Blinding Mage MTG Card

Blinding Mage’s instant speed ability disrupts attacks, enhancing defensive plays during opponents’ turns. Its ability to tap creatures can save spells, conserving resources and card advantage. Though it demands constant mana, its board control can justify the investment in matches.

Magic 2010 (M10)
2009-07-17 - Number 5

Magic 2011 (M11)
2010-07-16 - Number 8

Iconic Masters (IMA)
2017-11-17 - Number 13

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Power	1
Toughness	2

Text of card

, : Tap target creature.

"I carry the light of truth. Do not pity those it blinds, for they never had eyes to see."

Cards like Blinding Mage

Blinding Mage stands as a noteworthy utility creature in Magic The Gathering. It draws a close parallel to other creature cards with tap abilities such as Gideon’s Lawkeeper and Avacynian Priest. However, Blinding Mage outshines them with its lower mana cost for its activation, allowing for more strategic plays with mana management. Gideon’s Lawkeeper, while costing the same amount to cast, requires more for its tap ability.

On the other hand, Avacynian Priest also offers the ability to tap creatures, but it specifically targets non-human creatures which can be both a limitation and a strength depending on the matchup. Furthermore, Master Decoy is an alternative worth mentioning, echoing a similar tapping function as Blinding Mage, yet it falls behind as it demands more mana investment to cast initially.

Assessing the strengths and functionalities of these cards, Blinding Mage can be seen as a versatile and cost-efficient card within its category, blending well in decks focused on controlling opponents’ creatures and maintaining tempo advantage during gameplay.

Cards similar to Blinding Mage by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blinding Mage doesn’t directly contribute to card advantage; however, its ability to repeatedly tap a creature can offset the need to use additional spells for creature control, effectively conserving cards in hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Blinding Mage doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it helps preserve your board state by mitigating incoming threats, indirectly maintaining your resource presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Blinding Mage’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing the flexibility to disrupt opponents’ combat strategies during their turn, thus improving your defensive capabilities whenever necessary.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blinding Mage forces players to constantly feed it mana to maintain its board control effect. This recurring cost can lead to a depletion of resources, especially if the game drags on or if you’re facing a mana deficit.

Specific Mana Cost: Blinding Mage requires a white mana for its activation, making it less flexible in multicolored decks or strategies that rely on a diverse mana base. Players running fewer white sources might find it challenging to utilize the mage’s ability consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Blinding Mage’s initial casting cost is low, the necessity to invest one colorless and one white mana repeatedly for its ability might result in a higher long-term mana expenditure. In matches where tempo is crucial, this could put players at a disadvantage compared to cards with passive or cheaper abilities.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blinding Mage offers a key tactical advantage in many deck builds. Its ability to tap a target creature can turn the tide of battle, making it a valuable tool in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This flexible card works beautifully in lock-down combos, pairing with cards that capitalize on tapped creatures or those that prevent them from untapping, allowing you to control the battlefield with ease.

Meta-Relevance: The shifting landscape of the game often brings creature-heavy decks into prominence. When these trends arise, Blinding Mage becomes a critical asset, mitigating threats and disrupting opponent tempo to maintain competitive edge.

How to beat

Blinding Mage is a versatile card frequently utilized to control the battlefield in MTG. With the ability to tap an opponent’s creature for a cost of one white mana plus one of any color, it can be a thorn in your side when you’re facing down a swarm of attackers. It operates similarly to cards like Gideon’s Lawkeeper and Master Decoy, yet lacks the solidarity of being a creature itself.

To effectively circumvent Blinding Mage’s tactical advantage, consider removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their state, such as Doom Blade or Murder. These spells are cost-efficient ways to remove problematic creatures like Blinding Mage without relying on them being tapped. Additionally, enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize Blinding Mage without needing to invest multiple resources. If Blinding Mage has become a recurring nuisance in your matches, including a mix of direct removal and passive control in your deck will ensure that you won’t be left in the dark.

Ultimately, the ability to adapt and prepare for control cards like Blinding Mage is what separates the average MTG player from the strategic minds that pilot their decks to victory. By leveraging your options, you can keep the game in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blinding Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Blinding Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blinding Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2017-11-17. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-07-17	Magic 2010	M10	5	2003	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
2	2010-07-16	Magic 2011	M11	8	2003	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
3	2017-11-17	Iconic Masters	IMA	13	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blinding Mage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal