Charisma MTG Card


Charisma provides board control by turning your creatures into opponent creature thieves during combat. It can strategically shift momentum in your favor by disrupting enemy plans at enchantment speed. The card’s requirement for specific mana types may limit its versatility in non-blue decks.
Charisma - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Number66
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTerese Nielsen

Text of card

Whenever enchanted creature deals damage to a creature, you control that creature as long as Charisma remains in play.

It was Gerrard's nature to lead and the Mercadians' to follow.


Cards like Charisma

Charisma is an intriguing enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering, drawing comparisons to other creature control spells. It stands out as it allows the enchanted creature to gain control of creatures it deals damage to, but unlike Control Magic, which outright takes control of any target creature, Charisma requires a bit more finesse and strategy. You need a creature already in play and it must be engaging in combat, which limits its immediacy but not its potential impact.

Looking at another counterpart, Beguiler of Wills offers a similar control ability, though it’s attached to a creature instead of being an aura. While Beguiler can potentially take control of multiple creatures over several turns, it does have a higher mana cost and is itself vulnerable to removal. However, unlike Charisma, it doesn’t need a creature to deal damage to exercise control.

Comparatively, when evaluating utility and adaptability, Charisma provides a unique combat-focused control mechanism. This distinct approach to taking over opposing forces requires tactical plays but gives rise to impactful interactions in matches, positioning it as a crafty alternative within creature control options.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Beguiler of Wills - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Beguiler of Wills - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

In the universe of MTG, some cards provide subtle yet powerful advantages that can pivot the game in your favor. One such card is Charisma, and here’s why it stands out:

Card Advantage: Charisma turns each of your creatures into a potential threat by potentially taking control of your opponent’s creatures during combat, effectively giving you a greater presence on the board and depleting your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Though Charisma itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly do so by taking control of opponents’ mana-dorks or creatures with abilities that generate additional mana, thereby enhancing your own mana pool and advancement in the game.

Instant Speed: Charisma functions at the speed of enchantments, but the edge it provides by affecting combat potentially allows you to change the tide instantaneously during the combat phase. This can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and sway momentum without waiting for sorcery speed intervals.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Charisma, as captivating as it might be, demands the player to discard a card as part of its casting condition. This requirement can put the player at a disadvantage, especially during late-game scenarios where each card held is a vital part of the strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Charisma’s enchantment magic comes at the cost of a specific blend of mana, including blue. This particular requirement can restrict its inclusion to decks that are tailored around blue mana, potentially limiting its versatility across a broader range of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three mana of any color and two blue mana, Charisma’s investment may seem steep compared to other enchantments that offer similar influence over creatures on the battlefield. Players might find themselves weighing its cost against other options that could provide a more cost-effective way to control the flow of the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Charisma is a unique enchantment that can turn any creature into a threat-stealing dynamo. It works seamlessly in control or mid-range decks, adding a layer of interaction with opponents’ creatures.

Combo Potential: This card can create powerful synergies with cards that deal damage or have tap abilities. Using Charisma to effectively take control of opponents’ creatures after a ping or a tap can swing games in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks are prevalent, Charisma provides a clever and recurring answer to the most intimidating threats on the board. Its relevance grows in metas where maintaining creature control on the battlefield is critical for victory.


How to beat

Charisma is a unique card in the Magic: The Gathering universe that can turn the tides of a game by allowing a player to gain control of creatures that deal damage to the enchanted creature. To counteract Charisma’s potentially game-altering effect, focus on removal spells that can deal with the enchanted creature directly. Unsummon effects or board wipes such as Wrath of God are your allies here, allowing you to reset the board and remove the control threat.

It’s also worth considering strategies to prevent Charisma from landing on the battlefield in the first place. Counterspells like Cancel or Dispel will nip the problem in the bud, protecting your creatures from being turned against you. Keep in mind the importance of keeping blue mana open when your opponent is playing colors that could include Charisma. Lastly, hexproof or shroud can be a saving grace, making your creatures untargetable, thus invalidating Charisma’s mechanism altogether.

Employing these tactics not only maintains the integrity of your combat strategies but also ensures that you remain in the driver’s seat when facing decks that utilize enchantments to take the upper hand. Always be prepared and adaptive, and Charisma won’t derail your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Charisma MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Charisma and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Charisma has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal