Mascot Interception MTG Card

Mascot Interception - Strixhaven: School of Mages

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Number	110
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bryan Sola

Key Takeaways

Mascot Interception grants temporary control of creature spells, tilting the board in your favor.
Its instant speed allows strategic play, maximizing impact at critical moments.
Despite its benefits, cost considerations and mana specificity may limit its use in some decks.

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast if it targets a creature token. Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.

Far from the trappings of royalty, Rowan and Will found inspiration from the most popular sport on campus, Mage Tower.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mascot Interception provides an immediate boost in hand quality by potentially disrupting an opponent’s game plan. Its effect of gaining control of an opponent’s creature can swing the board state in your favor, essentially functioning as a two-for-one, where you not only gain a resource but also deny one from your opponent. This shift can be critical in turning the tides of a match.

Resource Acceleration: While Mascot Interception itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it does allow you to utilize an opponent’s creature for your advantage, which can result in resource acceleration. Whether it’s utilizing the creature for attack, defense, or its abilities, you get to bypass the mana investment originally made by the opponent, giving you a sort of “free” resource to work with.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Mascot Interception at instant speed adds a strategic layer to gameplay. It enables you to wait for the most opportune moment to disrupt an opponent’s strategy, whether it’s during their attack phase, in response to another spell, or simply before your turn to maximize surprise and effectiveness. The flexibility offered by instant speed spells like this one is a formidable tool in the arsenal of any strategic player.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must weigh the cost of discarding a card when casting Mascot Interception. This cost can be particularly taxing for strategies already strained for card advantage, potentially setting you behind in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Mascot Interception requires both red and generic mana, which can be restrictive for decks not heavily invested in red mana sources. This can reduce the card’s flexibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is not negligible, Mascot Interception can be a clunky draw, especially in the fast-paced environment where lower-cost spells could lead to a more immediate impact on the board state.

Reasons to Include Mascot Interception in Your Collection

Versatility: Mascot Interception can be a dynamic addition to decks that leverage instant-speed spells. Its ability to act as both a disruptor and a playmaker gives it a fit in various playstyles, from aggressive to more control-focused builds.

Combo Potential: This card offers intriguing possibilities for combo-centric decks. By allowing you to temporarily steal an opponent’s creature, it can set up unexpected win conditions or be paired with sacrifice mechanics for additional value.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscape of competitive play, Mascot Interception remains relevant due to its capability to turn the tide in creature-heavy matchups. Its place in the current meta should be considered when facing decks that rely on critical creature-based strategies.

How to beat

Mascot Interception is an intriguing spell known for its potential to disrupt opponents’ game plans in Magic: The Gathering. This card allows you to take control of a creature spell that an opponent casts, essentially intercepting their strategy and turning it against them. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to surprise an adversary and utilize their resources to your advantage.

To successfully navigate against Mascot Interception, having instant-speed removal or counterspells on hand is critical. Playing around Mascot Interception involves careful consideration of when to cast your impactful creature spells, especially if your opponent has mana available to cast this trick. One method is to bait the interception with a less crucial creature, freeing the path for your more valuable creatures to enter the battlefield safely. Another approach is to hold off on casting significant creatures until you have enough mana to cast them alongside a counterspell to protect them, or until your opponent taps out and is unable to cast the interception.

Remember, awareness is the key to outmaneuvering Mascot Interception. Anticipate this potential interception and adjust your strategy accordingly, and you will maintain the upper hand over your opponent in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Mascot Interception

Mascot Interception joins the mixed group of spell redirections and theft effects in the Magic universe. In the same ballpark, we have classic cards like Redirect, which allows you to change the target of a spell with a single word. Mascot Interception, however, leans into the collegiate chaos by permitting the theft of an opponent’s creature for a turn, ideally snatching their star player to turn the tide of the game.

Compare this to Act of Treason – a card with a similar ‘gain control of a creature until end of turn’ effect, but Mascot Interception adds an extra punch with its Magecraft ability, triggering each time you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, effectively reducing the cost of your strategic heist. Hijack’s broader approach of commandeering artifacts and creatures shares the temporary control theme but lacks Mascot Interception’s cost-reduction synergy with other spells.

In sum, Mascot Interception can be a game-changer in the right deck, especially when compared to its peers. Its unique qualities mesh well with spell-slinging strategies and ensure your game keeps a competitive edge. It’s not just about taking control; it’s about smart, timely interactions that propel you towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mascot Interception MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Mascot Interception and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mascot Interception 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 Mascot Interception card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2021-04-16	To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Mascot Interception). Mascot Interception’s mana value is always 4, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.