Minions' Murmurs MTG Card
2007-05-04 - Number 71
2021-03-19 - Number 124
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
You draw X cards and you lose X life, where X is the number of creatures you control.
"They are quick to offer advice, those whose mistakes doomed them to undeath. How can I not listen to the wisdom of failure?" —Ratadrabik of Urborg
Cards like Minions' Murmurs
Minions’ Murmurs holds its ground in the repertoire of black card draw options in Magic: The Gathering. Shadowing the mechanics of other draw spells, it echoes the ability to amass card advantage through its unique twist—tying the number of cards drawn to the creatures you control. This is notably divergent from Sign in Blood or Read the Bones, which draw a fixed number of cards and include additional life payment or scrying.
The capricious Dark Prophecy offers a different angle; it triggers off creature deaths rather than the quantity on the battlefield. This makes it a staple in decks with creatures that want to be sacrificed, which differs from Minions’ Murmurs’ reliance on a well-established army. Syphon Mind is another relative, providing card draw while also depleting opponents’ hands. Unlike Minions’ Murmurs, Syphon Mind isn’t contingent on your creature count but impacts multiplayer games more severely.
Thus, while Minions’ Murmurs may not be a one-size-fits-all, it proffers a distinctive card advantage in creature-heavy decks. Battles where board presence is paramount will see Minions’ Murmurs outshine its relatives, reinforcing its niche in strategy-focused card-draw arsenals within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Minions' Murmurs by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Minions’ Murmurs, you can potentially draw a significant number of cards equal to the number of creatures you control, providing an exceptional boost to your hand and options during play.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly offering mana acceleration, the card advantage provided can lead to drawing into more lands or mana-producing creatures, indirectly accelerating your resources and enabling bigger plays sooner.
Instant Speed: Minions’ Murmurs can be cast at instant speed, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s actions and decisions during their turn, effectively keeping your strategies flexible and your mana efficiently utilized.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Minions’ Murmurs necessitates a card discard to initiate its effect, which can be a strategic setback when your hand is already dwindling or consists of crucial cards you’d rather retain for later stages of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting cost is locked into black mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks that could struggle with generating the necessary mana composition, thus affecting its versatility and playability across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana to cast, Minions’ Murmurs can be seen as an expensive investment, especially when considering alternative draw spells or abilities that could be more mana-efficient, potentially leaving mana open for other plays or interactions within the same turn.
Reasons to Include Minions’ Murmurs in Your Collection
Versatility: Minions’ Murmurs is a unique card that can find its place in various deck builds, particularly in those that command a large number of creatures. Its ability to draw cards depending on the creature count makes it a good fit for swarm or token strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with effects that benefit from drawing large numbers of cards or with cards that reward you for having a full hand. In the right setup, it can be a serious game-changer, providing the fuel for a powerful combo turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies are common, Minions’ Murmurs provides a significant advantage by turning your creature count into new resources, which is crucial for keeping up with the pace of play and outmaneuvering opponents.
How to beat
Minions’ Murmurs is a spell that proves to be a double-edged sword in the playing field of Magic: The Gathering. This card allows its caster to draw a number of cards equal to the number of minions they control, sacrificing a portion of their life equal to the number drawn. The unique aspect of life trade for card advantage cannot be overlooked, as it offers a significant boost at potentially high costs.
Opposing this strategy requires a focus on hindering the opponent’s minion presence. Utilize removals and board wipes to keep their minion count low, reducing the effectiveness of Minions’ Murmurs. Counter spells also serve as a direct answer, preventing the card from resolving and protecting your position in the game. Similarly, hand disruption can preemptively remove this threat from your opponent’s hand before they have the chance to cast it, mitigating the risk of them drawing into more answers or threats.
In essence, the art of mastering Magic: The Gathering includes understanding and anticipating strategies like those employed by Minions’ Murmurs, and ensuring you have the tools to navigate and overcome them. Successfully controlling the board and dictating the pace of the game remains the key to victory against such card advantage tactics.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Minions' Murmurs MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Minions' Murmurs 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
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Printings
The Minions' Murmurs Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-05-04 | Future Sight | FUT | 71 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 2 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 124 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Minions' Murmurs has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |