Mind Twist MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 115
1993-10-04 - Number 116
1993-12-01 - Number 116
1993-12-10 - Number 116
1993-12-10 - Number 116
1994-04-01 - Number 117
1994-04-01 - Number 117
1994-06-21 - Number 117
1995-04-01 - Number 147
1995-04-01 - Number 147
2009-09-07 - Number 72
2017-04-28 - Number 24
2022-11-28 - Number 409
2022-11-28 - Number 112
2002-06-24 - Number 46920
2002-06-24 - Number 62427
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Opponent must discard X cards at random from hand. If opponent doesn't have enough cards in hand, entire hand is discarded.
Cards like Mind Twist
Mind Twist stands out as a powerful control card within Magic: The Gathering, epitomizing the potential of disruptive strategies. Its ability to obliterate an opponent’s hand is mirrored by few, such as the infamous Hymn to Tourach. While Hymn to Tourach forces the discard of two cards at random for a lower cost, Mind Twist offers scalability, allowing for an entire hand clearance depending on available mana.
Another notable comparison can be made with Thoughtseize, a card that plucks a single nonland card from an opponent’s hand for a significantly lower cost and life payment. It allows for precision strikes against key cards rather than the broad sweep of Mind Twist. We then have Cabal Therapy, which combines the knowledge of the opponent’s hand with the chance to hit multiple copies of a card, similar to Mind Twist’s potential for mass disruption. However, Mind Twist’s flexibility to scale with game progress gives it a unique advantage in exhausting an opponent’s resources fully.
In analyzing the trade-offs, Mind Twist retains its coveted position for players seeking dominance over an opponent’s strategic options, showcasing a level of unparalleled control in discard mechanics in the wizarding world of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Mind Twist by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Mind Twist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jeff | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | B/W Mid | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | BUG Midrange | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Jund Midrange | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Tundra Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mind Twist is a force multiplier in terms of card advantage. By dispatching numerous cards from your opponent’s hand, you effectively diminish their strategies and future plays, which can often lead to a significant lead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: While Mind Twist itself doesn’t directly generate resources, its ability to disrupt the opponent’s hand can be seen as a form of indirect resource acceleration. By limiting the resources available to your opponent, you’re accelerating your relative position.
Instant Speed: Although Mind Twist is a sorcery, its impact is akin to the flexibility of an instant. Played at the right moment, typically in the early to mid-game, it can twist the tide of battle decisively in your favor, much like a well-timed instant would.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mind Twist forces an opponent to discard numerous cards, but if used without full mana investment, the impact may be less disruptive and less favorable mid to late game when opponents may have fewer cards in hand.
Specific Mana Cost: With a heavy reliance on black mana, Mind Twist’s requirement can be restrictive, not lending itself well to multicolored decks where black mana may not be as plentiful or as easily accessible throughout the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In comparison to other disruption spells, Mind Twist’s variable mana cost can be steep for profound effect, requiring substantial mana investment to truly empty an opponent’s hand, potentially diverting resources away from developing your own board state or other strategic plays.
Reasons to Include Mind Twist in Your Collection
Versatility: Mind Twist is a flexible card that can be included in various deck types. It serves as a powerful disruption tool, forcing opponents to discard multiple cards and potentially destabilizing their game plan early on.
Combo Potential: This card excels in strategies focused on depleting opponents’ resources. It can work in tandem with other discard mechanics to create a lock on the opponent’s hand, ensuring they play with a significant disadvantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where hand advantage plays a critical role, Mind Twist can be an ace up your sleeve. It effectively dismantles combo decks and control decks alike, making it a timeless piece in disruptive strategies.
How to beat Mind Twist
Mind Twist is a formidable spell in Magic: The Gathering with an ability to devastate an opponent’s game plan by forcibly discarding their hand.) To counteract Mind Twist, one effective strategy is to empty your hand quickly, utilizing low-cost spells or creatures to minimize the impact of the discard. Another approach involves including cards that benefit from having a discard component, akin to Flashback or Madness mechanics, which can still be played from the graveyard or have extra value when discarded.
Innately, cards with hexproof or which grant hexproof to your hand can protect against targeted discard strategies, providing a shield against Mind Twist’s crippling effects. Similarly, having instant-speed draw spells to refill your hand after a Mind Twist ensures you maintain card advantage. Lastly, remember to always hold onto lands or non-essential cards when playing against a known discard deck, thus giving you a buffer to absorb some of Mind Twist’s potency without surrendering valuable resources.
When considering deck-building and in-game strategy, recognizing the power of Mind Twist and preparing for it can mean the difference between holding onto control of the game or facing a brutal setback. Crafting your MTG strategy with this in mind will better equip you to emerge victorious, even when facing off against this powerful disruption spell.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mind Twist MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Twist 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
Printings
The Mind Twist Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 115 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 116 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 116 | 1993 | Normal | White | Julie Baroh | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 116 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 116 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 117 | 1993 | Normal | White | Julie Baroh | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 117 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 117 | 1993 | Normal | White | Julie Baroh | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 147 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 147 | 1993 | Normal | White | Julie Baroh | |
| 11 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 46920 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Seb McKinnon | ||
| 12 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62427 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Seb McKinnon | ||
| 13 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 72 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 14 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet Invocations | MP2 | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 409 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh | |
| 16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Julie Baroh |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Twist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Restricted |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Banned |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |