Introduction
Hey readers! Welcome to our in-depth guide on the Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo, a powerful strategy that’s taken the Magic: The Gathering world by storm. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricate details of this combo, providing you with valuable insights into its mechanics, gameplay, and potential pitfalls.
The Nitty-Gritty of Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact
Thoracle, Patron of Dissent
Thoracle, Patron of Dissent is a legendary creature with the text "When Thoracle enters the battlefield, you may exile your library face down. If you do, you may look at the exiled cards. You may cast a sorcery card or an instant card from among them without paying its mana cost." This ability allows us to exile our entire library and play any sorcery or instant spell from it for free.
Bottom of Library
Bottom of Library is a sorcery that reads "You may draw a card. If you do, exile your library face down." This card allows us to set up the Thoracle combo by exiling our library before playing Thoracle.
Tainted Pact
Finally, we have Tainted Pact, a sorcery that states "Each opponent exiles the top card of their library face down. You may play a card exiled this way without paying its mana cost." This card enables us to exile our opponents’ libraries, giving us access to their cards and potentially powerful spells.
Gameplay and Strategy
Setting Up the Combo
The key to executing the Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo is to first set up the pieces by exiling our library with Bottom of Library. Once we have our library exiled, we can then play Thoracle to retrieve a sorcery or instant from it. Ideally, this card should be Tainted Pact, allowing us to exile our opponents’ libraries and gain access to their spells.
Playing the Combo
Once Tainted Pact is played, we can begin casting spells from our opponents’ exiled libraries. This can lead to powerful sequences, such as casting Doomsday to quickly assemble our win condition or using Expropriate to steal all of our opponents’ permanents.
Countering the Combo
While the Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo is incredibly potent, it can be disrupted by certain cards. Decks that run Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace can prevent the exiled cards from being played, while Surgical Extraction or Thoughtseize can remove key combo pieces from our library.
Variations and Tech Choices
Non-Laboratory Maniac Variants
The Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo is commonly paired with Laboratory Maniac to win the game by drawing a card after our library has been exiled. However, there are variations that use other win conditions, such as Jace, Wielder of Mysteries or Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy.
Tech Cards
To optimize the Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo, consider including cards like Mindbreak Trap to counter Thoughtseize, Veil of Summer to protect against Leyline of the Void, and Pact of Negation to prevent counterspells from disrupting the combo.
Table Breakdown: Key Cards and Abilities
| Card | Ability |
|---|---|
| Thoracle, Patron of Dissent | Exiles library and allows casting of exiled sorcery or instant |
| Bottom of Library | Exiles library face down |
| Tainted Pact | Exiles opponents’ top cards and allows casting of exiled spells |
| Laboratory Maniac | Wins the game if we draw a card with an empty library |
| Jace, Wielder of Mysteries | Can mill our library and draw cards |
| Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy | Can exile cards from our library to cast spells |
| Mindbreak Trap | Counters Thoughtseize |
| Veil of Summer | Protects against Leyline of the Void |
| Pact of Negation | Counters counterspells |
Conclusion
The Thoracle Bottom of Library Tainted Pact combo is a powerful and versatile strategy that can lead to explosive victories in Magic: The Gathering. While it can be countered by certain cards, careful deck construction and gameplay can help to mitigate these threats. If you’re looking for a new combo to add to your arsenal, be sure to give this one a try.
Don’t forget to check out our other articles on powerful Magic: The Gathering combos, including:
- [Thoracle Consult Tainted Pact](Link to article)
- [Food Chain Prossh](Link to article)
- [Belcher](Link to article)
FAQ about Thoracle, Bottom of Library, and Tainted Pact
What is Thoracle?
Thoracle is a card that lets you look at the top card of each player’s library.
What is Bottom of Library?
Bottom of Library is a card that puts a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
What is Tainted Pact?
Tainted Pact is a card that forces you to discard your hand and then draw the same number of cards.
How do Thoracle, Bottom of Library, and Tainted Pact work together?
By using Thoracle to look at the top card of your library, Bottom of Library to put that card on the bottom of your library, and Tainted Pact to discard your hand and draw the same number of cards, you can effectively repeat the process until you hit a card that you want to draw.
What are some of the best cards to use with this combo?
Some of the best cards to use with this combo include Laboratory Maniac, Jace, Wielder of Mysteries, Thassa’s Oracle, and Emrakul, the Promised End.
How can I beat this combo?
There are a few ways to beat this combo, including countering Thoracle or Tainted Pact, exiling the card you want to draw, or preventing your opponent from drawing cards.
What are some of the risks of using this combo?
One of the main risks of using this combo is that it can be disrupted by your opponent. Additionally, it can be difficult to set up, and it requires a lot of mana.
Is this combo legal in all formats?
This combo is not legal in all formats. It is legal in Legacy, Vintage, and Commander, but it is banned in Modern.
Can I use this combo in a tournament?
You can use this combo in a tournament if it is legal in the format you are playing. However, you should be aware that your opponent may be prepared for it and have a way to disrupt it.
What are some other uses for this combo?
This combo can also be used to mill your opponent’s deck, draw your entire deck, or even win the game on the spot.
