Intellect Devourer MTG Card


Intellect Devourer grants card advantage and utilizes opponent’s resources, potentially disrupting their strategies. It’s versatile in exile strategies, yet has drawbacks like stringent mana requirements and discard costs. Effective counterplay includes maintaining a larger hand size and employing swift removal tactics.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Horror
Abilities Body Thief,Devour Intellect
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Devour Intellect — When Intellect Devourer enters the battlefield, each opponent exiles a card from their hand until Intellect Devourer leaves the battlefield. Body Thief — You may play lands and cast spells from among cards exiled with Intellect Devourer. If you cast a spell this way, you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.


Similar Cards to Intellect Devourer

The Intellect Devourer brings a unique approach to creature control in MTG. When compared to similar cards like Mesmeric Fiend, the Intellect Devourer shares the ability to reveal the opponent’s hand and remove a card. The primary difference lies in how Intellect Devourer focuses on the number of cards in your hand, potentially offering a more dynamic control based on your hand’s size. Mesmeric Fiend removes a card unconditionally but with less potential upside.

Another card with somewhat similar mechanics is Kitesail Freebooter. It too looks at the opponent’s hand and exiles a noncreature, nonland card until it leaves the battlefield. However, unlike Intellect Devourer, the Freebooter allows you to target only noncreature spells. The Devourer’s ability interacts based on the hand size, leading to a more flexible strategy during gameplay.

In examining Intellect Devourer alongside its counterparts, its strength within MTG becomes clear. While other cards offer unconditional, simple exile effects, the Intellect Devourer can be more or less powerful based on the game’s context, which can lead to significant advantage swings that are not to be underestimated.

Mesmeric Fiend - MTG Card versions
Kitesail Freebooter - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Fiend - MTG Card versions
Kitesail Freebooter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Intellect Devourer by color, type and mana cost

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Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Gixian Puppeteer - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Intellect Devourer provides substantial card advantage, allowing players to potentially disrupt their opponent’s hand while setting up favorable draws for themselves.

Resource Acceleration: This particular card can impact the board state by making use of the opponent’s resources, hence accelerating your own resource availability indirectly.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of the Intellect Devourer being cast at instant speed lets players respond reactively to threats or plays, maintaining the element of surprise and control over the game’s pace.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Intellect Devourer demands the player to discard another card from their hand to activate certain abilities. In gameplay, this can put the player at a disadvantage, particularly when their hand is already depleted, or when every card is crucial to maintaining strategic momentum.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirement for Intellect Devourer is quite stringent. It necessitates a specific combination of mana types which may not always be readily available, especially in multi-colored decks that need a delicate mana balance. This can lead to situations where the card becomes a dead draw because the player can’t fulfill the mana requirements to cast it effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When analyzing the Intellect Devourer’s cost-benefit ratio, it becomes apparent that its mana cost is on the higher end for its effect. Players often compare this to other creatures or spells in the same mana range that may offer either a stronger immediate presence on the board or additional versatility, thus relegating the Intellect Devourer to a less favorable position during deck construction and competitive play.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Intellect Devourer offers players the flexibility of an adaptable creature card. With its ability to adjust its power in sync with the highest converted mana cost among spells you own in exile, it has the potential to become a formidable threat on any playing field.

Combo Potential: The inherent synergies of Intellect Devourer with exile strategies can lead to powerful combos. It thrives in decks that manipulate the exile zone, making it not just a standalone piece but a strategic enhancer to your existing gameplay mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where players frequently utilize the exile zone, Intellect Devourer becomes increasingly significant. Its capacity to interact with the changing dynamics of competitive play adds a level of complexity and response that can keep your deck at the edge of innovation.


How to beat

Intellect Devourer introduces a unique dynamic in MTG, challenging players to consider their hand management more meticulously. This card’s ability hinges on exploiting the fewest cards in an opponent’s hand, potentially dismantling their strategy by controlling one of their creatures with fewer cards. Therefore, maintaining a larger hand size is essential when facing an adversary wielding this card.

To effectively counteract the threat of Intellect Devourer, it is advantageous to employ cards that enhance card drawing or provide card advantage, such as instant spells that draw cards or creatures that enable you to draw upon entering the battlefield. Balancing the tempo to always have more cards in hand than the opponent can neutralize the card’s ability, preventing it from taking control of your creatures.

Strategically, it is also wise to remove Intellect Devourer from the board as swiftly as possible. Utilizing removal spells before your hand size diminishes or setting traps that can be triggered upon the card’s activation can be highly effective. Adaptability and preemptive planning are key, transforming what could be a problematic encumbrance into a manageable obstacle on your path to victory in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an evolving journey with cards like Intellect Devourer adding intricate layers to gameplay. Recognizing both its potential and pitfalls is critical to optimize your deck. For those ready to wield this card’s power, consider enhancing your strategies around exile synergies and hand size manipulation to turn the tide in your favor. Meanwhile, staying ahead with a comprehensive hand and preemptive tactics can neutralize its threat. Ready to delve deeper into optimizing your deck and ensuring that each card you play becomes a pivotal step towards victory? Join us to broaden your MTG acumen and unveil the full potential of your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Intellect Devourer MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos and Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series, 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 Intellect Devourer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Intellect Devourer Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Brian Valeza.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 132s2015NormalBlackBrian Valeza
22022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 202015Art seriesBorderlessBrian Valeza
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 1322015NormalBlackBrian Valeza
42022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5752015NormalBlackBrian Valeza
52022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 1622015NormalBlackBrian Valeza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Intellect Devourer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 If Intellect Devourer leaves the battlefield before the Devour Intellect ability resolves, opponents won't exile any cards from their hands.
2022-06-10 If a card exiled with the Devour Intellect leaves exile for any reason (most likely because it was played using the Body Thief ability), it won't be returned to the opponent's hand if Intellect Devourer leaves the battlefield.
2022-06-10 You must still follow all normal timing rules for cards played this way. For example, you may play a land exiled this way only during your main phase and only if you haven't played a land yet this turn.