Mistway Spy MTG Card

Mistway Spy enhances strategic depth, allowing players to scry and manipulate decks for optimized draw quality. Its morph ability injects unpredictability in matches, benefiting from instant speed to disrupt opponents’ turns. While powerful, it requires a discard and specific mana, which can limit its utility in some decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Merfolk Detective
Abilities	Disguise,Flying,Investigate
Released	2024-02-09
Set symbol
Set name	Murders at Karlov Manor
Set code	MKM
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	65
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Andrew Mar

Text of card

Flying Disguise (You may cast this card face down for as a 2/2 creature with ward . Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.) When Mistway Spy is turned face up, until end of turn, whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, investigate.

Cards like Mistway Spy

Mistway Spy emerges as a unique stealth operative in the realm of blue creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When considering counterparts, it echoes the traits found in cards such as Spiketail Hatchling, which also offers an ability to disrupt opponents spells. The Spy differentiates itself with the ability to consistently become unblockable when controlling an Island, compared to the Hatchling’s capacity to sacrifice itself for a one-time counterspell effect.

Another creature that enters the discussion is the Gudul Lurker. Much like Mistway Spy, the lurker has the potential to slip past blockers but requires the expenditure of mana to gain this ability. Conversely, Mistway Spy’s unblockable nature is a passive ability that works under less strenuous conditions. Then there’s Tidal Warrior, engaging with the gameplay by turning lands into Islands, potentially enabling or enhancing Mistway Spy’s unblockability in a synergistic fashion.

Assessing these interactions and capabilities, Mistway Spy reveals itself to be a formidable card for MTG enthusiasts, striking a balance between evasion and facilitating islandwalk, making it a subtle but powerful choice for decks favoring control and cunning over brute force.

Cards similar to Mistway Spy by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Mistway Spy. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Decklist	Free form		86#CS
Simic Merfolk	Standard	Simic Merfolk	Standard Preliminary 2024-02-21
Simic Tempo	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024
Dimir Merfolk	Standard	Dimir Merfolk	Standard Challenge 64 2024-03-10
Simic Aggro	Standard	Simic Merfolk	NRG Series $5,000 Showdown - Chicagoland, Illinois (Standard)
Simic Burn	Standard	Simic Merfolk	BLACK - FRI - 11AM - Chicago 75K Standard Open

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mistway Spy boosts your strategic prowess by letting you manipulate the top card of a player’s library, effectively nibbling away at your opponent’s plans or ensuring your next draw is beneficial.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, the benefit of scrying with Mistway Spy sets you up for smoother draws, indirectly contributing to your resource acceleration by filtering out unwanted cards.

Instant Speed: This creature can be morphed during your opponent’s turn thanks to its instant speed ability, keeping your opponents guessing and allowing you to adapt to the board state with agility and surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mistway Spy requires you to discard a card to tap into its benefits, which could deplete your hand when you need those cards for future plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding both blue and generic mana means that this card is tailor-made for blue-aligned decks, potentially creating a hindrance in a multicolored deck that might struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for its provided utility, there may be other creatures or spells in your arsenal that could offer similar services without such a significant investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mistway Spy’s ability to be a disruptor or a protector in your deck adds a layer of adaptability. Its unblockable nature can also be a consistent source of chip damage, making it a useful tool in various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With this creature’s capacity to become unblockable, it can be a crucial part of combos that rely on dealing combat damage to a player, such as triggering on-hit effects or cipher spells.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and evasion, Mistway Spy aligns well with faster-paced games. In an environment where unimpeded attackers are valuable, its presence on the battlefield can provide both offensive threat and strategic advantage.

How to Beat Mistway Spy

Mistway Spy can pose a tricky challenge with its ability to peek at and potentially reorder the top cards of an opponent’s library in MTG. This clever blue creature offers a strategic advantage to control players, who aim to disrupt an opponent’s draws. To counter this espionage, consider utilizing instant-speed removal spells to eliminate the Spy before its effect can activate. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the Spy and are staples in most decks.

Moreover, one must not overlook the power of creature abilities that can activate in response to the Spy’s entry on the battlefield. Abilities that grant hexproof or shroud in response can nullify the Spy’s ability, preserving the secrecy of your deck’s upcoming draws. Finally, incorporating cards that shuffle your library can also mitigate the Spy’s effect, effectively negating the controlled rearrangement of your top deck. This could maintain the element of surprise and undermine the Spy’s tactical advantage.

Effectively handling Mistway Spy requires quick action, flexibility in card choice, and a readiness to adapt your tactics in response to control strategies. By disrupting the Spy’s intelligence-gathering mission, you maintain the integrity of your strategy and keep your opponent guessing.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mistway Spy MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Mistway Spy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mistway Spy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Standardbrawl	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Timeless	Legal