Mirror-Style Master MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Abilities Backup
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Doubles spell impact by copying, providing a significant advantage and resource acceleration in gameplay.
  2. Discarding for activation and specific mana cost may hinder play, demanding careful hand and deck management.
  3. Brings versatility and combo potential, especially important in control and spell-centric competitive decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mirror-Style Master MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Commander and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Mirror-Style Master and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) Whenever this creature attacks, for each attacking modified creature you control, create a tapped and attacking token that's a copy of that creature. Exile those tokens at end of combat. (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mirror-Style Master lets you potentially copy two spells rather than just one, doubling your opportunities to pull ahead in the game by making the most of each play. This ability ensures that you maintain a steady flow of resources and can outmaneuver opponents through superior card utility.

Resource Acceleration: By cloning your mana-intensive spells for less, Mirror-Style Master effectively reduces the cost of your most impactful spells. This allows for more efficient use of your mana resources, enabling you to deploy more threats or answers in a shorter time frame.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Mirror-Style Master’s copying effect at instant speed provides a strategic advantage. It allows you to adapt to unfolding game states, respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, and potentially create overwhelming board states or game-winning advantages on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Mirror-Style Master is the necessity to discard another card to utilize its abilities. In the heat of the game, sacrificing crucial hand cards can put players at a disadvantage, particularly if their hand size is already running low.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Mirror-Style Master includes a blend of colors that might not seamlessly fit into every deck archetype. Players running multicolor decks might find the cost restrictive or inconsistent with their mana base, leading to potential delays in play or color fixing problems.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Mirror-Style Master offers a distinct advantage in duplicating instant or sorcery spells, its mana cost is on the higher side. Other cards in the format may provide similar effects or greater versatility at a lower cost, giving players pause when considering its inclusion in their deck builds.


Reasons to Include Mirror-Style Master in Your Collection

Versatility: Mirror-Style Master is a unique addition to any collector’s arsenal due to its adaptability across numerous deck builds. With the ability to copy instant or sorcery spells, this card offers strategic depth for decks that thrive on spell-slinging and value plays.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that are built around spell synergies and combos. The clone ability of Mirror-Style Master paves the way for explosive turns and game-changing plays, further reinforcing its standing as a cornerstone in combo-oriented decks.

Meta-Relevance: In gameplay environments where control decks and spell-based strategies are prevalent, Mirror-Style Master’s capability to duplicate key spells can turn the tide of a match, making it a potent inclusion in competitive play settings.


How to beat

Mirror-Style Master is a unique MTG card that can catch many players off guard, primarily due to its ability to copy spells. Navigating against such an opponent requires a careful strategy. When playing against a deck that features Mirror-Style Master, it’s crucial to manage your spell casting timing. One effective method is to bait out the copy ability with a less critical spell before casting your primary game-changers. Additionally, keeping removal or counter spells in hand to deal with Mirror-Style Master directly before it can leverage its capabilities can tilt the game in your favor.

Another approach is to focus on creatures or spells that offer value upon entering the battlefield or casting, ensuring that even if copied, the original play gains you sufficient advantage. Moreover, ramping up pressure with aggressive creatures can limit the time Mirror-Style Master’s controller has to find the perfect spell to copy. Board presence and direct damage spells can also help circumvent Mirror-Style Master’s impact on the game by shifting the focus away from spell-based strategies. Ultimately, adapting your playstyle to limit the effectiveness of a Mirror-Style Master while advancing your own game plan is key to overcoming this tricky adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

If Mirror-Style Master piques your interest, it’s time to take your MTG gameplay to the next level. This card’s unique abilities can be a game-changer, offering card advantage and the capacity to alter the battlefield at instant speed. With precision and a well-constructed deck, you can exploit the full potential of this powerful card. For those who enjoy deep strategic layers and intricate spell interactions, integrating Mirror-Style Master in your collection might be your next winning move. Dive deeper into the strategic depths of MTG and discover how this card can redefine your matches. Join us to expand your knowledge and master the art of the game.


Cards like Mirror-Style Master

Mirror-Style Master introduces dynamic play to the MTG battlefield, reminiscent of versatile combat tricks like Borrowing 100,000 Arrows. While the latter amasses a sizeable card advantage by drawing a card for each tapped creature your opponent controls, Mirror-Style Master focuses on copying spells or abilities—a subtle yet potent distinction. It’s worth noting, however, that Borrowing 100,000 Arrows operates solely at sorcery speed, whereas Mirror-Style Master promises flexibility, potentially altering the course of the game across multiple phases.

Diving into comparisons, we encounter Djinn Illuminatus, which offers the replication of spells through its replicate ability. While the Djinn covers any spell you cast, Mirror-Style Master zeroes in on instant or sorcery spells. This specific limitation grants a narrower but more precise avenue to duplicate pivotal game moments. Additionally, Djinn Illuminatus demands a more intensive mana investment, setting the Mirror-Style Master in favor for a mindful mana strategy.

The intricate labyrinth of MTG strategies shines through when juxtaposing Mirror-Style Master’s capabilities with contenders like Djinn Illuminatus and Borrowing 100,000 Arrows. With its spell-copying efficiency and strategic depth, Mirror-Style Master certainly stands out as a card that can pivot the scales in a player’s favor with surgical precision.

Borrowing 100,000 Arrows - MTG Card versions
Djinn Illuminatus - MTG Card versions
Borrowing 100,000 Arrows - MTG Card versions
Djinn Illuminatus - MTG Card versions

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Printings

The Mirror-Style Master Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 322015NormalBlackChris Rallis
22023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1192015NormalBlackChris Rallis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mirror-Style Master has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 All of the tokens enter the battlefield at the same time.
2023-04-14 Although the tokens enter the battlefield attacking, they were never declared as attacking creatures (for the purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2023-04-14 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as
-his creature] enters the battlefield” or “
-his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the copied creature will also work.
2023-04-14 Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects.
2023-04-14 Each of the tokens copy exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else (unless that creature is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn’t copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on. (Basically, it won’t copy anything that made it modified in the first place. C’est la vie.)
2023-04-14 If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities.
2023-04-14 If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities.
2023-04-14 If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained.
2023-04-14 If the copied creature has in its mana cost, X is 0.
2023-04-14 If the copied creature is a token, the token that’s created copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created that token.
2023-04-14 If the copied creature is copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that creature copied.
2023-04-14 The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves.