Agent of Treachery MTG Card


Gaining control of two permanents with Agent of Treachery turns the tide in your favor. Draw three cards if controlling three permanents not originally yours, boosting resources. Employ instant-speed removal and graveyard disruption to counteract Agent of Treachery’s influence.
Agent of Treachery - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Rogue
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number43
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byIgor Kieryluk

Text of card

When Agent of Treachery enters the battlefield, gain control of target permanent. At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more permanents you don't own, draw three cards.

"The more secrets you have, the more easily you become my pawn."


Cards like Agent of Treachery

Agent of Treachery is a standout card in Magic: The Gathering with its unique effect of stealing permanents. As a seven mana blue creature, it draws parallels with cards like Control Magic, which also allows players to take command of an opponent’s creature. However, Agent of Treachery doesn’t just target creatures; it can seize any permanent, broadening your strategic options and potentially disrupting your opponent’s board significantly.

The card’s similarity to Confiscate is notable, as Confiscate enables the control of any target permanent as well. Yet, Confiscate is an enchantment that can be more vulnerable to removal, while Agent of Treachery offers a physical presence on the battlefield. Additionally, the Agent’s secondary ability to draw cards if you control three or more permanents an opponent owns gives it an edge in generating card advantage over other permanent-control spells.

When evaluating card potency and versatility, Agent of Treachery holds a unique position. It not only disrupts your adversary’s game plan but also bolsters your resources, aligning well with players who enjoy a control archetype that thrives on taking the reins of the game.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
5c Enigmatic Incarnation5c Enigmatic Incarnation Pioneer5c Enigmatic IncarnationPioneer Last Chance 2024-03-18
4c Enigmatic Fires4c Enigmatic Fires Pioneer4c Enigmatic FiresPioneer Preliminary 2024-04-02
URUR PioneerPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Enigmatic IncarnationEnigmatic Incarnation ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
5c Enigmatic Fires5c Enigmatic Fires Pioneer5c Enigmatic FiresPioneer Last Chance 2024-03-19 (1)
DecklistDecklist Free formWeekday Night Magic
WinotaWinota Naya WinotaThe Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #002

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Agent of Treachery shines when it comes to gaining card advantage. When it enters the battlefield, you gain control of up to two target permanents, which not only depletes your opponent’s resources but also increases yours – a classic two-for-one deal that can swing the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t just steal valuable assets; if you control three or more permanents you don’t own as your turn begins, Agent of Treachery allows you to draw three cards giving you a significant resource acceleration. This incentive to possess opponent’s cards promotes elaborate game strategies and can hasten your route to victory.

Instant Speed: While Agent of Treachery itself isn’t an instant, the resources it provides have an indirect benefit at instant speed. Through gaining control of your opponent’s permanents, which may include lands or creatures with flash, you effectively increase your ability to operate during each player’s turn, contributing to a more dynamic and flexible playstyle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Agent of Treachery does not inherently require a discard, but its high value often compels players to include it in strategies that leverage discard mechanics for reanimation. However, without careful deck construction, this can inadvertently cause hand depletion and subsequent vulnerability against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a precise mana arrangement to be cast, specifically three islands among seven mana. This requirement can strain mana bases, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary triple blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an imposing casting cost of seven mana, Agent of Treachery may arrive too late in games where speed is crucial. While the control effect is powerful, it competes with other high-impact cards in the same cost bracket that could potentially affect the board state sooner or provide immediate advantages.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Agent of Treachery shines due to its ability to manipulate the board by stealing your opponent’s most valuable permanents. This flexibility allows it to be a powerful addition to control or reanimation decks, adapting to various playstyles and strategies effectively.

Combo Potential: Its ability triggers upon entering the battlefield, making it a strong contender for combos with flicker or bounce effects that can repeatedly exploit its theft ability. Moreover, should you control three or more permanents you don’t own, its built-in draw mechanism kicks in, offering substantial card advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with high-value permanents or “Superfriends” decks abundant with planeswalkers, Agent of Treachery can disrupt opponents’ carefully laid plans. It allows for turning their significant investments into your strategic tools, making it a game-changer in many match-ups.


How to beat

The Agent of Treachery card in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge with its ability to gain control of your opponent’s permanents. To effectively counter this threat, utilizing instant-speed removal spells right before your opponent’s trigger of drawing three cards at their end step due to controlling three or more of your permanents can be vital. Timing is key here.

Graveyard hate cards also offer a sound strategy to combat Agent of Treachery’s intimidating board presence. By using cards such as Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus, you can remove the Agent from the game altogether, tampering with your opponent’s ability to recur it from the graveyard. Counterspells hold their ground as well by preventing the agent from entering the battlefield in the first place.

Moreover, employing sacrifice effects encourages the opponent to surrender their Agent of Treachery or another valuable creature they own. As a result, board control swings back into your favor. These methods combined create a strong defense against the overt power of Agent of Treachery, maintaining the balance of the game and your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strengths and pitfalls of Agent of Treachery is pivotal for any MTG player looking to harness its vast potential. Recognizing its ability to turn the tide by commandeering opponent’s key permanents can inspire innovative deck-building strategies. Whether bolstering your own resources or hindering your adversary’s plans, this card is a powerful asset in generating card advantage. Keep foresight on proper mana management and beware of its high casting cost. Dive deeper into strategic play and learn how to optimally integrate Agent of Treachery into your deck. Join our community of seasoned players at BurnMana to discover more insights and enhance your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Agent of Treachery MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Agent of Treachery and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Agent of Treachery has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlBanned
CommanderLegal
HistoricBanned
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 A token’s owner is the player who created it.
2019-07-12 Agent of Treachery’s effect lasts indefinitely. It doesn’t wear off during the cleanup step, and it doesn’t expire if Agent of Treachery leaves the battlefield. In a multiplayer game, it does expire if you leave the game.
2019-07-12 Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it. Gaining control of an Aura or Equipment doesn’t change what it’s currently attached to.
2019-07-12 If you don’t control three permanents you don’t own as your end step begins, Agent of Treachery’s last ability doesn’t trigger. If you no longer control three permanents you don’t own as it resolves, you won’t draw three cards. Those don’t have to be the same three permanents each time.
2019-07-12 If you gain control of a permanent “until end of turn,” that effect will wear off during the cleanup step, after the end step. You’ll control that permanent while considering Agent of Treachery’s last ability.