Mindstorm Crown MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2003-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirrodin |
| Set code | MRD |
| Number | 207 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ben Thompson |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you had no cards in hand at the beginning of this turn. If you had a card in hand, Mindstorm Crown deals 1 damage to you.
Cards like Mindstorm Crown
Mindstorm Crown introduces an intriguing dynamic to mana acceleration and card drawing in Magic: The Gathering. When comparing it to other cards, Mindstorm Crown shares some common ground with Manifold Key, which also offers the ability to untap another artifact, thereby enhancing your mana generation potential. However, Mindstorm Crown diverges by conditioning its card draw capability upon having no cards in hand at the end of your turn, unlike the Key that doesn’t facilitate card advantage.
Another card worth considering is Geier Reach Sanitarium. Both allow you to draw cards, but the Sanitarium lets each player draw and then discard a card, a subtle yet impactful difference. Mindstorm Crown’s uniqueness shines in its one-sided effect and the additional card draw for an empty-handed strategy. Venser’s Journal is another potential comparison, rewarding you for a large hand size with life gain, but it sits on the opposite spectrum of Mindstorm Crown’s strategy and does not offer untap features or additional draws.
Overall, Mindstorm Crown fits a niche for players seeking to capitalize on a playstyle that thrives with fewer cards in hand, positioning it interestingly amongst similar MTG artifacts that either assist in untapping or card drawing but rarely both with such a specific condition.
Cards similar to Mindstorm Crown by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mindstorm Crown offers players the ability to tap into the vastness of their library, providing access to additional cards every turn. This repeatable draw effect serves as a cornerstone for maintaining an upper hand throughout the duel by ensuring a steady flow of options.
Resource Acceleration: Beyond enriching your hand, this artifact aids in ramping up your available resources. Its synergy with spells that draw additional cards not only refines your strategy but also paves the way for more significant, game-changing plays much earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of reacting at instant speed cannot be overstated. Mindstorm Crown integrates this aspect by benefiting from instant-speed draw spells cast on an opponent’s turn, thus capitalizing on both the element of surprise and optimizing your turns for maximum impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One significant downside to using Mindstorm Crown in your deck is the mandatory discard. Each time you want to draw a card from its ability, you need to part with another, potentially valuable, card in your hand. This trade-off can leave you at a resources disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Mindstorm Crown comes with a requirement for blue mana. This restriction means that it has a natural home in blue-inclined decks, potentially leaving out a variety of other deck archetypes where it would otherwise synergize well if not for its color specificity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of deploying Mindstorm Crown is significant when you consider alternative card advantage options available in MTG. Costing three mana to play, it’s an investment that may not always pay off, especially when you’re competing against decks that can establish a board presence or draw cards more efficiently with lower cost spells.
Reasons to Include Mindstorm Crown in Your Collection
Versatility: Mindstorm Crown is a dynamic addition to any deck that thrives on spell casting and drawing cards. Its ability to create card advantage each turn makes it a fit for a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those that capitalize on large hand sizes.
Combo Potential: As a piece that encourages drawing, Mindstorm Crown has natural synergy with strategies that combo off drawing or discarding cards. This could unlock new levels of interaction and efficiency within combo-oriented decks.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where players vie for the greatest value from their card interactions, Mindstorm Crown offers consistent throughput. Its relevance is heightened in metas where longer games reward extensive card advantage.
How to beat
Mindstorm Crown introduces a unique dynamic to MTG, granting players a boost in drawing cards under specific conditions. It allows for an extra draw each turn, provided the player has discarded a card earlier. This continuous flow of resources can quickly become challenging to deal with if left unchecked. To effectively beat this artifact, a multilayered approach is pivotal.
One effective strategy involves the removal of artifacts. Employing cards like Abrade or Naturalize can disrupt your opponent’s advantages by directly destroying Mindstorm Crown. Cards that force your opponent to sacrifice artifacts, like By Force or Vandalblast, can also turn the tides in your favor. Additionally, confounding the Crown’s controller by applying discard pressure or manipulating their hand size will mitigate its benefits. Cards that can help accomplish this include Thoughtseize or Mind Rot, limiting your opponent’s options and the Crown’s utility.
Ultimately, recognizing when to address the Crown and employing precise disruption can prevent your opponent from leveraging its card draw capabilities. Your arsenal should include tools affecting both the board state and your opponent’s hand, fostering a well-rounded approach to outmaneuver the Mindstorm Crown’s potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mindstorm Crown MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Mindstorm Crown 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 Mindstorm Crown has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mindstorm Crown card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-12-01 | Mindstorm Crown cares about the number of cards in your hand at the time the turn started, not as the ability resolves. So if you have more than one Crown on the battlefield and no cards in your hand at the start of the turn, you draw a card for each Crown. |
| 2004-12-01 | Mindstorm Crown’s ability doesn’t have an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” It always goes onto the stack at the start of your upkeep. |