Minn, Wily Illusionist MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Gnome Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Creates card advantage and tokens by drawing multiple cards in a single turn.
  2. Accelerates resource placement directly from the library onto the battlefield.
  3. Leverages instant-speed spells for unpredictability and optimal mana use.

Text of card

Whenever you draw your second card each turn, create a 1/1 blue Illusion creature token with "This creature gets +1/+0 for each other Illusion you control." Whenever an Illusion you control dies, you may put a permanent card with mana value less than or equal to that creature's power from your hand onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Minn Wily Illusionist excels at generating card advantage by creating illusions. Each time you draw your second card each turn, an illusion comes into play, potentially churning out numerous blockers or attackers to sway the tide of the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Minn Wily Illusionist doesn’t just stop at creating creatures. When an illusion you control dies, and its power was 0, you get to look at the top cards of your library and put a permanent card with mana value less than or equal to the number of illusions you’ve had enter the battlefield under your control this turn. This can significantly speed up your gameplay by putting resources directly onto the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The abilities of Minn Wily Illusionist synergize well with instant-speed draw spells. Casting such spells during your opponent’s turn not only maximizes your mana usage but also creates surprising blockers and adds the element of unpredictability to your strategy, keeping opponents uncertain and on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Minn Wily Illusionist necessitates discarding a card in order to activate one of its key abilities. This can put you at a serious disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running low on cards, limiting your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation cost is locked into blue mana, requiring a commitment to that color in your deck build. Players who prefer a more flexible mana base may find this limiting, as it demands a strong blue mana presence to utilize effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that some may consider steep for its effects, there are alternative illusions or creatures that could be played at a lower cost. Savvy players will weigh this when considering Minn Wily Illusionist for their decks, as the mana could potentially be allocated to more impactfully costed spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Minn Wily Illusionist thrives across different deck builds, particularly in those harnessing the power of illusions or looking to maximize the use of token creatures. This card’s ability to create a rich tapestry of illusions adds layers to your strategy while providing fodder for various synergistic plays.

Combo Potential: The Illusionist’s skillset is a solid foundation for combos. Whenever you draw your second card each turn, you get a token that can be a potent enabler for strategies focused around creature or artifact synergies, making it an exciting choice for players keen on intricate plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a constantly evolving MTG battlefield, Minn Wily Illusionist holds its ground. It’s particularly effective in formats where generating multiple blockers or maintaining card advantage can disrupt your opponent’s pace, proving to be a significant asset in your collection.


How to beat

Minn, Wily Illusionist shines by creating illusions whenever you draw a second card each turn in the game. The strategy around Minn focuses on deck manipulation and cunning play. To outmaneuver this card, controlling the draw is key. Denying your opponent the ability to draw multiple cards per turn through hand disruption or applying pressure with cards that remove creatures directly, such as Doom Blade or Murder, can hinder their game plan significantly.

Another approach is to use cards with “can’t be countered” abilities or spells that neutralize abilities, such as Cavern of Souls and Tale’s End, respectively. Such cards ensure that your spells and creatures remain unaffected by Minn’s illusions. Employing enchantments like Rest in Peace also proves effective by removing the graveyard interactions some decks reliant on Minn may use for card advantage.

In essence, a well-crafted strategy focusing on draw control, creature removal, and counterplay can tip the scales to your favor against Minn, Wily Illusionist. It’s about predicting maneuvers, managing resources wisely, and deploying the right counters at the perfect moment to triumph over this crafty adversary in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Minn Wily Illusionist is a creative venture in MTG, requiring a mix of strategy and cunning play. By utilizing her ability to generate card advantage and rapidly populate the battlefield with illusionary creatures, players can construct an elusive force capable of outwitting their opponents. Whether integrating her into an illusion-based deck, seeking synergy with instant-speed draw spells, or exploiting the combo potential, Minn offers dynamic playstyles to explore. Seize the advantage by understanding both her strengths and vulnerabilities, and embrace the challenge to enhance your collection. Dive deeper with us to fully harness the subtle art of illusion and maneuver your way to victory.


Cards like Minn, Wily Illusionist

Minn, Wily Illusionist, shines within the realm of card utility in Magic: The Gathering. This clever ally is akin to creatures like Murmuring Mystic, which crafts a formidable spell-casting synergy by generating Bird Illusion tokens. Still, Minn steps up the game with its unique ability to not just create Illusion tokens, but to empower the controller to dive deep into their library and possibly cast a spell for free, once an Illusion’s prowess surpasses the collective power of creatures on the battlefield.

Another parallel is found in Talrand, Sky Summoner. This sorcerer rewards spell casting with an army of flying Drakes which solidify the player’s defensive and offensive capabilities. Yet, unlike Talrand, Minn has an ace up her sleeve, elegantly bypassing mana costs under the right conditions, offering an unpredictably swift advantage.Pivoting to a more creature-focused comparison, Docent of Perfection shares a theme with Minn. It rewards wizards and the casting of instants or sorceries by evolving into the intimidating Final Iteration and producing Wizard tokens, a token type usually known for versatility.

Assessing the unique edge each card brings, Minn, Wily Illusionist offers a dynamic blend of token generation and cunning strategical depth that engrains its value firmly in MTG player decks focused on cunning and illusion.

Murmuring Mystic - MTG Card versions
Talrand, Sky Summoner - MTG Card versions
Murmuring Mystic - MTG Card versions
Talrand, Sky Summoner - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Minn, Wily Illusionist MTG card by a specific set like Forgotten Realms Commander and Forgotten Realms Commander, 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 Minn, Wily Illusionist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Minn, Wily Illusionist Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Dmitry Burmak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 2852015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
22021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 162015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Minn, Wily Illusionist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Minn, Wily Illusionist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-07-23 Minn's last ability uses the Illusion's power the last time it existed on the battlefield to determine what cards you may put onto the battlefield.

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