Mairsil, the Pretender MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2017-08-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Commander 2017 |
| Set code | C17 |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 41 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Izzy |
Text of card
When Mairsil, the Pretender enters the battlefield, you may exile an artifact or creature card from your hand or graveyard and put a cage counter on it. Mairsil, the Pretender has all activated abilities of all cards you own in exile with cage counters on them. You may activate each of those abilities only once each turn.
Cards like Mairsil, the Pretender
Mairsil, the Pretender is a stand-out creature card with a unique ability that allows it to cage other cards, essentially gaining their activated abilities. This feature draws a parallel with Experiment Kraj, a creature known for its potent ability-stealing trait. Both cards come with an innate flexibility, giving players multiple utility options during a game. Yet, Mairsil differs by interacting directly with the graveyard, providing a more enduring impact on the game state.
Another similar card is Quicksilver Elemental, which also manipulates abilities, albeit within the realm of creatures on the battlefield. While Mairsil focuses on a diverse set of abilities from cards in the graveyard, Quicksilver Elemental is all about creating a power-packed creature during combat. Moreover, Mairsil’s caged card mechanic is a one-time event, setting a strategic foundation for the rest of the match.
Ultimately, Mairsil, the Pretender shines in a deck designed to exploit the myriad of activated abilities across various cards, combining them all into a single, formidable threat. Its formidable ability to utilize the graveyard as a resource vault puts it a step above others in terms of long-term strategic value in the world of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Mairsil, the Pretender by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mairsil, the Pretender’s cage counter ability can exile other cards and grant you access to a multitude of abilities. This unique capability can significantly increase your card quality by effectively expanding your hand while you cunningly navigate the battlefield with a versatile arsenal at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, Mairsil can tap into the activated abilities of mana-producing cards he exiles. This can be a form of resource acceleration, allowing you to utilize mana abilities from the command zone and outmaneuver opponents by having access to various effects and mana sources, depending on the exiled cards.
Instant Speed: Mairsil can use instant speed abilities of exiled cards, offering you great flexibility to respond to threats or create opportunities at pivotal moments during the game. Whether it’s disrupting an opponent’s strategy or capitalizing on unspent mana, you can make game-changing plays with the element of surprise on your side.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks comes with its cage ability. Each time Mairsil, the Pretender is exiled, you’re often discarding a card to get an activated ability of the caged card. This can lead to a decrease in hand advantage, particularly if you’re unable to leverage those abilities effectively.
Specific Mana Cost: Mairsil arrives with a specific mana requirement, demanding one blue, one black and two other mana to cast. This mana specificity could restrict deck-building options, especially for those aiming to play outside of the Grixis color pie.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mairsil, the Pretender’s need for four mana for its initial casting cost might be steep in the fast-paced games where early board presence is crucial. Although its potential is significant, players must weigh the cost against other impactful cards that could be played sooner.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mairsil, the Pretender offers a unique toolkit for decks that thrive on flexibility. By exploiting its cage counter mechanic, you can have access to an array of activated abilities from cards in your graveyard, making Mairsil a Swiss Army knife in the right setup.
Combo Potential: The potential for combos is immense with Mairsil. It can harness the powers of various cards, setting the stage for powerful synergies. Creative players will find endless ways to incorporate Mairsil into intricate combo sequences.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where adaptability is key, Mairsil can shift roles depending on the matchup. Whether you’re facing aggressive opponents or going head-to-head against control decks, Mairsil’s ability to adapt its abilities makes it a card that can consistently influence the game state.
How to beat Mairsil, the Pretender
Mairsil, the Pretender is a unique commander in MTG that can be quite the conundrum to deal with. When he enters the battlefield, he cages another card in your hand or graveyard, essentially gaining its activated abilities. To overcome this shrewd strategist, consider using cards that force your opponent to exile Mairsil, the Pretender. Since this method doesn’t send him to the graveyard, it prevents the recurrence of his ability-caging antics.
The use of cards that prevent abilities from being activated, such as Pithing Needle or Cursed Totem, can also nullify Mairsil’s advantage, rendering him just another creature on the board. If you’re playing blue, keep counterspells handy to deal with Mairsil the moment he tries to hit the field or attempts to utilize a dangerous ability. Timing is key; disrupting his entrance to play or neutralizing abilities as they’re activated will stop Mairsil from becoming an indomitable threat.
Overall, dealing with Mairsil, the Pretender requires a bit of foresight and smart reactive measures. Keeping the right answers ready and understanding when to disrupt his shenanigans are your tickets to defeating this cagey foe.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mairsil, the Pretender MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2017, 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 Mairsil, the Pretender and other MTG cards:
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mairsil, the Pretender has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mairsil, the Pretender card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-08-25 | Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. Mairsil won’t gain triggered abilities (which start with “when,” “whenever,” or “at”). |
| 2017-08-25 | If Mairsil gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to a non-activated ability of the card it came from, the ability Mairsil has isn’t linked to any ability. For example, if Mairsil exiles Prototype Portal, the activated ability creates no tokens at all; it doesn’t create Prototype Portal tokens. |
| 2017-08-25 | If Mairsil gains an activated ability that’s normally linked to another activated ability of the card it came from, those two abilities Mairsil gains are linked for as long as Mairsil remains on the battlefield. For example, if Mairsil exiles Izzet Chemister, cards exiled with the first ability Mairsil gained from Izzet Chemister can be cast if you activate the second ability it gained that way. Izzet Chemister itself can’t be cast this way, and if Mairsil leaves the battlefield before activating that second ability, the cards exiled with that first ability are lost forever. |
| 2017-08-25 | If Mairsil has a crew ability, creatures can crew Mairsil. It’ll become an artifact creature, but its power and toughness remain unchanged. |
| 2017-08-25 | If Mairsil has an equip ability, activating it won’t cause anything to happen. Mairsil doesn’t become attached to a creature. They may remain friends. |
| 2017-08-25 | If an activated ability of a card in exile with a cage counter on it references the card it’s printed on by name, treat Mairsil’s instance of that ability as though it referenced Mairsil by name instead. For instance, if Mairsil exiles Magus of the Mind, the cost to activate the ability includes sacrificing Mairsil, not sacrificing Magus of the Mind. |
| 2017-08-25 | If another player gains control of Mairsil, it will have the abilities of only cards that player owns in exile with cage counters on them. |
| 2017-08-25 | If multiple cards exiled with cage counters on them have the same ability, Mairsil will have multiple instances of that ability. Each may be activated once each turn. |
| 2017-08-25 | If one of Mairsil’s abilities doesn’t resolve, most likely because its target became illegal before it resolved, it can’t be activated again in the same turn. |
| 2017-08-25 | If you have a creature enter the battlefield as a copy of Mairsil, its first ability triggers. You won’t be able to activate any abilities before the “legend rule” applies, but the triggered ability will still let you exile another card with a cage counter regardless of which Mairsil you keep. |
| 2017-08-25 | The exiled cards remain exiled with cage counters when Mairsil leaves the battlefield. If Mairsil returns to the battlefield, it will see all of those exiled cards with cage counters on them. |