Misstep MTG Card


Misstep - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Number88
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. Misstep provides card advantage by disrupting plays while maintaining hand parity.
  2. Its instant speed and zero-cost counter offer flexible and surprise interactions.
  3. Limited by specific mana needs and a high casting cost compared to alternatives.

Text of card

Creatures target player controls don't untap during that player's next untap step.

The feet have no eyes. —Saprazzan saying


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Misstep provides a crucial edge in trading one-for-one in your interactions, allowing you to disrupt key plays from your opponent while maintaining parity in hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Misstep itself does not accelerate resources, its low cost can save valuable mana, effectively dishing out a zero-cost counter to certain spells and thereby indirectly speeding up your own game plan.

Instant Speed: As an instant-speed interaction, Misstep can be cast at the most opportune times, providing flexibility and the surprise element to disrupt your opponent’s strategy without warning.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of the Misstep card lies in its discard condition. Players might find themselves in a bind having to forfeit a potentially valuable card from their hand, which can be a setback, especially in tight situations where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The Misstep card requires a precise combination of mana to cast. This can make it less flexible and sometimes hard to play, particularly in multi-colored decks that might struggle to produce the exact mana needed at a crucial moment in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a steeper mana cost than some alternatives, Misstep may not always be the most economical choice. Savvy players often seek out cards that yield a greater impact on the game’s state, while consuming fewer resources to maximize their strategic advantage.


Reasons to Include Misstep in Your Collection

Versatility: Misstep is a card that slots into a wide array of decks due to its low cost and ability to disrupt early game plays. It’s effective against a range of spell types, making it a flexible addition to any deck strategy.

Combo Potential: This card can be utilized in intricate combo decks as a means to protect key combo pieces from being countered or disrupted by opponents, ensuring that your high-impact plays go off without a hitch.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to counter pivotal one-mana spells, Misstep remains relevant in metas where those spells are prevalent. By providing an edge against certain deck archetypes, it can be a critical tool for maintaining competitive advantage.


How to beat

Misstep, known for its nimble disruption in the fast-paced realm of Magic: The Gathering, is a potent card that can trip up a player’s early game strategy. Its ability to counter low-cost spells is invaluable, but fear not, there are ways to outmaneuver this pesky spell. To adapt your gameplay against Misstep requires a tactical shift. Consider diversifying the mana costs in your deck, creating a curve that isn’t heavily reliant on one-mana spells.

A smart strategy is stocking up on bait spells that can lure out Misstep early on, allowing your more crucial spells to pass through unscathed. Additionally, implementing cards that can’t be countered, or using abilities rather than casting spells, can effectively sidestep Misstep’s control. It’s important to maintain a strong composure when facing Misstep. Predicting when your opponent may have it in hand and wisely choosing when to commit to your spells can make all the difference, keeping the control in your corner of the battlefield.


Cards like Misstep

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Misstep finds its niche among the powerful one-mana counterspells. Cards like Spell Pierce also operate in this realm, offering the ability to counter noncreature spells unless their caster pays an additional two mana. While Spell Pierce has a broader target base, Misstep specializes in negating spells with a single mana cost without any payment threshold, making it incredibly efficient in countering early game plays or crucial one-drop spells.

Another staple in the counterspell lineup is Flusterstorm, which has the potential to counter multiple spells in a single sweep during a stacked turn. Although Misstep doesn’t provide the same multiplicity, it excels in preemptive plays and protects against early-game strategies. The card provides a similar satisfaction to that of Mental Misstep, where no mana expenditure is necessary, but it does require life point payment, which can be a significant trade-off during tight matches.

Each card brings unique benefits to the table. Therefore, Misstep carves out a spot for itself within the MTG counterspell suite, appealing to players who value precision and the ability to disrupt opponents’ early moves without taxing their own mana resources.

Spell Pierce - MTG Card versions
Flusterstorm - MTG Card versions
Mental Misstep - MTG Card versions
Spell Pierce - Zendikar (ZEN)
Flusterstorm - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Mental Misstep - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Misstep by color, type and mana cost

Time Walk - MTG Card versions
Braingeyser - MTG Card versions
Drain Power - MTG Card versions
Transmute Artifact - MTG Card versions
Forget - MTG Card versions
Paradigm Shift - MTG Card versions
Piracy - MTG Card versions
Strategic Planning - MTG Card versions
Wind Sail - MTG Card versions
Mana Vapors - MTG Card versions
Turbulent Dreams - MTG Card versions
Quiet Speculation - MTG Card versions
Muse Vortex - MTG Card versions
See the Truth - MTG Card versions
Fae of Wishes // Granted - MTG Card versions
Maddening Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Silver Scrutiny - MTG Card versions
Treasure Hunt - MTG Card versions
Reshape - MTG Card versions
Eye of Nowhere - MTG Card versions
Time Walk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Braingeyser - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Drain Power - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmute Artifact - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Forget - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Paradigm Shift - Weatherlight (WTH)
Piracy - Starter 1999 (S99)
Strategic Planning - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Wind Sail - Starter 1999 (S99)
Mana Vapors - Prophecy (PCY)
Turbulent Dreams - Torment (TOR)
Quiet Speculation - Judgment (JUD)
Muse Vortex - Commander 2021 (C21)
See the Truth - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Fae of Wishes // Granted - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Maddening Cacophony - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Scrutiny - Dominaria United (DMU)
Treasure Hunt - Commander 2018 (C18)
Reshape - The List (PLST)
Eye of Nowhere - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Misstep MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Misstep and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Misstep has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 The creatures are only prevented from untapping during the targeted player’s next untap step. They can still can untap during other player’s untap steps.
2008-08-01 No creature controlled by the player will untap during their next untap step. This includes creatures which entered the battlefield after Misstep resolved.

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