Dimir MachinationsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it does

Dimir Machinations has two distinct roles. As a sorcery, it allows you to look at the top three cards of any player's library and exile any number of them, effectively removing unwanted threats or clearing your own deck's top. Its Transmute ability, however, allows you to discard it from your hand for three mana to search your library for any card with a mana value of exactly three.

How it resolves step by step

When you cast Dimir Machinations, you choose a target player. As the spell resolves, you look at their top three cards and decide which, if any, to exile. The remaining cards are returned to the top of that library in an order of your choosing. If you use the Transmute ability, you pay the cost and discard the card as part of the activation. Upon resolution, you search your library for a card with mana value three, reveal it, put it into your hand, and shuffle.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to Transmute at instant speed; the ability explicitly states it can only be activated when you could cast a sorcery. Additionally, remember that Transmute looks at the total mana value, which for Dimir Machinations is three. You cannot search for cards with a mana value of two or four, even if they are more powerful.

When to play it

Cast this card early if you need to disrupt an opponent who just used a library manipulation spell or to filter your own draws if you are looking for land. In most competitive scenarios, you will use the Transmute ability to find a specific 'silver bullet' card in your deck that costs three mana to answer the current board state.

Interaction examples

Sabotaging the Opponent

You target your opponent with Dimir Machinations. You see a powerful creature and two lands. You choose to exile the creature, ensuring they do not draw their win condition, and place the two lands back on top so their next two turns are relatively weak.

Finding the Wipe

Toxic Deluge

The board is full of creatures you cannot block. Since Dimir Machinations has a mana value of 3, you pay one generic and two black mana to Transmute it. You search your library for Toxic Deluge, which also has a mana value of 3, putting it into your hand to cast and clear the board.

Comparing Tutors

Demonic Tutor

While Demonic Tutor is more flexible because it can find any card, Dimir Machinations provides a similar effect for 3-drop cards while bypassing some 'search' restrictions if you choose to cast it for its library manipulation effect instead. Note that Transmuting still counts as searching your library, similar to Demonic Tutor.