Opt

Opt was first released in the 2000 Invasion expansion, designed as a blue instant that allowed a player to look at the top two cards of their library and choose which to draw, placing the other in the graveyard. This mechanic, known as cantripping with selection, was intended to provide blue decks with efficient early-game filtering, balancing power by keeping the card advantage neutral rather than positive. The card was designed during a period when Wizards of the Coast was actively exploring ways to improve the consistency of control and combo decks.

The version from the 2018 Dominaria set featured new artwork by Kieran Yanner, marking a shift toward the game's updated visual aesthetic during that era. By the time of its inclusion in the Dominaria set, Opt had become a staple of competitive play in formats like Modern and Pauper, widely regarded as a benchmark for what a balanced, playable 'scry' or filtering effect should look like. Its inclusion in this specific set was well-received by the player base, as it provided much-needed card selection for blue-based strategies in the Standard format of the time.