Imperial Mask MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2007-05-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Future Sight |
| Set code | FUT |
| Number | 23 |
| Frame | future |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Christopher Moeller |
Text of card
When Imperial Mask comes into play, if it's not a token, each of your teammates puts a token into play that's a copy of Imperial Mask. You can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.
Understanding Imperial Mask’s Role
Imperial Mask is a distinct card that offers a veil of protection in player’s strategies. Unlike its peer the Witchbane Orb, which also grants its owner hexproof, Imperial Mask has an edge as it extends this protection to your teammates in multiplayer formats. While Witchbane Orb requires a higher mana investment, Imperial Mask enters the battlefield with a similar barrier effect for a lower cost and as an enchantment, which makes it less susceptible to artifact removal.
Cards like Imperial Mask
Imperial Mask presents similarities with other protective spells in MTG, such as Ivory Mask and Leyline of Sanctity. Ivory Mask, sharing a similar mana cost and the same effect of granting the player shroud, comes without the multiplayer protective feature but it is also nontransferable, establishing a firmer safeguard for an individual player. Leyline of Sanctity, on the other hand, not only confers hexproof to its controller but also has the potential to be played instantly at the game’s onset if in the opening hand, providing an immediate layer of defense. However, Leyline does not come with the teammate shielding bonus that comes inherent to Imperial Mask, which can make it unique in team-based duels.
These comparisons place Imperial Mask in a refined niche, particularly within MTG gameplay that involves partnerships or teams. It is valuable for its collective shielding quality, a trait that stands out in games that involve more than just one-on-one play. An understanding of the subtle differences and strategic implications elevates Imperial Mask’s position within protective cards in the game.
Cards similar to Imperial Mask by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Imperial Mask lets each player benefit from their own copy, potentially outweighing the one card cost with multiple instances of its effect in multiplayer formats. This enhances card significance rather than raw numbers, subtly providing a card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing acceleration, Imperial Mask conserves resources by acting as a preemptive shield, effectively reducing the need for multiple individual protection spells. This can free up mana and other resources for more aggressive plays or development of your board state.
Instant Speed: Although the Mask is not an instant itself, its symmetrical effect can offer protection against instant speed threats from opponents, indirectly validating its presence in decks that value instant-speed interaction. This allows for a more tactical and responsive gameplay, safeguarding your strategy, and potentially disrupting the timing of your opponents’ actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As a player, you may find yourself having to discard valuable cards from your hand to fulfill the discard requirement of the Imperial Mask. This might deplete your hand, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage as the game progresses.
Specific Mana Cost: Imperial Mask’s mana cost is locked into white, necessitating a deck that is either mono-white or has a mana base well-tuned to consistently produce white mana. This could restrict the card’s versatility and make it a less ideal choice in multicolor decks that may face mana consistency issues.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of five, including four generic and one white mana, Imperial Mask can be seen as a costly investment, especially in environments where speed is of the essence. In formats where the pace of play is quicker, or in decks that aim to maximize efficiency, the cost of casting Imperial Mask might outweigh its benefits, especially when other lower-cost alternatives could be included in its place.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Imperial Mask’s ability to grant you and your teammates hexproof makes it a powerful inclusion in a variety of decks, whether they’re focused on multiplayer formats or those that shield you from targeted spells and abilities.
Combo Potential: As a piece in combo-centric decks, Imperial Mask can protect key creatures or planeswalkers while you assemble game-winning interactions, ensuring your plans go uninterrupted by opponent’s targeted removal.
Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment where control and disruptive strategies are prevalent, incorporating Imperial Mask into your deck provides a steadfast defense against common threats, allowing you to maintain a stronghold on the board.
How to beat
Imperial Mask presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering, serving as a protective spell for you and your teammates. This enchantment becomes a shield, fending off spells and abilities that target players. To successfully navigate around Imperial Mask, players need to employ strategies that don’t rely on targeting individual players directly.
One effective approach is focusing on blanket effects that impact all players equally, as these circumvent the singularity of Imperial Mask’s protection. Cards like Supreme Verdict or Toxic Deluge wipe the board clean without targeting, effectively bypassing Imperial Mask’s safeguard. Another strategy includes using spells that target multiple players at once or forcing opponents to make choices with cards like Choice of Damnations.
Additionally, remove the enchantment itself. Enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize can dispose of Imperial Mask, paving the way for targeted effects once again. Ultimately, adapting your game plan to include non-targeting effects or direct enchantment destruction is key to triumphing over the defense that Imperial Mask provides.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Imperial Mask MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight, 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 Imperial Mask and other MTG cards:
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- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Imperial Mask has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Imperial Mask card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | Each Imperial Mask permanent is independent and affects only its controller and the opponents of its controller. |
| 2007-05-01 | If Imperial Mask becomes a copy of something else after the ability triggers but before it resolves, the tokens will enter the battlefield as copies of whatever the ex-Imperial Mask is now. If Imperial Mask became a copy of something else and then left the battlefield, the tokens will enter the battlefield as copies of whatever it was copying when it last existed on the battlefield. |
| 2007-05-01 | If Imperial Mask has left the battlefield by the time the triggered ability resolves, the tokens will still enter the battlefield as copies of Imperial Mask. |
| 2007-05-01 | Only teammates within the range of influence of Imperial Mask’s controller will get a token. Imperial Mask’s controller doesn’t get a token; that player just gets the Imperial Mask. |
| 2007-05-01 | This card creates tokens that enter the battlefield as enchantments, not creatures. |