Misleading Motes MTG Card


Misleading Motes disrupts opponents’ plans while being low-cost and playable at instant speed, adding strategic depth to games. The discard requirement and specific mana cost may limit the card’s usefulness depending on your hand and deck composition. Its versatility, token synergies, and potential to alter meta make it a worthwhile consideration for any player’s collection.
Misleading Motes - Wilds of Eldraine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2023-09-08
Set symbol
Set nameWilds of Eldraine
Set codeWOE
Number61
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRaoul Vitale

Text of card

Target creature's owner puts it on the top or bottom of their library.

Yarvis was almost certain he'd seen the same tree an hour ago, but then again, didn't all trees look alike? He shelved his doubts and followed the friendly, twinkling motes deeper into the forest.


Cards like Misleading Motes

Misleading Motes is a nuanced spell that brings an intriguing dynamic to the control side of Magic: The Gathering. When looking at cards with comparable effects, Ghostly Prison comes to mind. Just like Misleading Motes, it also imposes a cost on opponents for attacking you. While Ghostly Prison permanently affects each attacking creature, Misleading Motes offers a one-time use that completely prevents the attack, potentially deflecting a critical onslaught.

Propaganda is another card that fits the comparison grid, demanding payment for enemies to swing in your direction. For players looking for a blue color identity version of this effect, Propaganda aligns, though Misleading Motes provides an immediate and full stop to attacks, a quality not overlooked in high-stake moments. Sphere of Safety is a step up, increasing the cost based on the number of enchantments you control; yet, it isn’t as clear-cut in stopping attackers as Misleading Motes, which can be the perfect foil to surprise and disarm an opponent’s crucial turn.

All things considered, Misleading Motes may be the ace up a savvy player’s sleeve, ready to shift the momentum of combat by providing an unexpected hurdle, subsequently carving its own niche within the realm of defensive spells in the diverse universe of Magic: The Gathering.

Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Sphere of Safety - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Sphere of Safety - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Misleading Motes by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Repel - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Wheel and Deal - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Repel - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Wheel and Deal - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Misleading Motes offers a unique brand of advantage by disrupting your opponent’s strategy. This advantage doesn’t come from drawing cards outright but from tactically forcing your opponent to play around the potential for their creature spells to be countered.

Resource Acceleration: While Misleading Motes doesn’t accelerate resources in a traditional sense, its low casting cost allows you to deploy your game plan efficiently without hindering your mana progression. It can effectively be considered a form of acceleration by ensuring that your mana is used optimally.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Misleading Motes at instant speed gives you a significant edge by allowing you to react meaningfully during your opponent’s turn. It can be used as an effective deterrent, altering the pace at which your opponent can safely cast their spells, and ultimately gaining you a form of tempo advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A potential downside to playing Misleading Motes comes from its mandatory discard element. This condition obliges players to forfeit one of their own cards, which can be particularly problematic when you’re clinging onto a minimalist hand. Discarding can disrupt strategic plans, especially if the card in question was essential for an upcoming combo or defensive measure.

Specific Mana Cost: Misleading Motes necessitates a particular blend of mana for its casting — a stipulation that may restrict its incorporation across a diverse array of decks. If your deck doesn’t normally generate the type of mana required, including Misleading Motes could lead to situations where it remains a stagnant card in your hand, unusable due to mana incompatibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a higher casting cost, this card may not always be the most mana-efficient option within your deck. When comparing Misleading Motes to other alternatives, examine whether the impact of the card is worth the investment. There might be other cards available that offer more bang for your buck or mesh better with the deck’s overall mana curve and strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Misleading Motes offers dynamic play options, adaptable to various defensive strategies, efficiently stalling opponent’s attacks or protecting valuable creatures on the board.

Combo Potential: The ability to create multiple Mote tokens pairs well with engines that capitalize on token generation or sacrifice mechanics, amplifying your board presence and resource flexibility.

Meta-Relevance: As combat-centric decks are common, Misleading Motes provides the necessary edge by disrupting opponent’s plans, proving itself as a pivotal inclusion in decks aiming to outmaneuver such strategies.


How to beat Misleading Motes

Misleading Motes is known for creating illusory obstacles on the battlefield in MTG, making combat predictions increasingly complex. When facing this card, it’s essential to devise a strategy that mitigates its influence on your attacks and defenses. Adaptability is key. Consider employing cards that offer alternative win conditions beyond combat, such as those that deal direct damage or employ mill strategies. Utilizing removal spells that can target enchantments or sweep multiple creatures at once can also help neutralize the Motes’ effect.

One effective tactic is direct player strategies featuring cards like Lightning Bolt or Sphinx’s Tutelage, which redirect the focus from creature fights to direct effects that bypass Misleading Motes. Also, using enchantment removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize can quickly clear the Motes from the field, restoring the balance of power in your favor. Lastly, having creature abilities like hexproof or shroud can effectively shield you from the illusions cast by Misleading Motes. By employing these strategies, you can outmaneuver the card and pave your way to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Misleading Motes MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Misleading Motes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Misleading Motes has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-09-01 The creature's owner chooses whether to put it on the top or bottom of their library. If multiple cards are put into the library this way (such as when the spell targets a melded permanent), that creature's owner puts all the cards on top or all the cards on the bottom. They put them in whatever order they wish, and do not need to reveal the order.