Monomania MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2011-07-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2012 |
| Set code | M12 |
| Number | 102 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | James Ryman |
Text of card
Target player chooses a card in his or her hand and discards the rest.
"What do vermin cling to when all hope is lost?" —Sorin Markov
Cards like Monomania
Monomania is an intriguing sorcery that forces opponents in Magic: The Gathering to discard all but one card from their hand. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to strip an opponent down to a single card choice, disrupting their hand’s diversity. A similar card in disruption is Mind Rot, which although not as limiting as Monomania, allows you to make an opponent discard two cards, offering less precision but a guaranteed quantity in card removal.
Delirium Skeins follows this theme of discard but does so wholesale, insisting that each player, including yourself, discards three cards. This offers a more symmetrical effect compared to Monomania’s targeted approach. Conversely, Wit’s End takes opponent hand disruption to the extreme, completely emptying the opponent’s hand but at a steep seven mana cost compared to Monomania’s five.
In summary, while there are several MTG cards that share the theme of forcing discards, Monomania stands out with its ability to singularly tailor your opponent’s hand, albeit at a potentially higher mana cost compared to other hand disruption spells in the game. Its tactical edge can be quite potent, especially when aiming to dismantle key plays orchestrated by an opponent.
Cards similar to Monomania by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Monomania effectively disrupts your opponent’s hand by forcing them to select and keep just one card while discarding the rest. This can tilt the balance of card advantage significantly in your favor, especially if timed right after your opponent has drawn multiple cards.
Resource Acceleration: While Monomania doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it indirectly aids by ensuring the opponent has fewer options to stop your plays, leaving the battlefield open for you to capitalize on your accumulated resources without fear of interruption or counterplay.
Instant Speed: Although Monomania is a sorcery, its impact on the game can be as crucial as instant-speed plays. It allows you to set up for a clear turn prior to your own, disrupting the opponent’s strategy and paving the way for your subsequent moves without the immediate pressure of an immediate response.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the limitations when playing with Monomania is its requirement for you to discard one of your cards as part of the casting cost. This can be a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already depleted, and every card counts for maintaining a strategic advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands unicolor black mana, Monomania can be restrictive. Decks that run multiple colors might find it challenging to muster the necessary resources, thereby reducing the card’s versatility and limiting its inclusion strictly to monochrome or heavily black-influenced decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of five mana, solely black makes Monomania a heavy investment in the mid-to-late game. For this mana, players could potentially cast more impactful spells or creatures that could immediately influence the board, making Monomania a card that requires careful deck construction and timing to use effectively.
Reasons to Include Monomania in Your Collection
Versatility: Monomania allows for dynamic board control by forcing an opponent to choose carefully what they retain in their hand. This card adapts well to various playstyles, being useful in both aggressive and strategic decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s plans.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes with strategies that benefit from opponents having fewer options. Whether it’s enabling discard effects or setting up for a well-timed mind game, Monomania can act as a linchpin in an intricately designed combo.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where players build their entire strategy around key cards, Monomania becomes a silver bullet, skewing the odds in your favor by dismantling multi-card synergies and leaving opponents scrambling to recover.
How to beat Monomania
Confronting the unique challenges Monomania presents to players in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic countermeasures. This card forces an opponent to discard all but one card from their hand, leaving them with limited options. To effectively navigate this, consider the timing of your plays. It’s often best to hold onto key cards, playing them only when they’re immediately impactful or after Monomania has been cast.
Enhancing your deck with instant-speed spells and abilities allows you to react during your opponent’s turn, thereby reducing the vulnerability of your hand size. Additionally, integrating card draw mechanics or spells that can be played from the graveyard can help mitigate the effects of Monomania’s discard. These features enable you to maintain card advantage or recover quickly from a depleted hand.
Moreover, including a variety of low-cost spells ensures that you’re able to deploy your hand rapidly before Monomania can disrupt your strategy. By preparing for its potential and adjusting your tactics accordingly, you can maintain your strategic posture and turn the tables, even in the face of such a daunting discard spell.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Monomania MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012, 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 Monomania and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Monomania has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Monomania card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | If there are one or zero cards in the player’s hand, they will discard no cards. |