Mesmeric Fiend MTG Card

Provides card advantage by exiling key opponent cards, disrupting their strategic plans effectively. Can be less impactful if opponents lack cards or can benefit from discarding, hence situational. Despite specific mana needs and temporary effects, it’s a flexible addition to many decks.

Torment (TOR)
2002-02-04 - Number 69

Mesmeric Fiend - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)

Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
2013-03-15 - Number 7

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 128

Masters 25 (A25)
2018-03-16 - Number 97

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Nightmare Horror
Power	1
Toughness	1

Text of card

When Mesmeric Fiend comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand and you choose a nonland card from it. Remove that card from the game. When Mesmeric Fiend leaves play, return the removed card to its owner's hand.

Cards like Mesmeric Fiend

Mesmeric Fiend offers a unique twist in the realm of creature-based disruptive strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares similarities with Thoughtseize, notably known for its hand disruption ability at an affordable cost. Yet, Mesmeric Fiend stands out with its creature status, allowing for repeated use of its ability in conjunction with other cards that can flicker or sacrifice creatures.

Kitesail Freebooter is another creature that haunts the hands of opponents, swiping a noncreature, nonland card and holding it hostage until it leaves the battlefield. While it requires a bit more precision due to its targeting restriction, it makes up for it with flying, providing both offensive and defensive benefits. Brain Maggot holds a close resemblance as well, echoing the same enter the battlefield effect of exile until it leaves play. Although Mesmeric Fiend and Brain Maggot have similar stat lines, Mesmeric Fiend often gives more versatility in decks that exploit creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.

Evaluating the subtle differences and interactions each of these hand-disruption creatures presents, Mesmeric Fiend maintains a place in MTG for players who appreciate tactical manipulation of the opponent’s resources alongside synergistic deck mechanics.

Cards similar to Mesmeric Fiend by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Mesmeric Fiend. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Goblins	Pauper	Goblins	Pauper Showcase Challenge 2024-04-20
Goblin Combo	Pauper	Goblins	Pauper Circus (IPT) - Playtime Merate
Cradle Control	Legacy	Cradle Control	Legacy Showcase Challenge 2024-04-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mesmeric Fiend offers a unique form of card advantage. Upon entering the battlefield, it allows you to peek at an opponent’s hand and temporarily exile a nonland card of your choice. This disruption can give you an upper hand by removing key pieces from your opponent’s strategy while gaining you informational advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources in terms of mana, Mesmeric Fiend can indirectly influence the tempo of the game. By exiling a crucial spell or threat from your opponent’s hand, you can potentially delay their game plan, allowing you to accelerate your own board development without the pressure of the exiled card.

Instant Speed: Mesmeric Fiend’s ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand does not operate at instant speed, but its utility in conjunction with instant speed removal spells is noteworthy. If you pair it with an instant that can sacrifice Mesmeric Fiend after its enter-the-battlefield trigger is on the stack, you can ensure the chosen card is gone for good, before the leave-the-battlefield trigger can return it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When Mesmeric Fiend enters the battlefield, its ability triggers a discard from your opponent. While this is an advantage in itself, the card is less effective if your opponent has no cards in hand or if they have ways to benefit from discarding, thus sometimes turning the ability into a less impactful play.

Specific Mana Cost: Mesmeric Fiend requires black mana to play, which can restrict deck-building options. Players using multicolored decks may find the mana cost an obstacle when trying to balance their mana base, particularly in the fast-paced early game where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although only costing two mana, in the realm of MTG, this cost can be considered high for the effect of temporary discard, especially since the card removed from the opponent’s hand returns once Mesmeric Fiend leaves the battlefield. Other cards may remove threats permanently for a comparable or slightly higher investment, potentially offering more lasting control over the game.

Reasons to Include Mesmeric Fiend in Your Collection

Versatility: Mesmeric Fiend offers flexibility across multiple deck archetypes, functioning well in aggressive strategies that benefit from information denial or in control setups that aim for hand disruption.

Combo Potential: Its ability to temporarily exile an opponent’s card opens up opportunities to permanently remove that card through flickering effects or sacrifice synergies, making it a crucial part of intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-present hand-based strategies in the current meta, Mesmeric Fiend can disrupt an opponent’s plans effectively, making it a timely addition to your arsenal against various popular decks.

How to beat

Mesmeric Fiend offers players a unique tactical advantage, allowing its caster to peek into an opponent’s hand and temporarily remove a threat. Much like Tidehollow Sculler and Brain Maggot, it exposes the opponent’s game plan and can disrupt their intended plays. However, defeating this cunning creature requires strategic planning.

To overcome the challenge posed by Mesmeric Fiend, instant-speed removal spells are incredibly efficient. Cast a removal spell while the Fiend’s ability is on the stack, consequently ensuring the card exiled with its ability will be permanently removed from the game. Additionally, cards that can return creatures to their owner’s hand or shuffle them into a library can be highly effective. It’s essential to note that if Mesmeric Fiend leaves the battlefield before its enter-the-battlefield ability resolves, the targeted card from the opponent’s hand will be exiled indefinitely, so timing is crucial.

Ultimately, understanding the intricacies of stack mechanics and the importance of timing can help players navigate past the disruptive force of Mesmeric Fiend. It’s not the power of the creature that’s formidable, it’s the knowledge and tactics of the player commanding it. Being prepared with the right countermeasures can turn the tide of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mesmeric Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Mesmeric Fiend and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mesmeric Fiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Dana Knutson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2002-02-04	Torment	TOR	69	1997	Normal	Black	Dana Knutson
2	2013-03-15	Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt	DDK	7	2003	Normal	Black	Dana Knutson
3	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA	128	2015	Normal	Black	Dana Knutson
4	2018-03-16	Masters 25	A25	97	2015	Normal	Black	Dana Knutson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mesmeric Fiend has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2018-03-16	If Mesmeric Fiend leaves the battlefield before its first ability has resolved, its second ability will trigger and do nothing. Then its first ability will resolve and exile a nonland card from the target opponent’s hand indefinitely.