Magic Missile MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 154
2021-07-23 - Number 401
2020-09-26 - Number AFR-154
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
This spell can't be countered. Magic Missile deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.
A tried-and-true favorite of many wizards, whatever their school.
Cards like Magic Missile
Magic Missile finds its place among targeted damage spells in the MTG universe. It’s often lined up next to the quintessential Lightning Bolt, a renowned direct damage card. While Lightning Bolt offers a straightforward 3 damage to any target for a single red mana, Magic Missile adds a nuanced advantage. Divided into three separate one-damage hits, it can target multiple creatures or players, providing a strategic edge in dealing with several threats or enabling combo plays.
Another relative in this damage-dealing family is Arc Lightning. Like Magic Missile, it allows division of its damage, tallying up to three as well, but distributed as you choose among any number of targets. Arc Lightning requires more mana with a casting cost of three, but it is unrestricted in how the damage can be split, offering a different kind of flexibility. Lastly, we have Searing Spear, a spell similar in cost and effect to Lightning Bolt but with the distinct difference of not being able to target creatures.
Scrutinizing these alternatives, Magic Missile carries its own weight in MTG, offering an ideal blend of precision and versatility, making it a worthy consideration for decks that capitalize on manipulating damage among multiple adversaries.
Cards similar to Magic Missile by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Magic Missile shines by enabling targeted removal, which often translates into card advantage by dealing with multiple threats or out-valuing opponents’ creatures, ensuring you maintain an upper hand on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Magic Missile doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the manner of producing mana or tokens, its low casting cost facilitates efficient use of mana, allowing for a more flexible deployment of other spells in a turn.
Instant Speed: Although Magic Missile is a sorcery, the instant speed of many spells that synergize with it contributes to a significant tactical advantage. Playing this card can pave the way for instant-speed interactions on your next turn, keeping opponents guessing and under pressure.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Magic Missile demands that you have another instant or sorcery card in hand to discard, potentially depleting your hand and affecting your game strategy negatively if you cannot meet this criteria.
Specific Mana Cost: Magic Missile’s casting cost includes red mana, which restricts its playability to decks that run red or have a mana base capable of generating all colors. This can be limiting for players not using red-oriented decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may seem steep for its damage output, some players argue that there are alternative burn spells available that can deal similar or greater damage for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Magic Missile in Your Collection
Versatility: Magic Missile shines by fitting seamlessly across a variety of decks. Its ability to deal damage directly makes it an asset in controlling the board and eliminating small threats early in the game.
Combo Potential: This card seamlessly integrates into spell-slinger decks aiming to cast multiple spells in a turn. It can help trigger prowess abilities or other spell-related synergies, thereby bolstering your strategy incrementally with each cast.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creatures with three or fewer toughness, Magic Missile offers a compelling removal option. Its precision in picking off key targets can sway the tempo of the game, ensuring a deck’s resilience against creature-heavy opponents.
How to beat Magic Missile
Magic Missile, an intriguing spell in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, offers players the direct damage they crave. Outstanding among similar cards, it enables you to split three damage however you choose among any number of targets. Like an assassin picking targets, the precision it provides is often game-changing. However, the spell’s true power lies in its ability to bypass damage prevention and not be countered, a distinctive twist challenging to navigate.
Overcoming Magic Missile requires smart play and tactical foresight. Utilizing indestructible creatures can effectively negate its damage distribution, ensuring your valuable assets remain on the battlefield. Another viable strategy includes leveraging cards that grant your creatures hexproof or shroud, rendering them invisible to Magic Missile’s reach. Additionally, spells like “Teferi’s Protection” can phase out your permanents for the turn, and since Magic Missile cannot be countered traditionally, this temporary evasion might be the key to surviving its impact.
In essence, while the card poses a direct threat, understanding its mechanics and preparing your deck with protective measures can provide a reliable safeguard. Mitigating Magic Missile’s damage requires anticipation and a well-structured defense, turning what might be a devastating blow into a mere passing concern.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Magic Missile MTG card by a specific set like The List and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Magic Missile 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
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Printings
The Magic Missile Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by PINDURSKI.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | AFR-154 | 2015 | Normal | Black | PINDURSKI | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 154 | 2015 | Normal | Black | PINDURSKI | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 401 | 2015 | Normal | Black | PINDURSKI |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Magic Missile has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Magic Missile 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 | If Magic Missile has one or more targets, and some (but not all) of them are illegal as Magic Missile tries to resolve, the amount of damage dealt to the remaining legal targets doesn't change. If all targets become illegal, Magic Missile won't resolve. |
| 2021-07-23 | You divide the damage as you cast Magic Missile. Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage. |