Mind Swords MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2000-02-14 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Nemesis |
| Set code | NEM |
| Number | 60 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daren Bader |
Text of card
If you control a swamp, you may sacrifice a creature instead of paying Mind Swords's mana cost. Each player removes two cards in his or her hand from the game.
Cards like Mind Swords
Mind Swords offers a unique twist on hand disruption mechanics for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. It bears resemblance to cards like Duress, which allows a player to peek into an opponent’s hand and discard a noncreature, nonland card. However, Mind Swords skips the selectivity for a broader impact, targeting both players equally and convening the necessity to strategize resource management.
In the context of symmetrical effects, we also see Mind Twist in the lineup. Mind Twist requires more precise mana investment but gives the controller the power to decimate an opponent’s hand based on the amount of mana funneled into it. Though powerful, Mind Twist doesn’t have the same egalitarian approach as Mind Swords, which evens the playing field by affecting both players.
Delving deeper into hand disruption spells, we encounter Hymn to Tourach. Unlike Mind Swords, this card is infamous for its potential to cause a significant setback to an opponent by randomly discarding two cards at a low cost. Nevertheless, Mind Swords can be seen as a double-edged blade, giving players a powerful tool while testing their ability to recover and rebuild their hand.
Considering the strategic depth and fairness of impact, Mind Swords holds a distinct position within the realm of hand disruption spells in Magic: The Gathering, challenging both the wielder and the opponent in a balanced duel of wits and resourcefulness.
Cards similar to Mind Swords by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mind Swords grants the ability to disrupt your opponent’s hand while maintaining parity. This leads to a relative increase in the number of resources you have at your disposal compared to your opponent, thereby creating card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or acceleration, Mind Swords can indirectly hasten your gameplay by removing potential threats or answers from your opponent’s hand, allowing for smoother execution of your strategy without interruption.
Instant Speed: The beauty of Mind Swords lies in its instant speed, permitting strategic play by waiting for the optimal moment. This ensures you have the upper hand in the timing of plays, forcing your opponent to guess whether you’re holding onto it or other interactive spells, thus adding a layer of psychological advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mind Swords necessitates you to sacrifice a hand advantage, compelling you to discard your own cards, which could leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially in the mid to late game where card options become crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific combination of black mana, making it less versatile for decks that operate on a multicolor basis or those that might not always have the required mana available at the needed time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires two black mana, Mind Swords can be relatively expensive compared to other discard effect cards, limiting its playability in fast-paced games where efficiency and speed are key to victory.
Reasons to Include Mind Swords in Your Collection
Versatility: Mind Swords synergizes well with multiple deck archetypes that capitalize on hand disruption. The ability to remove two cards from each player’s hand can be a strategic advantage in both aggressive and control setups.
Combo Potential: This card has combo potential in decks that utilize symmetrical effects to their advantage. With setup, the drawback for the caster can be mitigated, turning a symmetrical effect into a targeted handicap against opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In gameplay environments saturated with heavy card advantage tactics, Mind Swords can level the playing field. It’s a tool for those seeking to disrupt opponents who rely on specific combinations or require a significant hand size to win.
How to Beat Mind Swords
Mind Swords presents itself as a challenging card to face in any MTG deck. Its ability to force both players to sacrifice two cards adds a layer of strategy not commonly observed in other card types. This can be particularly disruptive to your game plan if you’re not prepared. A formidable way to counteract the effect of Mind Swords is through card advantage. By ensuring that your hand is always replenished with draw spells or cards that allow you to draw more than your opponent, you maintain resources to recover from this forced sacrifice.
Deck types with access to instant-speed card draw or graveyard retrieval become critical when playing against Mind Swords. Inclusion of cards that generate card advantage while keeping mana cost low or cards that can replace themselves upon use will help mitigate the loss from Mind Swords. The key is maintaining flexibility in your plays and hand size, while also having a back-up strategy for recovering discarded cards to outpace the temporary setback caused by Mind Swords.
To surmount the hurdle that is Mind Swords, focus on decks that are resilient to hand disruption, strategize around its sacrifice mechanic, and prioritize maintaining card advantage to ensure that each blow dealt by Mind Swords can be consistently parried with your strategic plays.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mind Swords MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Swords and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Swords has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mind Swords card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The active player chooses two cards, then the other player chooses two cards, then all the chosen cards are exiled simultaneously. |