Mind Rot MTG Card

Mind Rot shifts card advantage in your favor by making opponents discard, disrupting their strategic plays. Due to specific mana costs, it’s less flexible in multi-colored decks but vital in mono-black builds. It’s crucial for deck strategies centered around discard mechanics and combating hand-crafted synergies.
Card setsReleased in 28 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Your opponent chooses and discards two cards from his or her hand. (If your opponent has only one card, he or she discards it.)

Cards like Mind Rot

Mind Rot stands as a staple in Magic: The Gathering’s suite of hand disruption spells. It aligns closely with spells such as Wrench Mind, which typically forces an opponent to discard two cards. Mind Rot offers a straightforward approach with no additional effects, whereas Wrench Mind may spare artifact holders from parting with one card.

On the other hand, we have Distress, which allows the player to specifically target and discard any single card from the opponent’s hand, providing insights and precise disruption. Although Distress affects only one card, the strategic significance can often outweigh the quantity removed by Mind Rot. Then there’s Hymn to Tourach, a potent alternative that at times can outshine Mind Rot. Despite being a random discard, it has the potential to impact the early game dramatically due to its lower casting cost.

Evaluating the strategic nuances and roles of these disruptors, Mind Rot maintains a vital position in MTG, especially for players seeking reliable and unambiguous hand attack options without venturing into more complex or situational card interactions.

Wrench Mind - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Wrench Mind - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mind Rot by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Orzhov Death & TaxesOrzhov Death & Taxes GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mind Rot is a strategic card that forces your opponent to discard two cards, effectively disrupting their hand and potential plays, which can tilt the card advantage in your favor by depleting their resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, playing Mind Rot can slow down your opponent’s board development, allowing you to maintain or increase your pace relative to theirs.

Instant Speed: Although Mind Rot is played at sorcery speed, it’s worth noting that its impact on the game is significant, removing options from your opponent before they can use them, similar to the preventive nature of an instant.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mind Rot requires your opponent to discard two cards, which could be less impactful late in the game when the opponent might already have an established board presence or fewer cards in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Mind Rot includes two generic and one black mana, consequently requiring a commitment to black mana resources which might not blend well in decks with a heavy color variety.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana to force a discard of only two cards, there may be alternative cards or strategies available that provide greater value or more versatile disruption effects for similar or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Mind Rot in Your Collection

Versatility: Mind Rot is a handy tool for a wide array of black-focused decks, particularly those aiming to disrupt opponents by forcing card discards. This strategy can effectively neutralize threats before they materialize on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that track the number of discards or benefit from diminished hands, Mind Rot’s ability to strip two cards from an opponent’s hand can turn the tide of the game. Think of the synergies with discard-triggered cards and the opportunities for tactical advantage.

Meta-Relevance: Given that many current decks hinge on carefully curated hand synergies and combo setups, the disruption that Mind Rot introduces can be pivotal. It can tilt matches in your favor by dismantling an opponent’s strategic reserves, making it relevant in various competitive scenes.

How to beat Mind Rot

Mind Rot presents a strategic challenge in Magic: The Gathering as it forces the targeted player to discard two cards, potentially disrupting their game plan. Unlike single-target discard spells such as Duress, Mind Rot’s impact is broader, affecting not one but two pieces of the player’s hand. Although powerful, players can still outmaneuver Mind Rot effectively.

One tactic is to keep your hand lean, playing out your cards promptly so that Mind Rot hits nothing but air. Another method involves utilizing instant-speed spells and abilities to draw or play cards in response to Mind Rot, ensuring you make the best out of your hand before you’re compelled to discard. Cards that feature flashback or other forms of graveyard utility can also turn a Mind Rot downside into a benefit, as discarding such cards can sometimes be advantageous. Finally, including cards that protect your hand, or ones that allow you to recover resources are essential strategies against discard effects.

Adaptation and strategic play serve as the key elements in overcoming the disruption of Mind Rot. With the right approach, players can negate its advantages and maintain control over the course of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mind Rot MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal Second Age, 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 Mind Rot and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mind Rot Magic the Gathering card was released in 25 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 1011997NormalBlackSteve Luke
21998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 781997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
31999-07-01Starter 1999S99 831997NormalWhiteSteve Luke
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 147★1997NormalBlackAdam Rex
52001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1471997NormalWhiteAdam Rex
62003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1442003NormalWhiteSteve Luke
72003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 144★2003NormalBlackSteve Luke
82005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1452003NormalWhiteSteve Luke
92005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 145★2003NormalBlackSteve Luke
102007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1592003NormalBlackSteve Luke
112009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1052003NormalBlackSteve Luke
122010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 272003NormalBlackSteve Luke
132010-07-16Magic 2011M11 1052003NormalBlackSteve Luke
142011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1012003NormalBlackSteve Luke
152012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1002003NormalBlackSteve Luke
162012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 702003NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
172013-07-19Magic 2014M14 1062003NormalBlackSteve Luke
182014-07-18Magic 2015M15 1042015NormalBlackSteve Luke
192015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1102015NormalBlackClint Cearley
202015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2812015NormalBlackSteve Luke
212016-04-08Welcome Deck 2016W16 72015NormalBlackSteve Luke
222016-09-30KaladeshKLD 932015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
232018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1092015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
242019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 1082015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
252019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7132015NormalBlackSteve Luke
262020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1152015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
272020-09-26The ListPLST W16-72015NormalBlackSteve Luke
282020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1012015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Rot has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal