Gitaxian Probe
Sorcery
({PU} can be paid with
or 2 life.)
Look at target player’s hand.
Draw a card.
Most of the community probably wasn't playing Vintage when Future Sight came out, but the card with the most hype in that set was Street Wraith. Zero mana card draw had most everyone, myself included, at least testing the card. I ran it with some success in my first Gro list of the second Gush Era. Ultimately, the card didn't do enough and lacked the versatility needed for Vintage decks. It went from a card that was expected to be a 4x in every deck, to a card that didn't add to storm, spent life for too little effect, and didn't pitch to Force of Will when it was bad. Now we have a new card could end up being so good ends up in every deck, or just not worth the opportunity cost of being in a deck in the first place. This card has a ton going for it. Let's take a look.
The mana cost is all sorts or correct. Zero mana, or a single Blue Mana. Those are the two best mana costs in Magic. This card gets both. Zero mana card draw in the early game is amazing. Storm and Combo decks alike will have to test out the power of early cycling to build storm, or to make Yawgmoth's Will more explosive in the early game. If the life is important or there is an abundance of mana, U is not a huge deal to keep the ball rolling. Wait for it...........................
.....................This card also pitches to Force of Will.
Seeing an opponents hand is often marginal at higher levels of play, as one can piece together what is in an opponents hand due to their plays and reactions. On the first turn, however, all you have to go on is body language, which is not as powerful an indicator as it is in other card games with more linear gameplay. Control decks will enjoy knowing the optimal lines of play based off an opponents grip. Combo decks pilots will bust into interpretive dance when they get to see on turn one that they can just goldfish their opponents FoWless face.
Being a spell is a good thing to be. A hand with some fast mana, an Empty the Warrens, and some of these, well, that's not a hand Shops wants to see on the draw. During the Gifts Era, I sideboarded up to 4x Empty the Warrens, due to a full complement of artifact acceleration. On the play, I'd just make between "a few" and "more than lethal" Goblins, and pass to an opponent who gets to start at useless cards for a very short game. I see this card adding to storm counts dramatically as we try and figure out just how good it is.
Those are my initial thoughts on this one. I'm actually looking forward to trying this one out. My first line will likely be a heavy artifact build with these and a storm kill. They've certainly given us something to get excited about!
