When you open the deckbuilder in MTG Arena, your instinct is probably to type a card’s name into the search bar or click on the colored mana icons at the top of the interface. While this works fine for finding a specific card like Go for the Throat, it is an incredibly slow, frustrating way to build a deck from scratch.
If you are hunting for a multi-colored card that has exactly three power, costs less than four mana, and contains the word „draw“ in its text box, clicking through the standard graphic filter tabs will force you to scroll through hundreds of irrelevant digital cards.
What the game does not explicitly tell you is that the MTG Arena search bar utilizes an incredibly robust, data-driven text engine closely mirroring Scryfall syntax. By typing precise shorthand command strings directly into the search bar, you can instantaneously filter your entire digital collection with surgical accuracy.
Optimized directly for your phone or secondary screen to keep open while brewing your next Historic, Standard, or Competitive Brawl deck, here is your ultimate MTG Arena advanced search term cheat sheet.
🛠️ The Core Logic: How Commands Work
Advanced search commands follow a simple syntax structure: command:value or command<value.
You can chain multiple terms together simply by separating them with a standard space. For example, typing a string of distinct requirements will isolate cards that meet all of those criteria simultaneously.
📋 The Ultimate Advanced Search Cheat Sheet
🔹 1. Filtering by Card Types and Supertypes (t:)
If you want to filter by card classification, use the t: (type) prefix. This searches supertypes, types, and subtypes instantly.
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t:creature— Displays all creature cards. -
t:legendary— Isolates every legendary permanent in your collection. -
t:equipmentort:saga— Instantly grabs specific mechanical subtypes. -
t:dinosaur— Filters your collection down to a specific tribal classification.
🔹 2. Deciphering Rules Text and Mechanics (o:)
The o: command stands for Oracle text. This searches the literal functional text inside a card’s rules box, making it the fastest way to hunt down specific functional abilities or mechanics.
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o:draw— Shows every card that features the word „draw“ in its operational text. -
o:counter— Instantly pulls up interaction spells or cards dealing with counter configurations. -
o:vibranium— Perfect for isolating newly minted artifact support sheets. -
o:"destroy target"— Filters for hard, direct removal pieces.
🔹 3. Perfecting Mana Costs and Values (m: and mv:)
Mana management is where clicking checkboxes fails. Arena allows you to filter specifically by a card’s strict Mana Value (mv:) using mathematical operators (=, <, >, <=, >=).
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mv=3— Shows cards that cost exactly three mana. -
mv<=2— Filters for low-to-the-ground playsets costing two mana or less. -
m:bbb— Captures cards containing a strict triple-black mana symbol requirement in their casting cost (perfect for devotion tracking).
🔹 4. Evaluating Combat Stats and Power Ranges (pow: and tou:)
Building an aggressive deck or tracking specific stat thresholds for combat tricks? Use pow: (power) and tou: (toughness).
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pow>=5— Filters your deckbuilder for heavy-hitting threats with 5 or more power. -
tou=1— Isolates fragile utility units or ideal targets for token pinging strategies. -
pow<3 t:creature— Combines terms to display creatures with less than 3 power.
🔹 5. Wildcard and Inventory Management (q:, r:, and s:)
These are the hidden quality-of-life commands that save you from wasting Rare or Mythic Wildcards.
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q<4— Displays cards where you own fewer than 4 copies (the ultimate tool for checking what you need to complete a full competitive playset). -
r:morr:r— Restricts your screen view exclusively to Mythic rares (m) or Rares (r). -
s:mkm— Filters your view to display cards belonging exclusively to a specific three-letter expansion set code.
🎴 Advanced Mobile Combo Cards: Copy and Paste Examples
To see the real power of the syntax engine, try typing these pre-packaged multi-term strings directly into your Arena client next time you assemble a custom decklist:
⚡ The „Budget Standard Aggro“ Filter
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The Command:
t:creature r:c mv<=2 pow>=2 -
What it does: Displays all Common creatures that cost 2 mana or less and have at least 2 power. The ultimate framework for building an aggressive Mono-Red or Selesnya budget deck without burning wildcards.
🛡️ The „Instant-Speed Interaction“ Filter
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The Command:
t:instant o:destroy -
What it does: Instantly curates your entire collection down to instant-speed spells that contain the word „destroy“ in their Oracle text. Perfect for filling out the interaction slots in a control or mid-range list.
🌌 The „Non-Creature Flash Threat“ Filter
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The Command:
-t:creature o:flash -
What it does: The negative sign (
-) works as a exclusion filter. This string shows all non-creature spells (artifacts, enchantments, instants) that feature the Flash mechanic.
PreconForge Verdict: Build Faster, Play Faster
MTG Arena is a high-velocity digital platform, and wasting twenty minutes clicking through page after page of a massive digital collection takes away from your actual ladder climbing time. Memorizing just three or four basic syntax shortcuts like q<4 or o:"destroy target" fundamentally changes how you interface with the digital deckbuilder, turning a sluggish interface into a highly streamlined, competitive tool.
Are you a systematic deckbuilder who maps out entire color curves using precise advanced search bar commands, or do you still prefer visually scanning through your virtual trade binder tabs? Let’s keep the digital strategy and Arena discussion moving forward!
