Emperor Mihail II MTG Card


Emperor Mihail II boosts hand size by allowing extra card draws under certain game conditions. This card can rapidly increase your resources, enabling earlier and more powerful plays. Acting at instant speed with Emperor Mihail II grants surprise tactics and potential swift victories.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Merfolk Noble
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

You may look at the top card of your library any time. You may cast Merfolk spells from the top of your library. Whenever you cast a Merfolk spell, you may pay . If you do, create a 1/1 blue Merfolk creature token.


Cards like Emperor Mihail II

Emperor Mihail II introduces an intriguing dynamic to player interactions within Magic: The Gathering. This legendary creature can be compared to other political powerhouses like Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer. Both cards focus on manipulating the flow of combat, but Emperor Mihail II offers a unique approach by allowing a player to become the monarch, potentially drawing them extra cards each turn. Moreover, while Gwafa Hazid requires mana investment to deter attackers, Emperor Mihail’s influence is more passive, making him a persistent deterrent on the battlefield.

Another card that blossoms in politics-driven MTG decks is Edric, Spymaster of Trest. Like Emperor Mihail II, Edric provides benefits to players for attacking opponents other than you, promoting strategic alliances and shifting power balances. However, Edric directly rewards with card draw for each successful attack, which can quickly escalate into a considerable advantage. The distinction between them lies in Emperor Mihail’s monarch mechanic that adds an additional layer of interaction and possible card advantage for the controller.

In essence, while several cards encourage a politicized playstyle, Emperor Mihail II stands out for its ability to impact the game through the monarch mechanic and the strategic depth it introduces to games of Magic: The Gathering.

Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Blue MerfolkMono-Blue Merfolk LegacyMerfolkEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent
Mono-Blue AggroMono-Blue Aggro LegacyMerfolkCircuito Legacy Catarinense | Temporada 2024 | Etapa 1
Dimir MerfolkDimir Merfolk LegacyMerfolkEternal Challenge 22
MerfolkMerfolk LegacyMerfolkWin A Dual Tuebingen 47

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Emperor Mihail II offers players the ability to draw extra cards upon satisfying certain conditions within the game. This helps in maintaining a healthy hand size, which is crucial for sustaining dominance on the battlefield and outpacing your opponents through superior options and strategies.

Resource Acceleration: This intriguing card also provides a considerable boost in your resources. Emperor Mihail II can accelerate your mana growth or offer alternative ways to generate resources, enabling the casting of spells earlier than usual or deploying more significant threats at a faster rate than normally possible.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed grants players the flexibility to make decisive moves during critical moments. With Emperor Mihail II, you can substantially shift the course of the game by making surprise plays that can catch your opponents off guard, potentially leading to a swift and unexpected victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Emperor Mihail II demands a tactical sacrifice, often requiring you to discard other valuable cards from your hand. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleting, forcing you to make tough decisions about resource allocation.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Emperor Mihail II includes colors that may not align with every deck archetype. This specificity can restrict the inclusion of this powerful ruler to only those decks that can accommodate its mana needs, potentially sidelining it in others.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost to bring Emperor Mihail II into play, you may find yourself at a tempo disadvantage, especially when faster-paced decks are setting the pace of the game. Players may opt for alternatives that provide a similar presence on the battlefield but at a more economical mana investment.


Reasons to Include Emperor Mihail II in Your Collection

Versatility: Emperor Mihail II is a dynamic addition to your collection, easily fitting into various decks that appreciate a blend of control and enhancement strategies. His ability to fortify your board while disrupting opponents makes him a multifaceted card ideal for several play styles.

Combo Potential: Emperor Mihail II’s unique abilities unlock numerous combos, synergizing with cards that capitalize on loyalty counters or protecting key permanents. The combo potential he introduces is vast, encouraging creative deck-building opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta that often favors cards with utility and flexibility, Emperor Mihail II remains a relevant choice. His potential to affect the game state positively can be crucial in matches where control and incremental advantages dictate the pace.


How to beat

Emperor Mihail II can be an intimidating presence on the battlefield in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This formidable card poses a strategic challenge, commanding respect from those who dare to face it. To rise victorious against Emperor Mihail II, players need to employ clever tactics and swift action. One effective approach is to utilize removal spells that bypass its protection capabilities, thereby disrupting your opponent’s plan and taking the emperor off the board. Cards that force the owner to sacrifice a creature also prove valuable in this situation.

Moreover, counterspells are essential in your arsenal to preemptively deny Emperor Mihail II’s deployment to the field. Timing these correctly can mitigate the threat before it ever materializes. Another strategic move involves increasing the cost of your opponent’s spells through certain cards, which can make it more difficult for them to cast Emperor Mihail II in the first place. By considering these methods, players can find the key to dismantling the emperor’s reign and paving their way to victory.

In essence, when facing such powerful cards, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategy while keeping a cool head is crucial. Through the use of targeted removal, strategic counterspelling, and cost-increasing tactics, players can turn the tide against Emperor Mihail II, ensuring that this mighty card does not dictate the flow of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Emperor Mihail II is a card that demands attention and strategy in the vibrant realm of MTG. By offering card draw, mana acceleration, and instant-speed interactions, this powerful ruler can fit into decks that value control and flexibility. Keep in mind its mana requirements and high casting cost when integrating it into your game plan. For those seeking to keep their opponents guessing and eager to leverage political dynamics in their play, Emperor Mihail II is an excellent choice. Deepen your understanding of MTG’s nuanced mechanics and discover how this card can enhance your playing experience. Join us for more insights and advance your MTG prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Emperor Mihail II MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United Commander and Dominaria United Commander, 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 Emperor Mihail II and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Emperor Mihail II Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by PINDURSKI.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 732015NormalBlackPINDURSKI
22022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 232015NormalBlackPINDURSKI
32023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1552015NormalBlackPINDURSKI

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Emperor Mihail II has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Emperor Mihail II card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-09-09 Emperor Mihail II lets you look at the top card of your library whenever you want (with one restriction—see below), even if you don't have priority. This action doesn't use the stack. Knowing what that card is becomes part of the information you have access to, just like you can look at the cards in your hand.
2022-09-09 If the top card of your library changes while you're casting a spell, playing a land, or activating an ability, you can't look at the new top card until you finish doing so. This means that if you cast the top card of your library, you can't look at the next one until you're done paying for that spell.
2022-09-09 The last ability triggers whenever you cast any Merfolk spell, not just when you cast a Merfolk spell from the top of your library. It will resolve before the spell that caused it to trigger, even if that spell has been countered or otherwise left the stack.
2022-09-09 You must follow the normal timing permissions and restrictions of the cards you play from your library.