ll have little trouble getting them back.

If you have a deck in which you’d like to see more card advantage come your way, I see little reason not to use at least one of these.  It’s pretty much a win-win card no matter how you slice it.  It’s around 50 cents at most online stores, so get your hands on a couple!