Mindsparker MTG Card

Mindsparker hinders opponents while increasing your strategic options through card advantage. It accelerates your victory path by pressuring opponents to act swiftly. Strategically played, this card can surprise rivals at instant speed.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	First strike
Released	2013-07-19
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2014
Set code	M14
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	146
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Text of card

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Whenever an opponent casts a white or blue instant or sorcery spell, Mindsparker deals 2 damage to that player.

Cards like Mindsparker

Mindsparker stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a creature card offering both offensive capabilities and a unique form of control over red and white spells. It aligns closely with cards like Harsh Mentor, which also impose a cost on an opponent’s activated abilities, punishing them for employing certain strategies. Mindsparker’s ability differs, though, as it specifically targets spells rather than abilities, and exclusively red and white ones at that, which can provide a more focused strategy in matchups against those colors.

Eidolon of the Great Revel is another card in the same spirit, demanding a toll for each spell cast with a low mana cost. While this can affect a wider range of spells than Mindsparker, it doesn’t offer the direct damage to the opponent that the Mindsparker excels at. Then there’s Scab-Clan Berserker, which has a similar punishing effect with its renowned mechanic, but Mindsparker has the advantage of not needing to deal combat damage to trigger its ability, taking effect immediately upon an opponent’s casting of a pertinent spell.

Comparatively, Mindsparker’s unique edge is its instant impact and specificity, making it a viable card against decks rich in red or white spells and positioning it as a noteworthy option in Magic: The Gathering’s array of red creatures.

Eidolon of the Great Revel - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mindsparker shines in red decks by offering a unique edge in card advantage. When it damages your opponent, it effectively diminishes their resources while boosting your own strategic potential.

Resource Acceleration: This firebrand provides a continuous threat that can speed up the game’s pace. By pressuring the opponent, it accelerates your route to victory, indirectly hastening your resource deployment as the opponent is forced to deal with it promptly.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Mindsparker can benefit from playing at instant speed. Dropping it post-combat or in response to your opponent’s threats can catch them off guard, making it a strategic play that fits the pace of instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mindsparker requires an opponent’s blue or white instant or sorcery spells to trigger its ability. In matchups without these colors, its full potential cannot be utilized, making it less versatile compared to other cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a specific combination of one red and two other mana to cast, Mindsparker can be a tricky fit in multi-colored decks that are not focused on red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, other creatures at this cost might offer higher stats or additional abilities. This means that Mindsparker might not always provide the best value for the mana spent, especially in a fast-paced game.

Reasons to Include Mindsparker in Your Collection

Versatility: Mindsparker offers flexibility in deck building, serving as a powerful asset in red-based aggressive strategies and proving a headache for opponents reliant on blue and white spells.

Combo Potential: With a solid 3/2 body that deals damage each time an opponent casts a white or blue instant or sorcery, Mindsparker has synergy with red’s damage amplification tools, fitting seamlessly into decks that prey on enemy spellcasters.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame filled with blue control or white-based life gain decks, Mindsparker’s passive ability can turn the tide by doling out consistent damage, disrupting opponent’s strategies, and maintaining pressure each turn.

How to beat

Mindsparker presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to deal direct damage to opponents when they cast spells of particular colors. Its responsiveness to white and blue spells can turn it into a formidable foe, especially in formats where these colors are prevalent. To effectively counter Mindsparker, it’s crucial to have removal spells at the ready that do not fall within its trigger colors, such as black’s Doom Blade or red’s Lightning Bolt.

One could also consider using creature effects that bypass the spell casting process, like Aether Vial, which can put creatures onto the battlefield without the need for casting. Additionally, employing creatures with higher toughness than power can render Mindsparker’s attacks less effective, allowing you to block and remove it without significant loss. Lastly, proactive strategies using noncreature spells that bolster your own creatures or diminish your opponent’s board also contribute to diminishing Mindsparker’s threatening presence.

Armed with the right strategies and cards, dealing with Mindsparker becomes a manageable task, maintaining the balance of power and keeping the fiery threat at bay in your MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mindsparker MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014, 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 Mindsparker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mindsparker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-07-01	If an opponent casts a copy of a white or blue instant or sorcery card (as opposed to putting a copy of such a spell directly on the stack), the ability will trigger.
2013-07-01	Mindsparker’s ability will trigger whenever an opponent casts an instant or sorcery spell that’s white, blue, or both. If the spell is both white and blue, Mindsparker’s ability will trigger only once.