Syphon Mind MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. It excels in generating card advantage, impacting all opponents and benefiting the caster greatly.
  2. Syphon Mind’s ability can hinder opponents, creating a significant tempo shift in your favor.
  3. The card’s versatility and meta-relevance make it a notable addition in multiplayer scenarios.

Text of card

Each other player discards a card from his or her hand. You draw a card for each card discarded this way.

When tempers run high, it's easy to lose your head.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Syphon Mind excels in providing card advantage by making each opponent discard a card while you draw cards equal to the number discarded. This can easily take the momentum away from your opponents and put you ahead in terms of hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Syphon Mind itself doesn’t directly generate additional mana, the removal of key cards from opponents’ hands can slow them down, effectively giving you a resource and tempo advantage as they struggle to regain their board presence.

Instant Speed: While Syphon Mind operates at sorcery speed, its impact on the game is immediate, similar to an instant-speed board effect. The sequential play of discard and draw can catch opponents off guard, upsetting their plans and giving you the upper hand during your own turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Syphon Mind asks each opponent to discard a card, which could potentially backfire by filling up their graveyards with resources they can later exploit, especially in a game with graveyard-focused strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both black mana and generic mana, this card is restricted to black-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored or colorless setups.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana to cast, this spell’s cost is significant, and in early game scenarios, it could slow down your tempo in comparison to other card draw options with lower mana requirements.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Syphon Mind is a valuable addition to any black deck arsenal, offering a powerful draw mechanism by allowing you to draw cards while also forcing opponents to discard, providing a double-edged advantage.

Combo Potential: When paired with other discard mechanics or cards that benefit from opponents discarding, Syphon Mind can become a cog in a devastating combo engine, disrupting your enemies while bolstering your hand.

Meta-Relevance: With games often revolving around card advantage, Syphon Mind’s ability to tip the scales in your favor can be crucial, particularly in multiplayer formats where its impact is magnified.


How to Beat Syphon Mind

Confronting Syphon Mind in Magic: The Gathering can often place players at a disadvantage due to its card advantage and disruption ability. This spell not only causes opponents to lose a card from their hand but also rewards the caster with additional cards, bolstering their resources. To successfully navigate against this card, it’s vital to employ a strategy that mitigates the impact of forced discard while preserving your own hand.

One effective technique is to maintain a lower hand size, making the discard less detrimental. This could involve playing out your hand quickly or utilizing cards with madness or other effects that trigger when discarded. Additionally, including instant-speed draw spells in your deck allows you to replenish your hand swiftly, reducing the potency of Syphon Mind’s effect. Lastly, countering this spell outright is perhaps the most direct way to nullify its threat. Counter spells, though they require precise timing, prevent Syphon Mind from resolving and can keep the balance of cards in your favor.

By adopting these approaches, players can weaken the impact of Syphon Mind and maintain their footing in the game. The key is preparation and understanding how to make the most of disruptive moments within the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Successfully integrating Syphon Mind into your MTG deck is all about strategic planning and understanding the meta. Deck building that emphasizes card advantage can turn this card into a powerhouse, shifting the game greatly in your favor. Syphon Mind shines in formats where multiples are dealt with ease, so consider this when sculpting your strategy and card choices. If you’re keen to find out more about maximizing the potential of cards like Syphon Mind in your MTG games or looking for that next-level insight into mono-black mastery and multiplayer mind games, our comprehensive guides and expert analysis are just a click away. Dive deeper with us and gain the competitive edge you’re looking for.


Cards like Syphon Mind

Syphon Mind is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering both card advantage and disruption to your opponents. It’s akin to cards like Night’s Whisper, which also allows a player to draw two cards but without affecting other players. However, Syphon Mind has the unique advantage of potentially netting a three-card swing in favor of the caster while making each opponent discard a card.

Hymn to Tourach is another card that disrupts opponents’ hands, forcing them to discard two cards at random. While Hymn to Tourach hits harder early on by denying specific resources, Syphon Mind’s later game impact can be more disruptive by diminishing your opponents’ larger hand sizes. Then there’s Painful Quandary, a card that puts constant pressure on opponents as they cast spells, but lacks the immediate card draw that Syphon Mind provides upon casting.

In summary, Syphon Mind stands out as a powerful option within the realm of discard and draw spells—its ability to disrupt multiple players while replenishing your own hand makes it exceptionally potent in multiplayer formats.

Night's Whisper - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Painful Quandary - MTG Card versions
Night's Whisper - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Hymn to Tourach - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Painful Quandary - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Syphon Mind by color, type and mana cost

Stench of Evil - MTG Card versions
Fatal Lore - MTG Card versions
Mind Warp - MTG Card versions
Final Strike - MTG Card versions
Persecute - MTG Card versions
Ancient Craving - MTG Card versions
Unmask - MTG Card versions
Reprocess - MTG Card versions
Befoul - MTG Card versions
Agonizing Memories - MTG Card versions
Mutilate - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Cranial Extraction - MTG Card versions
Devouring Greed - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Aphetto Dredging - MTG Card versions
Consuming Vapors - MTG Card versions
Memoricide - MTG Card versions
Stench of Evil - Ice Age (ICE)
Fatal Lore - Alliances (ALL)
Mind Warp - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Final Strike - Portal (POR)
Persecute - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ancient Craving - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Unmask - From the Vault: Lore (V16)
Reprocess - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Befoul - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Agonizing Memories - Tenth Edition (10E)
Mutilate - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Extinction Event - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Terisiare's Devastation - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Zombify - Masters 25 (A25)
Cranial Extraction - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Devouring Greed - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Diabolic Tutor - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Aphetto Dredging - Premium Deck Series: Slivers (H09)
Consuming Vapors - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Memoricide - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Syphon Mind MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and DCI Promos, 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 Syphon Mind and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Syphon Mind Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Jeff Easley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 1751997normalblackJeff Easley
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 402003normalblackJeff Easley
32009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 422003normalblackJeff Easley
42011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1042003normalblackJeff Easley
52014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1652015normalblackJeff Easley
62017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 702015normalblackJeff Easley
72017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1272015normalblackJeff Easley
82018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 802015normalblackJeff Easley
92022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7722015normalblackJeff Easley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Syphon Mind has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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