Deceive the Messenger MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 47
2023-06-23 - Number 498
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Amass |
Text of card
Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn. Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
"Tell Gandalf that he must seek my aid at once." —Saruman
Cards like Deceive the Messenger
Deceive the Messenger carves its niche in the realm of creature control for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. With parallels to other control spells like Murder, Deceive the Messenger also allows players to eliminate a threat on the board. Murder, while straightforward in its ability to destroy any creature, lacks the deceitful component that Deceive the Messenger brings to the table – cloning the defeated creature’s power.
Comparative elements can be drawn with the spell Control Magic, which rather than destroying, takes possession of an opposing creature. Deceive the Messenger offers a twist by not only dealing with the opposing creature but also creating a copy of its power, potentially turning the tables in a game. On another note, Clone is a card that can copy creatures as well, but it doesn’t provide the immediate removal of a problematic creature, a strategic advantage found in Deceive the Messenger.
Within the landscape of MTG, Deceive the Messenger merits recognition for its combined utility in both creature removal and power duplication, positioning it as a versatile choice for players looking to maintain tempo and control the battlefield.
Cards similar to Deceive the Messenger by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Deceive the Messenger. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rogue Decklists | Pauper | Nacional Pauper 2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Deceive the Messenger excels in providing players with an edge by enabling them to draw a card when it enters the battlefield and again when it leaves. This dual benefit ensures you won’t lose momentum in the card race, keeping your hand replenished and your options open.
Resource Acceleration: With the capability to generate two Clue tokens – resources that can later be cashed in for cards – this card offers a subtle but invaluable boost to your resources. These tokens can be the key to staying ahead in the resource game, letting you dig deeper into your library for answers or threats.
Instant Speed: The versatility of instant-speed spells is unmatched, and Deceive the Messenger keeps pace with this tradition. You can deploy this card at the most opportune moments, often after your opponents have committed to their plays, granting you the flexibility to adapt and the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Deceive the Messenger necessitates players to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This could set you back, particularly when you’re struggling with a limited hand size and need to maintain every card for optimum gameplay strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a demand for both black and blue mana, Deceive the Messenger could be less effective in a multicolor deck where mana consistency is paramount. The card’s utility might become restricted, predicated on your deck’s mana base flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana to play Deceive the Messenger may not be the most mana-efficient move, especially when other cards available could offer a more significant impact or versatility for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Deceive the Messenger in Your Collection
Versatility: Deceive the Messenger adapts to various gameplay styles, offering strategic depth to decks that thrive on misdirection and surprise tactics, enhancing gameplay in multiple formats.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with other spells and abilities that capitalize on knowledge of an opponent’s hand, further enabling combo decks that manipulate or depend on this information to secure a win.
Meta-Relevance: Given a landscape that favors strategic hand manipulation, Deceive the Messenger becomes a pivotal selection, disrupting opponent plans and shifting the balance of play in your favor.
How to beat
Deceive the Messenger brings a unique twist to control strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This card allows players to potentially disrupt an opponent’s plays by shrouding your own spells. However, seasoned players can navigate through this veil of deception. Understanding the card’s timing is crucial; play your important spells only after Deceive the Messenger has been used, minimizing its impact. Moreover, employing counterspells effectively can neutralize it before it messes with your strategy, ensuring that your key plays remain unaffected.
Keeping an eye on mana availability is also wise, as Deceive the Messenger requires the opponent to have a certain mana commitment. This opens a small window where you can take advantage of their lower defenses. Lastly, cards that grant you or your spells hexproof can be invaluable assets. By protecting your spells and strategies from being targets, you circumvent Deceive the Messenger’s disruptive potential entirely, maintaining the flow of your game plan.
With smart planning and a focus on the opportune moments to act, Deceive the Messenger can be turned from a threat into a minor nuisance, allowing you to keep control of the game and lead yourself to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Deceive the Messenger MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Deceive the Messenger and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Deceive the Messenger Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Tomas Duchek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 47 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomas Duchek | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 498 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomas Duchek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Deceive the Messenger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Deceive the Messenger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army. |
| 2023-06-16 | Amass abilities are now written as "amass -ubtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N." |
| 2023-06-16 | If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters. |
| 2023-06-16 | In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Orcs, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs. |
| 2023-06-16 | To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types. |