---
name: "Research Thief"
mana_cost: "{4}{U}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Artifact Creature — Moonfolk Wizard"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Flying", "Flash"]
set: "NEC"
set_name: "Neon Dynasty Commander"
collector_number: "53"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Cristi Balanescu"
oracle_id: "ba5055ce-6809-47a4-bee6-fb97a5b60f8a"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/research-thief-nec"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Research Thief
- **Mana Cost:** `{4}{U}` (CMC: 5)
- **Type:** Artifact Creature — Moonfolk Wizard
- **Power/Toughness:** 3/3
- **Keywords:** Flying, Flash

## Oracle Text
Flash
Flying
Whenever an artifact creature you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Schema Thief](/printing/schema-thief-moc.md) — Creature — Vedalken Rogue Artificer
2. [Dream Thief](/printing/dream-thief-eve.md) — Creature — Faerie Rogue
3. [Ingenious Thief](/printing/ingenious-thief-s99.md) — Creature — Human Rogue
4. [Thieving Magpie](/printing/thieving-magpie-dmr.md) — Creature — Bird
5. [Lumengrid Sentinel](/printing/lumengrid-sentinel-mrd.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
6. [Shielded Aether Thief](/printing/shielded-aether-thief-klr.md) — Creature — Vedalken Rogue

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC) #53
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Cristi Balanescu
- **Total Printings:** 16 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`