Scepter of Fugue MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	2009-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Conflux
Set code	CON
Number	53
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

Grants control by forcing opponents to discard, enhancing your strategic edge each turn.
Instant speed activation of Scepter of Fugue maximizes its disruptive potential.
Mana cost and discard requirements demand careful resource management.

Text of card

, : Target player discards a card. Play this ability only during your turn.

One goes to Tidehollow either to forget or to be forgotten. Either way, the scullers will oblige.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scepter of Fugue offers a repeatable way to deplete your opponent’s hand, effectively translating to card advantage as you reduce their potential plays each turn.

Resource Acceleration: While Scepter of Fugue itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its ability to disrupt the opponent’s hand can slow down their resource development, indirectly accelerating your relative board position.

Instant Speed: The power to activate Scepter of Fugue at instant speed grants flexibility, allowing you to wait until your opponent’s draw step or respond to their actions before you decide to force a discard, optimizing the card’s strategic impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Scepter of Fugue necessitates a card to be discarded as part of its activation. This can deplete your hand quickly, particularly in long games where resource management is critical for maintaining an advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Scepter of Fugue requires not just two mana to cast, but specifically black mana. This requirement may restrict the card’s compatibility, making it less flexible and more difficult to integrate into multicolored decks that aren’t heavily focused on black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost of one black mana and one colorless mana, repeated use of the Scepter’s ability can be mana-intensive. When considering the card’s full potential, players must weigh the benefits against other available options, which might provide more immediate or versatile effects for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Scepter of Fugue offers flexibility in deck building, providing a consistent source of opponent hand disruption. This capability makes it adaptable to various formats, especially where control strategies thrive.

Combo Potential: This card’s repeatable ability to deplete your opponent’s resources pairs well with decks that aim to lock down opponents or protect key combos. It can systematically dismantle opposition strategies, turn by turn.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where hand size and card advantage are pivotal, Scepter of Fugue maintains relevance. It acts as a roadblock against combo and control decks, often securing a substantial edge in the match.

How to beat

Scepter of Fugue presents a unique challenge to players in MTG due to its ability to disrupt opponents by forcing discard every turn. This card can be particularly troublesome in formats where hand disruption is a powerful strategy. However, it’s not unbeatable. One effective strategy is to overwhelm the Scepter by generating card advantage. Cards like Phyrexian Arena or Rhystic Study can help you draw more cards than you’re discarding, mitigating the Scepter’s impact.

Another tactic is to use instant-speed spells to operate on your opponent’s turn, thereby minimizing the window during which Scepter of Fugue can affect your plan. Keeping a low hand count by playing lands and spells efficiently will reduce the Scepter’s opportunity to disrupt your strategy. Lastly, including enchantment removal or artifact destruction in your deck, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, gives you a direct answer to remove the Scepter from the battlefield entirely.

Understanding the deck types that favor Scepter of Fugue and preparing specific counters in your sideboard can turn the tide of the game. With the right approach, any player can overcome the challenges posed by this controlling artifact and maintain their foothold in the game.

Cards like Scepter of Fugue

The Scepter of Fugue is a unique piece in the MTG universe for its relentless ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand. It’s akin to cards like Thoughtseize that allow players to target an opponent’s hand, however, Scepter of Fugue offers a repeatable effect at the cost of black mana and an untapped state. In contrast, Duress is also a popular hand disruption card but where it lacks is in its one-time use and the limitation of targeting noncreature, nonland cards.

Comparing it to another staple, Hymn to Tourach, which randomly discards two cards from a player’s hand, Scepter of Fugue provides a controlled and continuous method, but without the immediate impact on the opponent’s card deficit. Another relative card, Liliana’s Caress, punishes opponents whenever they discard a card, and while it synergizes with discard mechanics like the Scepter’s, it doesn’t provide the direct interference that the Scepter guarantees.

Through its singular design, the Scepter carves out a niche for itself, presenting a strategic advantage for players looking to systematically dismantle their opponents’ options round after round, ensuring its place as a noteworthy and potent tool for hand disruption in your MTG decks.

Cards similar to Scepter of Fugue by color, type and mana cost

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Metalspinner's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions

Gisa's Favorite Shovel - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scepter of Fugue MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 Scepter of Fugue and other MTG cards: