Mordenkainen MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Mordenkainen
Loyalty 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Mordenkainen excels in card advantage, bolstering board presence while maintaining hand size.
  2. Its resource acceleration and strategic draw manipulation enhance longer game plays.
  3. The card’s casting cost and color requirements may limit deck diversity and strategies.

Text of card


+2: Draw two cards, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
-2: Create a blue Dog Illusion creature token with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to twice the number of cards in your hand."
-10: Exchange your hand and library, then shuffle. You get an emblem with "You have no maximum hand size."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mordenkainen provides card advantage through its ability to create a X/X blue Dog Illusion creature token where X is twice the number of cards in your hand. This feature can significantly enhance your board presence while maintaining a healthy hand size.

Resource Acceleration: The Planeswalker’s plus ability allows you to draw cards and then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. This mechanic not only enriches your card options but also can subtly manipulate your draws for resource acceleration in longer games.

Instant Speed: While Mordenkainen itself does not operate at instant speed, the Dog Illusion tokens it creates could potentially have an immediate impact on the game state if you’ve witchcrafted ways to give them flash. Additionally, Mordenkainen’s high loyalty count can help survive instant-speed removals that are common during opponent’s turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mordenkainen demands the player to throw away a card as part of its casting cost. This can be a tactical setback, particularly in situations where your hand is already depleted or each card holds critical strategic value.

Specific Mana Cost: Harnessing Mordenkainen’s potent abilities requires a mix of blue mana, obligating deck builders to skew towards this color and perhaps constraining deck diversity. This specific requirement can be challenging for players preferring a multicolored or mana-diverse strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mordenkainen comes into the fray with a fairly hefty mana investment. There exist other options within the magical pantheon that could present similar benefits without the substantial resource allocation that Mordenkainen entails.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mordenkainen offers a dynamic role in various deck archetypes, lending itself to strategies that prioritize hand manipulation and strong planeswalker abilities.

Combo Potential: Its ability to create a sizable token based on the number of cards in your hand pairs well with strategies that strive to maximize hand size, supporting synergies with draw-heavy blue decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that highly values card advantage and flexible win conditions, Mordenkainen’s capacity to swing games with both its token generation and ultimate ability keeps it relevant and formidable.


How to beat

Mordenkainen is a powerful planeswalker card that offers players significant board control and card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. When facing this formidable card, strategic planning and a tactical approach are crucial. To effectively combat Mordenkainen, prioritize cards that can remove or neutralize planeswalkers directly from the battlefield. Instant removal spells are particularly effective as they can disrupt the opponent’s strategy on their turn, leaving them with fewer resources. Cards with direct damage capabilities can also be invaluable, providing a means to diminish Mordenkainen’s loyalty counters and ultimately defeat this planeswalker card.

Moreover, countering Mordenkainen as it’s cast is another strategy, ensuring it never influences the game state. Counterspells like Negate or Disdainful Stroke work wonders here. Lastly, applying pressure with creatures can force the opponent to use Mordenkainen defensively, hindering their ability to capitalize on his abilities for advantage. By staying adaptive and utilizing reaction-based cards, players can get the upper hand against this potent card, keeping control over the game’s tempo and ultimately leading to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the strategic depths of MTG, Mordenkainen is a card that commands attention with its game-swinging abilities. Whether you’re adding layers to your blue deck or testing the waters with new combos, this planeswalker offers an array of tactical options that can bolster your matches. Appreciating its strengths and understanding its weaknesses are paramount in advancing your gameplay. Embrace its potential to turn the tides with card advantage and resource acceleration. If you’re seeking to refine your deck or just to appreciate the versatility of such unique cards, continue your journey with us and discover how Mordenkainen can elevate your MTG experience.


Cards like Mordenkainen

In the realm of powerful planeswalkers from the Magic: The Gathering universe, Mordenkainen stands tall. This card channels the essence of versatility and strategic depth akin to the likes of Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Jace’s ability to manipulate card draws and control the game is similar in flavor to Mordenkainen’s potential to swing the tide of gameplay. Yet, Mordenkainen has a unique advantage by creating a Dog Illusion creature whose power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your hand, thus rewarding players with large hand sizes.

Comparatively, Teferi, Master of Time offers a different spin on hand regulation, providing a phased draw and allowing players to act on any player’s turn. Despite this, the dynamism that Mordenkainen brings to the table, with its robust draw capabilities and the added bonus of a sizable creature, marks its distinction in the pantheon of blue planeswalkers. Additionally, Liliana, the Last Hope is another fellow planeswalker that navigates through deck manipulation and creature control, but lacks the direct hand enhancement that Mordenkainen can bring into play.

Reviewing these similar cards, Mordenkainen certainly captures the interest of those who enjoy nuanced play and substantial card advantage, securing its place in the landscape of potent planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Master of Time - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - Worldwake (WWK)
Teferi, Master of Time - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Liliana, the Last Hope - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Mordenkainen by color, type and mana cost

Teferi, Temporal Archmage - MTG Card versions
Mu Yanling - MTG Card versions
Jace, Ingenious Mind-Mage - MTG Card versions
Will Kenrith - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret, Cruel Machinist - MTG Card versions
Jace, Arcane Strategist - MTG Card versions
Mu Yanling, Celestial Wind - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Timeless Voyager - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Temporal Archmage - Commander Masters (CMM)
Mu Yanling - Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling (GS1)
Jace, Ingenious Mind-Mage - Ixalan (XLN)
Will Kenrith - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Tezzeret, Cruel Machinist - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Jace, Arcane Strategist - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Mu Yanling, Celestial Wind - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Teferi, Timeless Voyager - Core Set 2021 (M21)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mordenkainen MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Mordenkainen and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mordenkainen Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 926562015normalblackDonato Giancola
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 642015normalblackRyan Pancoast
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 2832015normalborderlessDonato Giancola
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 64p2015normalblackRyan Pancoast
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 64s2015normalblackRyan Pancoast
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 64a2015normalblackRyan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mordenkainen has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-07-23 The cards put into your hand due to Mordenkainen's last ability aren't “drawn.” Anything that cares about you drawing cards won't notice your hand suddenly becoming very, very well-stocked.
2021-07-23 The power and toughness of the Dog Illusion token will change as the number of cards in your hand changes.

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