Mistvein Borderpost MTG Card
2009-04-30 - Number 27
2010-06-18 - Number 90
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
You may pay and return a basic land you control to its owner's hand rather than pay Mistvein Borderpost's mana cost. Mistvein Borderpost comes into play tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.
Cards like Mistvein Borderpost
Mistvein Borderpost is a unique card that finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering decks that capitalize on both mana fixing and artifact synergies. Its closest relative in terms of functionality is another card from the Borderpost cycle, Veinfire Borderpost. Both serve as a mana source and can cost less with the basic land bounce mechanic. While Mistvein Borderpost provides blue and black mana specifically, Veinfire Borderpost offers red and black, catering to a different deck composition.
Evolving from the classic mana rocks, Darksteel Ingot stands out as an indestructible alternative that supplies one mana of any color, without the need for bouncing a land. This can be more straightforward in multicolored decks that prioritize resilience over the mana-filtering provided by the Borderposts. Then there’s Prophetic Prism, which, although it costs two mana and only provides one, it draws a card upon entry and filters mana thereafter.
In sum, the Borderposts, including Mistvein Borderpost, fill a special place in the panorama of mana-fixing artifacts. They offer a compromise between color specificity and cost efficiency while contributing to artifact counts, an invaluable asset to certain MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Mistvein Borderpost by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Mistvein Borderpost card efficiently filters your deck, allowing an improved chance at drawing into your key cards while maintaining an equilibrium in card resources.
Resource Acceleration: Acts as a versatile mana fixer, not only helping you to reach your vital mana slots earlier but also smoothing out your mana base for a more consistent play experience.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, it interacts well in strategies that operate at instant speed by ensuring you have the necessary mana colors available when you need them.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the notable drawbacks of Mistvein Borderpost is the need to return a land you control to your hand as part of its alternate casting cost. While this can be worked around, in some scenarios it might set you back, especially when you’re striving to maintain a strong board presence and fuel your land drops consistently.
Specific Mana Cost: Despite its flexibility, Mistvein Borderpost requires a combination of blue and black mana to cast. This mana specificity can restrict its use to certain deck archetypes, notably those that are already aligned with the colors of Esper and thus can generate the necessary mana without difficulty.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Mistvein Borderpost is on the higher side when compared to other mana-fixing artifacts. There are numerous options available that could be slotted into your deck at a lower cost, potentially accelerating your game play and giving you an edge in terms of mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include Mistvein Borderpost in Your Collection
Versatility: The Mistvein Borderpost card serves multiple functions. It can act as a mana fixer in multicolor decks, especially where a black and blue mana base is essential. Its flexibility comes from the ability to be played using its alternate cost, allowing you to keep a more varied hand.
Combo Potential: This card becomes a key piece in decks that leverage the use of artifacts. It can be bounced back to your hand or sacrificed for various effects, making it a versatile enabler for combo-oriented strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with artifact synergy or where mana fixing is crucial, Mistvein Borderpost demonstrates its value. It holds a solid place in formats where the speed of mana development and color consistency are paramount to a deck’s success.
How to beat
Mistvein Borderpost falls into the realm of flexible mana sources within the universe of MTG. This card functions similarly to traditional mana artifacts but with a twist – it offers a unique mechanic where you may pay the cost by returning a basic land you control to its owner’s hand rather than paying its mana cost. This allows players to potentially accelerate their mana while still developing their board presence.
To effectively overcome the advantage that Mistvein Borderpost provides, consider utilizing artifact destruction spells. Cards like Shatter or Naturalize can remove the Borderpost from the battlefield, disrupting your opponent’s mana balance. Additionally, land bounce strategies will not work if your opponent cannot return a basic land to their hand. Countering the initial casting with spells such as Negate can also prevent the Borderpost from entering the battlefield in the first place.
Moreover, targeted discard spells like Duress can preemptively remove Mistvein Borderpost from your opponent’s hand before it becomes a threat. In essence, the key to besting this card lies in hindering your opponent’s ability to optimize their mana usage and removing the artifact before its benefits can be realized.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mistvein Borderpost MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Archenemy, 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 Mistvein Borderpost 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 Mistvein Borderpost Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2010-06-18. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-04-30 | Alara Reborn | ARB | 27 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 90 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mistvein Borderpost has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mistvein Borderpost card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-05-01 | As you cast a spell, you get a chance to activate mana abilities before you pay that spell’s costs. Therefore, you may tap a basic land for mana, then both spend that mana and return that land to your hand to pay this card’s alternative cost. (Of course, you can return a different basic land instead.) |
| 2009-05-01 | Casting this card by paying its alternative cost doesn’t change when you can cast it. You can cast it only at the normal time you could cast an artifact spell. It also doesn’t change the spell’s mana cost or converted mana cost. The only difference is the cost you actually pay. |
| 2009-05-01 | Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast this card will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay. |
| 2009-05-01 | To satisfy the alternative cost, you may return any basic land you control to its owner’s hand, regardless of that land’s subtype or whether it’s tapped. |