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Surveil is a Keyword Action similar to Scry. To "Surveil N" means to look at the top N cards of your library, put any number of them into your graveyard in any order and the rest on top of your library in any order.

Expansion Info[]

Surveil was introduced into Magic Arena with Guilds of Ravnica (open beta).[1]

Video[]

Watch this explanatory video to see how Surveil works.

Guilds_of_Ravnica_Spotlight_Surveil

Guilds of Ravnica Spotlight Surveil

Comprehensive Rules[]

Comprehensive Rules Glossary (August 7, 2020)

Surveil
To manipulate some of the cards on top of your library, sending some of them to your graveyard and rearranging the rest. See rule 701.42, “Surveil.”

Comprehensive Rules (August 7, 2020)

  • 701.42. Surveil
    • 701.42a To “surveil N” means to look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.
    • 701.42b If an effect allows you to look at additional cards while you surveil, those cards are included among the cards you may put into your graveyard and on top of your library in any order.

Surveil Card List[]

28 results
Barrier of Bones Barrier of Bones Black (1)
Creature — Skeleton Wall (0/3)
Defender

When Barrier of Bones enters the battlefield, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)

GRNC
Blood Operative Blood Operative C1BlackBlack (3)
Creature — Vampire Assassin (3/1)
Lifelink

When Blood Operative enters the battlefield, you may exile target card from a graveyard.
Whenever you surveil, if Blood Operative is in your graveyard, you may pay 3 life. If you do, return Blood Operative to your hand.

GRNR
Citywatch Sphinx Citywatch Sphinx C5Blue (6)
Creature — Sphinx (5/4)
Flying

When Citywatch Sphinx dies, surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNU
Concoct Concoct C3BlueBlack (5)
Sorcery
Surveil 3, then return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
GRNR
Darkblade Agent Darkblade Agent C1BlueBlack (3)
Creature — Human Assassin (2/3)
As long as you've surveilled this turn, Darkblade Agent has deathtouch and "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you draw a card."
GRNC
Dazzling Lights Dazzling Lights Blue (1)
Instant
Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.

Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNC
Deadly Visit Deadly Visit C3BlackBlack (5)
Sorcery
Destroy target creature.

Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNC
Dimir Informant Dimir Informant C2Blue (3)
Creature — Human Rogue (1/4)
When Dimir Informant enters the battlefield, surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
GRNC
Dimir Spybug Dimir Spybug BlueBlack (2)
Creature — Insect (1/1)
Flying

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Whenever you surveil, put a +1/+1 counter on Dimir Spybug.

GRNU
Discovery Discovery C1UB (2)
Sorcery
Surveil 2, then draw a card. (To surveil 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
GRNU
Disinformation Campaign Disinformation Campaign C1BlueBlack (3)
Enchantment
When Disinformation Campaign enters the battlefield, you draw a card and each opponent discards a card.

Whenever you surveil, return Disinformation Campaign to its owner's hand.

GRNU
Doom Whisperer Doom Whisperer C3BlackBlack (5)
Creature — Nightmare Demon (6/6)
Flying, trample

Pay 2 life: Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNM
Dream Eater Dream Eater C4BlueBlue (6)
Creature — Nightmare Sphinx (4/3)
Flash

Flying
When Dream Eater enters the battlefield, surveil 4. When you do, you may return target nonland permanent an opponent controls to its owner's hand. (To surveil 4, look at the top four cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNM
Enhanced Surveillance Enhanced Surveillance C1Blue (2)
Enchantment
You may look at an additional two cards each time you surveil.

Exile Enhanced Surveillance: Shuffle your graveyard into your library.

GRNU
House Guildmage House Guildmage BlueBlack (2)
Creature — Human Wizard (2/2)
C1Blue, Tap: Target creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.

C2Black, Tap: Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNU
Lazav, the Multifarious Lazav, the Multifarious BlueBlack (2)
Legendary Creature — Shapeshifter (1/3)
When Lazav, the Multifarious enters the battlefield, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard.)

CX: Lazav, the Multifarious becomes a copy of target creature card in your graveyard with converted mana cost X, except its name is Lazav, the Multifarious, it's legendary in addition to its other types, and it has this ability.

GRNM
Mephitic Vapors Mephitic Vapors C2Black (3)
Sorcery
All creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.

Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNC
Mission Briefing Mission Briefing BlueBlue (2)
Instant
Surveil 2, then choose an instant or sorcery card in your graveyard. You may cast it this turn. If that spell would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead. (To surveil 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
GRNR
Nightveil Sprite Nightveil Sprite C1Blue (2)
Creature — Faerie Rogue (1/2)
Flying

Whenever Nightveil Sprite attacks, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)

GRNU
Notion Rain Notion Rain C1BlueBlack (3)
Sorcery
Surveil 2, then draw two cards. Notion Rain deals 2 damage to you. (To surveil 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
GRNC
Price of Fame Price of Fame C3Black (4)
Instant
This spell costs C2 less to cast if it targets a legendary creature.

Destroy target creature.
Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNU
Sinister Sabotage Sinister Sabotage C1BlueBlue (3)
Instant
Counter target spell.

Surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)

GRNU
Thought Erasure Thought Erasure BlueBlack (2)
Sorcery
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

Surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard.)

GRNU
Thoughtbound Phantasm Thoughtbound Phantasm Blue (1)
Creature — Spirit (2/2)
Defender

Whenever you surveil, put a +1/+1 counter on Thoughtbound Phantasm.
As long as Thoughtbound Phantasm has three or more +1/+1 counters on it, it can attack as though it didn't have defender.

GRNU
Unexplained Disappearance Unexplained Disappearance C1Blue (2)
Instant
Return target creature to its owner's hand.

Surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)

GRNC
Watcher in the Mist Watcher in the Mist C3BlueBlue (5)
Creature — Spirit (3/4)
Flying

When Watcher in the Mist enters the battlefield, surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

GRNC
Whisper Agent Whisper Agent C1UBUB (3)
Creature — Human Rogue (3/2)
Flash

When Whisper Agent enters the battlefield, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard.)

GRNC
Whispering Snitch Whispering Snitch C1Black (2)
Creature — Vampire Rogue (1/3)
Whenever you surveil for the first time each turn, Whispering Snitch deals 1 damage to each opponent and you gain 1 life.
GRNU



Keywords

Abilities Evergreen Abilities: DeathtouchDefenderDouble StrikeEnchantEquipFirst StrikeFlashFlyingHasteHexproofIndestructibleLifelinkMenaceProwessReachTrampleVigilanceWard
Other Keyword Abilities: AffinityAfflictAfterlifeAftermathAscendBlitzBoastCascadeCasualtyChangelingCleaveCompanionCompleatedConvokeCrewCyclingDecayedDisturbEmbalmEscapeEternalizeEvokeEvolveExaltedExploitFabricateFearFlashbackForetellHideawayImproviseJump-StartKickerLandwalkLiving WeaponMadnessMenaceMentorModularMutateNinjutsuOutlastOverloadPersistProtectionProwessReboundReconfigureRiotScavengeShroudSpectacleSplit SecondStormTrainingTransformUndyingUnearth
Ability Words  AddendumConstellationEnrageLandfallMagecraftRaidRevoltUndergrowth

Actions AdaptAmassConniveExertExploreInvestigateLearnPhase outProliferateSurveilVenture into the Dungeon

References[]

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