Misers' Cage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	311
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

Misers’ Cage influences game pace by forcing opponents to change their usual spell casting timing.
Its restrictive activation conditions can be a double-edged sword, requiring strategic play to be effective.
Considering similar cards can help players appreciate Misers’ Cage’s unique role in controlling hand size.

Text of card

At end of target opponent's upkeep, if that player has five or more cards in hand, Misers' Cage deals 2 damage to him or her.

"Let him be imprisoned while his possessions wander free." —Suq'Ata legal decree

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Misers’ Cage offers a continuous effect potentially constraining the opponent’s hand, indirectly creating card advantage as they may have to discard valuable resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly responsible for resource acceleration, this powerful artifact can slow down an opponent’s strategy, giving the player who cast it more time to develop their board and utilize their own resources more efficiently.

Instant Speed: While Misers’ Cage itself is not an instant, its mere presence can influence the pace of the game, coercing opponents to play spells at less than optimal times in fear of the repercussions, thereby offering strategic advantages akin to those gained from instant speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Misers’ Cage necessitates a precise condition to fully harness its potential. Players must ensure their opponent has four or more cards in hand at upkeep, which can be an unreliable and demanding task to manage consistently throughout the game — potentially leading to inefficient turns and wasted card slots in your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting an activation cost strictly requiring two colorless and two black mana, Misers’ Cage imposes a challenging fit for multi-colored or color-intensive decks. This restriction limits its flexibility, hindering its inclusion in various deck archetypes that may operate on a more diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its unique disruptive ability, the four-mana investment to deploy Misers’ Cage competes with other powerful card options in this mana range. Given that more impactful cards could potentially occupy the same slot, Misers’ Cage may be overlooked for cards with immediate impact or lower mana alternatives that provide more consistent game advantages.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Misers’ Cage offers a unique control option for decks that aim to restrict the opponent’s ability to maintain a large hand. This card is particularly adaptable in formats where the hand size can be a significant part of the strategy.

Combo Potential: As an artifact, Misers’ Cage has potential in decks that are built around synergies with artifacts, possibly imposing a tax on the opponents’ hand while fueling other synergistic artifact strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the landscape of the game where card draw strategies are prevalent, incorporating a Misers’ Cage could disrupt many popular deck archetypes, making it a relevant choice in certain metagames.

How to beat

Misers’ Cage is an enigmatic artifact in Magic: The Gathering known for its punishing effect on opponents indulging in hand-greed. When a player’s hand swells to four or more cards than their previous turn, the Cage inflicts a penalty, draining life and keeping unchecked card advantage at bay. This intricate dynamic can shape gameplay, stressing the importance of hand-size management.

To circumvent this potentially game-twisting artifact, consider adopting strategies that maintain a consistent hand size. Card draw and discard spells prove advantageous here, syncing well with the Cage’s restrictions. Delve into instants that allow for play on the opponent’s turn, spreading card interactions and minimizing hand size swings. Look at the likes of instant-speed removal or even enchantment hate to dispatch the Cage before its trigger conditions are met, thus negating its influence on the battlefield.

Strategic play and awareness of card flow are crucial. Winning against Misers’ Cage requires thoughtful card management and timely interaction, turning what could be a restrictive obstacle into a mere hiccup in your path to victory.

Cards like Misers' Cage

Exploring the unique dynamics of MTG, Misers’ Cage presents an intriguing design in the realm of player-restricting artifacts. It bears some resemblance to cards like Mana Web, which also constrains opponents by affecting the utilization of their mana. However, Misers’ Cage specifically targets the wealth of an opponent’s hand rather than their mana, penalizing those who hoard cards with an unavoidable life loss.

A similar card influencing hand size is Black Vise. It shares the pressure-inducing ability to damage opponents based on the number of cards in hand during their upkeep. Yet, Black Vise targets those with excessive cards right from the start of their turn, while Misers’ Cage triggers upon the draw, affecting strategy during the draw step. Then there’s Iron Maiden, a card echoing this hand-size punishment theme, but it updates the concept to affect all players with large hands every turn.

Comparing these artifacts highlights how Misers’ Cage offers a distinctive strategic element to the gameplay. It synergizes particularly well in decks designed to keep an opponent’s hand filled, showcasing its strength in controlling and refining the tempo of the match.

Cards similar to Misers' Cage by color, type and mana cost

Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Misers' Cage MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Misers' Cage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Misers' Cage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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