Mesmeric Sliver MTG Card

Mesmeric Sliver’s fateseal ability disrupts opponent’s draws, skewing the game in your favor. Instant speed trigger enhances MTG gameplay with strategic, real-time disruption. Despite resource acceleration merits, Mesmeric Sliver demands careful hand management.

Future Sight (FUT)
2007-05-04 - Number 53

Mesmeric Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)

Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
2019-12-02 - Number 620

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Sliver
Abilities	Fateseal
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

All Slivers have "When this permanent comes into play, you may fateseal 1." (Its controller looks at the top card of an opponent's library, then he or she may put that card on the bottom of that library.)

Cards like Mesmeric Sliver

Mesmeric Sliver offers an intriguing twist to the arsenal of slivers in Magic: The Gathering, with effects that target the mind and decisions of opponents. Evenly matched in some ways with the Mindlash Sliver, both have abilities that involve discarding cards, which can disrupt the opponent’s strategy. However, Mesmeric Sliver stands out by forcing all players to discard a card whenever a sliver comes into play—expanding its influence beyond just the owner. Crystaline Sliver shares a tribal connection but diverges in function, focusing on protection with its ability to grant all slivers shroud, making them immune to targeted spells or abilities.

Further comparables include the Harmonic Sliver for its communal benefits among sliver types, though it offers a different utility by targeting artifacts and enchantments for destruction. The key difference lies in Mesmeric Sliver’s focus on disrupting hand resources versus altering board states. This distinction is vital for players choosing slivers that best fit their deck strategy and desired playstyle.

In analyzing the value brought by Mesmeric Sliver within the sliver subcategory and Magic: The Gathering at large, its unique ability to consistently pressure all players’ hands makes it a formidable card in any sliver-centric deck.

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

Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions

Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions

Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions

Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions

Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions

Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mesmeric Sliver grants the option to persistently fateseal opponents, gradually depriving them of valuable draws while also padding your own strategic planning. This continuous interaction with an opponent’s deck can tilt the balance of card quality in your favor over time.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, the ability to control the top of your opponent’s library can lead to indirect resource acceleration by hindering their means to effectively develop their board state, allowing you to advance yours with less interference.

Instant Speed: This creature’s triggered ability works at instant speed during the upkeep, which aligns with the strategic layer MTG players relish. It allows for disruptive play against your opponent’s strategy, effectively altering their game plan on the fly without committing mana to an actual instant spell during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mesmeric Sliver requires you to discard a card whenever you play a Sliver, which can deplete your hand quickly if you’re not prepared with ample card draw.

Specific Mana Cost: This Sliver’s casting cost demands both blue and black mana, potentially restricting it to decks that can reliably produce both colors, limiting its versatility in multicolored Sliver builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two specific mana types, Mesmeric Sliver might be considered costly, considering other Slivers offer synergistic effects for a lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mesmeric Sliver offers a unique and flexible ability that can be a game-changer in any Sliver deck. Its power to manipulate the top of an opponent’s library with every Sliver attack phases adds a layer of control that is hard to come by in other cards.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to synergize with numerous Slivers, creating devastating combinations that can lock down an opponent’s strategy. Coupled with cards like “Aether Vial” or “Sliver Overlord,” you can easily dictate the pace of the game.

Meta-Relevance: Especially in a game dominated by deck knowledge and strategy, Mesmeric Sliver’s ability to disrupt the opponent’s draws is critically valuable. In a metagame where information is power, Mesmeric Sliver gives you the edge by cluttering your opponent’s next steps.

How to Beat Mesmeric Sliver

Mesmeric Sliver presents itself as a unique quandary in MTG due to its mind-bending ability to fiddle with the opponent’s deck. Its capability to peek into an opponent’s library and exile a card with its triggered ability whenever a Sliver attacks can feel overwhelming. However, there are strategies to counteract this enigmatic creature.

Addressing Mesmeric Sliver effectively often requires preemptive measures, such as utilizing removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push to dispatch the sliver before its ability can stack. Board wipes, specifically those that don’t discriminate against creature type, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can reset the playing field, removing all Slivers and nullifying their collective threat. Artifact-based strategies can also bypass Mesmeric Sliver’s influence, as can employing instant-speed spells that can react and eliminate Mesmeric Sliver or its cohorts during the combat phase.

Adaptation is a hallmark of seasoned MTG gameplay. Players may also turn to their sideboard, integrating cards specifically chosen to undermine their opponent’s Slivers. These can include specialized removal like Slaughter Games, which can preemptively exile Mesmeric Slivers from the game. Ultimately, the key lies in anticipation and timely removal to dismantle the advantage Mesmeric Sliver offers to the Sliver archetype.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mesmeric Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Sliver and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Mesmeric Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by Michael Bruinsma.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-05-04	Future Sight	FUT		53	future	Normal	Black	Michael Bruinsma
2	~~2019-12-02~~	Secret Lair Drop	SLD		620	2015	Normal	Black	Michael Bruinsma

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mesmeric Sliver has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2007-05-01	This ability triggers when Mesmeric Sliver itself enters the battlefield.
2013-07-01	Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01	If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.