Perplexing Chimera MTG Card


Gains spells and disrupts opponents, creating a complex battlefield dynamic with each use. Triggers at instant speed, offering a tactical advantage by responding to opponent’s spells. Demands blue mana and careful deck building, ensuring a precise and strategic setup.
Perplexing Chimera - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment Creature — Chimera
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number48
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTyler Jacobson

Text of card

Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may exchange control of Perplexing Chimera and that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the spell. (If the spell becomes a permanent, you control that permanent.)


Cards like Perplexing Chimera

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, creative control spells like Perplexing Chimera offer players the ability to disrupt their opponents’ strategies. A card eerily similar in its capacity to meddle with the stack is Swerve, which changes the target of a single spell. While not providing continuous control like Perplexing Chimera, it does offer a surprise switch at a lower cost.

Confounding Conundrum is another card that can perplex opponents, though not by trading spells, it does regulate land play patterns and penalizes greedy maneuvers, aligning with Chimera’s disruptive theme. Meanwhile, Control Magic allows you to take command of an opponent’s creature indefinitely, akin to how Perplexing Chimera can gain control of played spells. The difference lies in Control Magic’s ongoing control of a single creature versus Chimera’s one-time ability to exchange control for any spell.

Assessing each card’s role in a game, it’s evident that Perplexing Chimera has a unique standing. Its capability to give players leverage over any spell at the cost of losing the Chimera itself bestows a singular tactical option, distinguishing it in the realm of control cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Swerve - MTG Card versions
Confounding Conundrum - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Swerve - MTG Card versions
Confounding Conundrum - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Perplexing Chimera by color, type and mana cost

Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
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Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
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Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Biting Tether - MTG Card versions
Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Mind Control - MTG Card versions
Future Sight - MTG Card versions
Dispersing Orb - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Cowardice - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Biting Tether - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Perplexing Chimera offers a unique form of card advantage by disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Each time you swap control of the Chimera for a spell your opponent casts, you not only gain that spell but also force your opponent to plan around the Chimera’s presence on your side of the field—adding a layer of complexity to their gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: While Perplexing Chimera doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its ability to essentially ‘steal’ valuable spells can lead to an indirect form of acceleration. By obtaining key spells that could have been used for your opponent’s resource ramp, you slow them down while potentially boosting your own board state with their resources.

Instant Speed: Perplexing Chimera’s ability can be activated at instant speed, which makes it a formidable weapon in a reactive strategy. Timing is crucial in MTG, and having the ability to exchange control of the Chimera in response to an opponent’s spell can drastically alter the course of the game, often catching an adversary unprepared and swinging the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When engaging with Perplexing Chimera, players must be prepared to give up the creature to an opponent. This exchange can lead to a loss of control over the board state, which might not always be beneficial, especially if no advantageous swaps are feasible.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and generic mana, Perplexing Chimera demands a precise mana base to cast. This can constrain deck building, as it necessitates a commitment to blue mana sources, potentially limiting the card to certain archetypes or necessitating a more complex mana base to accommodate it in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, this creature can be slow to hit the battlefield. In many game scenarios, the mana invested in Perplexing Chimera could be allocated to other spells that provide immediate impact or greater board presence.


Reasons to Include Perplexing Chimera in Your Collection

Versatility: Perplexing Chimera is a unique card that can be a game-changer in various types of decks. Its ability to exchange control with any spell on the stack offers players an array of strategic options each game.

Combo Potential: With the right deck, Perplexing Chimera can create powerful synergies. For instance, pairing it with Homeward Path allows you to gain control of your opponent’s spells while retrieving the Chimera back to your side of the field.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the shifting dynamics of competitive play, Perplexing Chimera can serve as a wild card against opponents. Its presence can deter players from casting game-winning spells out of fear they might be swapped, making it a noteworthy inclusion in a collection for its strategic value.


How to beat Perplexing Chimera

Overcoming the challenge of Perplexing Chimera in your Magic: The Gathering matches requires careful strategy. This enchantment creature may appear daunting with its ability to exchange control of spells but don’t let it fluster your game plan. Keeping your cool is essential when facing its perplexing effect.

One effective method to beat Perplexing Chimera is by prioritizing low-value spells in your casting sequence. By doing so, you bait your opponent into using the Chimera’s ability on a less impactful spell, thereby preserving your more crucial plays. Another tactic is utilizing instant speed removal after the Chimera’s trigger has been stacked on the stack, resulting in its controller not being able to seize any spell with it afterward.

Ultimately, understanding and manipulating the stack, alongside timing your removal spells, becomes the key to outmaneuvering Perplexing Chimera. It’s not just about what you play but also when and how you play it in the complex dance of MTG. Navigate these encounters with foresight and watch Perplexing Chimera turn from a formidable puzzle into a solvable conundrum in your games.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Perplexing Chimera’s quirky exchange ability, it’s clear that MTG isn’t just about brute force; it’s a game of wits and cunning. There are moments when this creature can dramatically shift the game’s dynamics, creating memorable plays. It is a brilliant match for those who love a tactical challenge and enjoy turning their opponents’ strategies against them. As you absorb the insights from its pros, cons, and strategic uses, consider how it might add depth to your deck. Embrace the complexity of MTG and discover the sheer impact of a well-timed Chimera swap. Curious to learn how to wield this card to its full potential? Dive deeper with us and unlock the secrets of optimizing Perplexing Chimera in your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Perplexing Chimera MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Perplexing Chimera and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Perplexing Chimera has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-02-01 After the ability resolves, you control the spell. Any instance of “you” in that spell’s text now refers to you, “an opponent” refers to one of your opponents, and so on. The change of control happens before new targets are chosen, so any targeting restrictions such as “target opponent” or “target creature you control” are now made in reference to you, not the spell’s original controller. You may change those targets to be legal in reference to you, or, if those are the spell’s only targets, the spell will doesn’t resolve for having illegal targets. When the spell resolves, any illegal targets are unaffected by it and you make all decisions the spell’s effect calls for.
2014-02-01 Gaining control of a spell and changing its targets won’t cause any heroic abilities of the new targets to trigger.
2014-02-01 If Perplexing Chimera leaves the battlefield or the spell leaves the stack before the triggered ability resolves, you can’t make the exchange.
2014-02-01 If you gain control of an instant or sorcery spell, it will be put into its owner’s graveyard as it resolves, fails to resolve, or is countered.
2014-02-01 In some unusual cases, you may not control Perplexing Chimera when its triggered ability resolves (perhaps because the triggered ability triggered again and resolved while the original ability was on the stack). In these cases, you can exchange control of Perplexing Chimera and the spell that causes the ability to trigger, even if you control neither of them. If you do, you’ll be able to change targets of the spell, not the spell’s new controller.
2014-02-01 Neither Perplexing Chimera nor the spell changes zones. Only control of them is exchanged.
2014-02-01 You make the decision whether to exchange control of Perplexing Chimera and the spell as the triggered ability resolves.
2014-02-01 You may change any of the spell’s targets. If you change a target, you must choose a legal target for the spell. If you can’t, you must leave the target the same (even if that target is now illegal).
2014-02-01 You may exchange control of Perplexing Chimera and any spell cast by an opponent, not just one with targets.