Budget Alternatives to Covetous Urge
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Covetous Urge ($0.06)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Mana Accelerator & Ramp role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Covetous Urge at a Glance
Never Happened
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 less mana (3 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #hate-graveyard, #single-target-instant-sorcery.
Memory Theft
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 less mana (3 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #single-target-instant-sorcery, #thoughtseize.
Psychic Intrusion
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #gives-castable-from-exile, #hate-graveyard.
Covetous Urge
30-day $0.06–$0.06 · +0% (10 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-22
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Covetous Urge and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covetous Urge (Original) | Sorcery | $0.06 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Never Happened | Sorcery (3 MV) | $0.07 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #2 Psychic Intrusion | Sorcery (5 MV) | $0.19 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #3 Memory Leak | Sorcery (3 MV) | $0.16 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #4 Null Summoner | Creature (4 MV) | $0.23 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #5 Specter's Shriek | Sorcery (1 MV) | $0.10 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #6 Memory Theft | Sorcery (3 MV) | $0.06 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Covetous Urge
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Never Happened
(Sorcery • 3 MV)
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from that player's graveyard or hand and exile it.
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 less mana (3 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #hate-graveyard, #single-target-instant-sorcery.
- • Costs $0.07 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 4 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Psychic Intrusion
(Sorcery • 5 MV)
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from that player's graveyard or hand and exile it. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell.
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 more mana (5 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #gives-castable-from-exile, #hate-graveyard.
- • Costs $0.19 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Memory Leak
(Sorcery • 3 MV)
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from that player's graveyard or hand and exile it. Cycling {1} ({1}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 less mana (3 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #hate-graveyard, #single-target-instant-sorcery.
- • Costs $0.16 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 4 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Null Summoner
(Creature — Human Warlock • 4 MV)
When this creature enters, if you cast it, target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. Exile that card. Threshold — As long as there are seven or more cards in your graveyard, you may cast the exiled card, and mana of any type can be spent to cast that spell.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Covetous Urge's Sorcery and shares the exact same mana value (4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #gives-castable-from-exile, #theft-cast.
- • Costs $0.23 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Specter's Shriek
(Sorcery • 1 MV)
Target opponent reveals their hand. You may choose a nonland card from it. If you do, that player exiles that card. If a nonblack card is exiled this way, exile a card from your hand.
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 3 less mana (1 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #discard-to-exile, #single-target-instant-sorcery, #thoughtseize.
- • Costs $0.10 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (1 MV vs 4 MV)
- • Overlaps 3 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Memory Theft
(Sorcery • 3 MV)
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. You may put a card that has an Adventure that player owns from exile into that player's graveyard.
Matches Covetous Urge's Sorcery card type and costs 1 less mana (3 MV vs 4 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #single-target-instant-sorcery, #thoughtseize.
- • Costs $0.06 (0% savings over Covetous Urge)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (3 MV vs 4 MV)
- • Overlaps 2 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Covetous Urge's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Covetous Urge Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Covetous Urge's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $0.06 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Covetous Urge Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Covetous Urge?+
Never Happened ($0.07) is the best overall alternative to Covetous Urge ($0.06), saving $0.00 (0% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Covetous Urge in MTG?+
Cards like Covetous Urge include Never Happened ($0.07), Psychic Intrusion ($0.19), Memory Leak ($0.16), Null Summoner ($0.23). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Covetous Urge?+
Memory Theft ($0.06) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 0% compared to Covetous Urge.
Why would a player want a replacement for Covetous Urge?+
At $0.06, Covetous Urge represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Covetous Urge?+
The closest pick, Never Happened, still has limits: overlaps 4 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
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