Cerebral Confiscation MTG Card


Offers card advantage by using opponents’ cards against them, enhancing your game strategy. Instant speed casting allows for strategic surprises and battlefield control. High mana cost and discard requirements may deter some players from using it.
Cerebral Confiscation - Murders at Karlov Manor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2024-02-09
Set symbol
Set nameMurders at Karlov Manor
Set codeMKM
Number81
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLius Lasahido

Text of card

Choose one — • Target opponent discards two cards. • Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Never rely on secondhand description. Always review the memory yourself." —Lazav


Cards like Cerebral Confiscation

Cerebral Confiscation is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of control strategies within Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with Thoughtseize, another powerhouse in the realm of hand disruption. Thoughtseize allows you to peer into an opponent’s hand, plucking a nonland card with the minor drawback of losing 2 life. Cerebral Confiscation ups the ante by targeting an opponent’s largest cluster of cards with the same name, allowing for potentially massive swings in card advantage without any life loss.

Brain Maggot presents an alternative approach, embedding its effect on a creature. While the initial hand disruption does not permanently rid the hand of its target, it offers a body for board presence. In contrast, Cerebral Confiscation’s effect is conclusive, ensuring those cards will not see play unless retrieved from the graveyard.

Distress is another analog worth mentioning. An all-encompassing hand disruption tool that hits any nonland card. However, it lacks the multi-card impact potential of Cerebral Confiscation. This card’s ability to deal with a set of identical threats all at once clearly delineates its unique position within the strategic landscape of Magic: The Gathering.

Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cerebral Confiscation by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Inquisition - MTG Card versions
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Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
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Stupor - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Midnight Ritual - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Inquisition - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Call from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Perish - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Midnight Ritual - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cerebral Confiscation. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formUOL MKM Sealed League
Sealed DeckSealed Deck LimitedMurders At Karlov Mansion Pre-release

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cerebral Confiscation offers a unique twist on drawing capabilities, enabling you to peek into your opponent’s strategy while simultaneously bolstering your own hand with their options. This not only enriches your strategic depth but potentially disrupts your adversary’s plans.

Resource Acceleration: By acquiring specific cards from your opponent, you could potentially accelerate your resource management. Certain spells or creatures you confiscate might align perfectly with your mana curve, propelling your gameplay into a more aggressive or fortified position.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Cerebral Confiscation at instant speed gives you the flexibility to adapt seamlessly to the evolving battlefield. You can wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to maximize the impact of your play, maintaining the element of surprise and strategic control.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cerebral Confiscation requires players to discard two cards as part of the casting cost. This can deplete your hand, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage, especially if your hand size is critical to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting requires a mix of blue and black mana, which can be restrictive. Players running decks without these specific mana colors or those with a mana base that cannot consistently produce both types may find it challenging to play Cerebral Confiscation optimally.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at a total of five mana, including both colored and generic mana, Cerebral Confiscation’s cost is on the higher side for its effect. Players might opt for alternative cards that disrupt opponents at a lower mana investment, proving more efficient in fast-paced matches.


Reasons to Include Cerebral Confiscation in Your Collection

Versatility: Cerebral Confiscation adapts to various playstyles, particularly in control decks in need of robust hand disruption tools or blue-centered strategies that capitalize on information warfare.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to peek into an opponent’s hand and cherry-pick key pieces can disrupt combos or even use the stolen knowledge to your advantage, pairing well with strategies that exploit your opponent’s plans.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts towards decks that rely on specific synergies or crucial spells, the capacity of Cerebral Confiscation to throw off an adversary’s game plan by removing their options makes it a formidable contender, keeping your deck one step ahead.


How to beat

Cerebral Confiscation is a crafty card that can tip the scales by disrupting an opponent’s hand and strategy. This card allows a player to yank a thought right out of their opponent’s mind, effectively removing a trick or threat from their arsenal before it can be played. Given its impact on the game, knowing how to work around this spell can be crucial to maintaining an edge during a match.

To circumvent Cerebral Confiscation’s hampering effect, consider diversifying your deck with instant-speed spells or abilities that can be used in response to it. This way, if the opponent targets a key card in your hand, you have the opportunity to play it beforehand, leaving them with a less impactful choice. Additionally, including cards that return spells from the graveyard to your hand, or ones with cycling abilities, can help mitigate the damage done by losing a critical piece of your strategy. Thus, while Cerebral Confiscation may pose a formidable threat, a well-prepared deck with responsive measures can overcome its invasive nature.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cerebral Confiscation MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cerebral Confiscation and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cerebral Confiscation has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal