Mercurial Pretender MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mercurial Pretender offers a unique way to replicate card advantage without directly drawing cards. Since it can copy any creature you own, it essentially doubles the value of your most advantageous creature on the battlefield. Furthermore, by copying creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects, you generate additional value each time.

Resource Acceleration: This shapeshifter’s potential for resource acceleration lies in its ability to clone creatures that have mana-generating abilities. Copying these creatures can exponentially increase your mana production capacity, paving the way for more powerful plays or enabling multicolored decks to function more smoothly.

Instant Speed: While Mercurial Pretender itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with creatures that do. By copying creatures with flash, you maintain the element of surprise, keeping opponents on their toes. Plus, it can be returned to your hand at any time you could cast a sorcery, presenting an opportunity to react to the ever-changing battlefield at your pace.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mercurial Pretender asks you to exile another creature you control until it leaves the battlefield, which can be detrimental if you’re managing a limited number of creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: With a required casting cost including two blue mana symbols, it’s challenging to include in multicolored or heavy mana-demanding decks without proper lands or mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having to invest five mana, including those two specific blue ones, makes Mercurial Pretender a substantial investment, especially considering that other creature options provide more immediate board impact or have lower summoning costs.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mercurial Pretender offers flexibility in deck building by fitting into a variety of Blue-based decks. Its clone ability allows you to adapt your game plan by copying the most impactful creatures on the board, no matter the matchup.

Combo Potential: With its ability to copy enter-the-battlefield effects, Mercurial Pretender can be a linchpin in powerful combos. It synergizes well with creatures that have effects when they enter or leave the battlefield, allowing for repeatable interactions and potentially game-winning sequences.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Mercurial Pretender can mimic the best creatures on either side of the battlefield. This adaptability ensures that it remains a relevant card regardless of shifting trends in the competitive landscape.

How to beat

Confronting the Mercurial Pretender on the battlefield requires a strategic approach. This creature brings flexibility to the game with its clone ability, yet it is not without its weaknesses. Disrupting the Pretender’s entrance onto the field is a key tactic. Counter spells are your first line of defense, preventing the Pretender from copying a valuable creature and gaining its abilities. Should the Pretender manage to slip through your counters, removal spells are next in your arsenal. Direct removal will effectively deal with it post-casting.

Another method to weaken the Pretender’s impact is to limit your opponent’s board presence. With fewer creatures on the battlefield, the Pretender’s clone ability becomes significantly less threatening. Lastly, exploit the Pretender’s mana intensiveness. It has a high casting cost, and its ability to return to its owner’s hand to clone a new creature isn’t cheap either. Pressure your opponent and force them to commit mana elsewhere, reducing the chances of their Pretender’s effective reentry. By playing smart and maintaining control, you can mitigate the dangers of the Mercurial Pretender.