Mind Spike MTG Card


Mind Spike grants insight into opponents’ strategies, potentially swaying game momentum in your favor. Instant speed use allows optimal play timing, making Mind Spike a tactical game-changer. The card’s cons include hand depletion and a specific mana cost that may limit deck integration.
Mind Spike - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2022-07-07
Set symbol
Set nameAlchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Set codeHBG
Number46
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMatt Forsyth

Text of card

Target opponent reveals each noncreature, nonland card in their hand. You choose a card revealed this way. That player discards that card. You lose 2 life. If they didn't reveal a card this way, you draw a card.


Cards like Mind Spike

Mind Spike brings a unique twist to the realm of discard spells within Magic: The Gathering. It invites a comparison with classic discard staples like Thoughtseize which allows a player to target an opponent’s hand and extract a nonland card at the cost of some life points. Mind Spike, however, trades life point loss for a steeper mana cost, a gamble for those who prioritize resources over health.

Casting our gaze wider, Duress also springs to mind. This spell is known for its efficiency in early-game strategic planning, letting you pluck noncreature, nonland cards without cost to your life total. But unlike Mind Spike, it provides no flexibility to hit any card type. Distress is another parallel, allowing a reach to any card type similar to Mind Spike, but it lacks the latter’s potential for direct damage, an aspect that can be pivotal when every point counts.

Delving into these connections shows the nuanced role Mind Spike can play. Its place is solidified by its broader target range and alternative damage component, setting it aside from its peers within the Magic: The Gathering pantheon of hand disruption tools.

Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions

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

Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Raven's Crime - MTG Card versions
Imperial Seal - MTG Card versions
Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Raven's Crime - MTG Card versions
Imperial Seal - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist DecklistThe Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #002
Dimir Tainted PactDimir Tainted Pact OtherThe Arena Coliseum - Timeless Trials $1K #001
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mind Spike presents the valuable ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand while simultaneously offering you a peek at their strategy. This insight, coupled with the removal of a key card from their hand, can shift the momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although the primary function of Mind Spike isn’t to accelerate resources, the information gained about the opponent’s hand can lead to more informed decisions, effectively optimizing your resource management in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Mind Spike is a tactical asset. It allows you to wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn before deciding to cast it, ensuring that you maximize the disruption to their plan while keeping your options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mind Spike makes you discard a card, which could deplete your hand, especially if you haven’t established a card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell needs both black and generic mana, which could restrict it to mono-black or two-color decks and complicate mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value requiring three mana, Mind Spike is costlier than some other discard spells, potentially slowing down your game tempo.


Reasons to Include Mind Spike in Your Collection

Versatility: Mind Spike proves to be a flexible card that adapts to various gameplay styles, able to function both as a straightforward damage-dealer and as an enhancer in spell-focused decks.

Combo Potential: With its potential to disrupt opponents by dealing direct damage, Mind Spike partners well with strategies aiming to control the game’s pace or set the stage for finishing combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s capacity to target creatures or players directly, it becomes particularly effective in environments where creature-heavy or aggro decks are prevalent, providing strategic advantage and reactive options.


How to beat

Mind Spike is an intriguing challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering. This card forces your opponent to either suffer a loss of life or discard a valuable card, putting them in a tight spot. To counteract this, consider using cards that provide you with hand advantage. Cards like Gitaxian Probe or Thoughtseize can provide insights into your opponent’s strategy, enabling you to plan your plays effectively. Moreover, focusing on instant-speed spells and abilities that can be used in response to Mind Spike can mitigate its impact. Cards like Opt or Brainstorm allow you to draw at opportune times, potentially safeguarding your important cards from being discarded.

Running counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can also be a strategic way to prevent Mind Spike from ever taking effect. Not to mention, having a robust graveyard strategy might turn the discard requirement in your favor. So, adapt your deck to be resilient against threats like Mind Spike, consider your card choices carefully, and ensure you’re ready to adjust your strategy on the fly during gameplay for the best chance at victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mind Spike MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 Spike and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Spike has restrictions

FormatLegality
GladiatorLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal