Read the Runes
The List ONS-104 • rare
- Set
- The List
- Collector number
- ONS-104
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- X mana blue mana
- Type
- Instant
- Colors
- Blue
- Artist
- Alan Pollack
- Market price
- $0.62
What it does
Draw X cards. For each card drawn this way, discard a card unless you sacrifice a permanent.
"The world is a puzzle, and the mind is its key."
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
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Where it came from
Read the Runes was originally printed as part of the Onslaught expansion for Magic: The Gathering in 2002. It was designed as a blue sorcery card centered on the set's graveyard and cycling mechanics, allowing players to draw cards by discarding others or sacrificing permanents. The card reflects the set's thematic focus on the inhabitants of Otaria, illustrating the chaotic magical experimentation typical of the block's narrative.
The artwork for the Onslaught version was illustrated by Christopher Rush, one of the most iconic early contributors to the game's aesthetic. His design utilizes a dark, atmospheric composition that emphasizes the mysterious and academic nature of the spell. While the card is a functional niche piece rather than a competitive staple, it has persisted in the game's history through its inclusion in The List, a curated selection of cards that reappear in modern booster packs to provide players with access to older, out-of-print mechanics.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Read the Runes
Read the Runes is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. The List ONS-104 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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Where does the Read the Runes catalog entry come from?
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