Profane Tutor is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Suspend 2—(Rather than cast this card from your hand, pay
Complete guide
Profane Tutor is a modern twist on the classic Demonic Tutor, offering the most powerful effect in Magic: The Gathering—searching for any card—at a delayed pace. Because it lacks a mana cost, you cannot cast it normally, requiring you to plan ahead through the Suspend mechanic. This delay makes it a strategic powerhouse for combo decks and control players alike.
Understanding Suspend
Profane Tutor has no mana cost, which means it cannot be cast from your hand by paying mana. Instead, you use the Suspend 2 keyword by paying {1}{B} during your main phase when the stack is empty. This exiles the card with two time counters. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, you remove one counter. When the last counter is removed, a triggered ability allows you to cast the spell without paying its mana cost.
Step-by-Step Resolution
Once the final time counter is removed and the 'cast' trigger resolves, you put Profane Tutor on the stack. Upon resolution, you search your library for any one card. Unlike many search effects, you do not need to reveal the card you choose to your opponents. You simply put the chosen card into your hand and then shuffle your library. If you choose not to cast it when the last counter is removed, the card remains in exile indefinitely.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is trying to cast Profane Tutor using effects like Snapcaster Mage. Because the card has no mana cost, it has an undefined cost that cannot be paid, even if given Flashback. Additionally, remember that suspending the card is not 'casting' it; it is a special action that does not use the stack and cannot be countered by spells like Negate. However, the triggered ability that casts the spell after the last counter is removed can be countered by effects that target abilities.
Strategic Timing
Since Profane Tutor takes two turns to resolve, it is best played early in the game to set up a mid-game win condition. In the late game, it can be a risky draw since you won't see the card for two full turn cycles. It is most effective when you know exactly which piece your hand is missing to secure a victory two turns from now.
Interaction examples
ReanimateOn turn 2, you Suspend Profane Tutor. On turn 4, the final counter is removed and you search your library for Reanimate. Because the Tutor resolves during your upkeep, you can then use your main phase to cast the Reanimate you just searched for, bringing back a powerful creature you discarded earlier.
Imperial SealWhile Imperial Seal costs only one mana and resolves immediately, it places the card on top of your library and costs life. Profane Tutor requires a two-turn wait and two mana upfront, but it puts the card directly into your hand without any life loss or revealing the card, providing a different kind of card advantage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Profane Tutor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with no mana cost is given an alternative cost equal to its mana cost (by Snapcaster Mage, for example), that cost cannot be paid and the card cannot be cast this way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that allows you to exile the card from your hand with the specified number of time counters (the number before the dash) on it by paying its suspend cost (listed after the dash). The second is a triggered ability that removes a time counter from the suspended card at the beginning of each of your upkeeps. The third is a triggered ability that gives you the option to cast the card when the last time counter is removed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can exile a card in your hand using suspend any time you could cast that card. Consider its card type, any effects that modify when you could cast it (such as flash) and any other effects that stop you from casting it (such as from Meddling Mage's ability) to determine if and when you can do this. Whether you could actually complete all steps in casting the card is irrelevant. For example, you can exile a card with suspend that has no mana cost or that requires a target even if no legal targets are available at that time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Cards exiled with suspend are exiled face up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Exiling a card with suspend isn't casting that card. This action doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell requires any targets, those targets are chosen when the spell is finally cast, not when it's exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect refers to a "suspended card," that means a card that (1) has suspend, (2) is in exile, and (3) has one or more time counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If the first triggered ability of suspend (the one that removes time counters) is countered, no time counter is removed. The ability will trigger again at the beginning of the card's owner's next upkeep.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
When the last time counter is removed, the second triggered ability of suspend (the one that lets you cast the card) triggers. It doesn't matter why the last time counter was removed or what effect removed it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If the second triggered ability is countered, the card can't be cast. It remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
Due to a recent rules change to suspend, you are no longer required to cast the suspended card as the second triggered ability of suspend resolves. Instead, as the second triggered ability resolves, you may cast the card. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored. If you don't cast the card, it remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," such as with suspend, you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those if you want to cast the card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
If the card has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a spell cast without paying its mana cost is determined by its mana cost, even though that cost wasn't paid.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #15· Wizards of the Coast
A card with no mana cost can't be cast normally; you'll need a way to cast it for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost, such as by suspending it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #16· Wizards of the Coast
You do not need to reveal the card you find with Profane Tutor.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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