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Un-Set Lore and the Three-Color Chaos Cocktail

In the sprawling multiverse of Magic: The Gathering, there are the carefully curated cogs of strategy and lore, and then there are the delightful derailments that only an Un-set or a Mystery Booster Playtest card can conjure. Seek Bolas's Counsel sits at that crossroads with a wink to both planes: it borrows the drama of the Nicol Bolas mythos while leaning into the playful unpredictability fans adore from the unorthodox corners of the game. 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

Released on August 20, 2021 as part of the Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 set (set name: Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, set code: cmb2), this rare sorcery is a three-color bold gamble—a rare gem that the casual table often remembers for its sheer absurdity and potential for wild outcomes. Its mana cost is a tight three-color cocktail: {U}{B}{R}, a blue-black-red triangle that invites fast, chaotic play and big swings. The card’s lore and design vibe scream: embrace the randomness, because sometimes that’s where the most memorable moments in MTG live. 🎲

What the card does: a random bouquet of mayhem

The essence of Seek Bolas's Counsel is the promise of a single random destiny each time you cast it. Here are the six cherry-picked possibilities you could be handed, each flavored with that unmistakable Un-set spirit:

• Emblem duel: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of your upkeep, pay {U}{B}{R}. If you don't, you lose the game." The immediate drama, the doom-loop, and the delicious risk—this is chaos in a bottle. 🧪
• Hand disruption: Each player discards their hand. A brutal reset that punishes precision and rewards pure chaos—perfect if you’re aiming for a festival of misplays and big comebacks. ⚔️
• Planeswalk to Pools of Becoming: Planeswalk to a Planechase-hue world where the die is rolled for planar effects. It’s a nod to Planechase lore and a reminder that not every tilt of the cosmos can be predicted. 🎨
• Top-deck exile spree: For each opponent, exile cards from the top of their library until you exile a nonland card, then you may cast those cards without paying their mana costs. A gravity-defying victory-lap for whoever loves pulling surprise spells from the ether. 💎
• Board wipe with a Bolas twist: Destroy all creatures and non-Bolas planeswalkers. A dramatic reset that makes room for a new narrative to unfold—heavy-handed, yes, but undeniably cinematic. 🧨
• Sideboard-style emblem: You get an emblem with "You can cast nonland cards from your sideboard." A cheeky nod to sideboard strategy that in most formats would be illegal or simply impractical—but in Mystery Booster’s spirit, it’s a dare to dream and a wink at design experimentation. 🎭

Each option plays into a different facet of MTG’s identity: control, ramp, chaos, and iconic lore. The colors of the card—Blue (U), Black (B), and Red (R)—mirror the card’s penchant for cerebral manipulation, graveyard mischief, and reckless bursts of power. It’s a rare blend of “let’s see what happens” energy, balanced by the knowledge that this card exists more for the story it creates than for grindy tournament viability. In that sense, Seek Bolas's Counsel feels like a love letter to the community’s long-standing appetite for unorthodox, story-forward magic. 🧙‍♂️🎲

Flavor, art, and collectible mojo

The artwork by Matt Warren adds a compelling visual layer to the card’s chaotic ethos. Even though the card isn’t a modern standard staple, its collectible value and nostalgic resonance are shaped by the mystery booster culture, where players chase the rare, the quirky, and the unexpectedly powerful moments that only appear when you shuffle luck into the order of battle. The Mystery Booster line treats magic as a big, friendly carnival of possibilities—where the theme and the humor of old-school corners of the multiverse meet contemporary mechanics in surprising ways. 💼⚡

“In a world where Planeswalkers roam and backroom deals echo through the stacks, a random oath to Bolas reminds us why the Un-set spirit still sparkles in every corner of the game.”

That sentiment rings especially true for fans who savor the lore of big-name antagonists, the echo of ancient dragons, and the joy of a card that can completely flip a table’s expectations. Seek Bolas's Counsel isn’t just a card; it’s a tiny, chaotic vignette from a multiverse where everything can pivot on a single randomly chosen fate. 🎨

Strategic perspective for historians of whimsy

From a practical standpoint, the card isn’t designed for standard tournament play or strict competitive environments. Its set and rarity speak to experimentation and the playful edge of MTG’s design philosophy. Players who adore lore-heavy backstories and the thrill of unpredictable outcomes will relish the moment when the random choice is a devastating board wipe or a cunning emblem that bends the rules in delightful ways. The card’s three-color identity also invites conversations about color mixing, risk, and the narrative flavor of magic’s color pie. And yes, if you’re chasing a sealed event with a splash of theatrics, Seek Bolas's Counsel could become the centerpiece of a memorable, one-off memory. 🃏

Product connection: a small‑scale cross-promotion

As you explore the wild side of MTG, consider pairing your reading with a little real-world gear that keeps your tabletop adventures stylish. If you’re in the mood to upgrade your everyday carry, check out the Slim Phone Case for iPhone 16 Glossy Lexan Ultra-thin 1—designed with the same love for sleek, durable design you crave in your deck builds. It’s a tiny but meaningful nod to how we protect our favorite things while we chase big dreams on the battlefield. Slim Phone Case for iPhone 16 Glossy Lexan Ultra-thin 1 🧙‍♂️

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