Enlightened Maniac MTG Card

Enlightened Maniac - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Eldritch Moon (EMN)
2016-07-22 - Number 58

Enlightened Maniac - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 364

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number EMN-58

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human
Power	0
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Generates a 3/2 Eldrazi token, boosting board presence without depleting your hand.
The token can fuel sacrifice strategies and multi-faceted deck synergies.
Immediate board impact upon casting enhances tempo and strategy versatility.

Text of card

When Enlightened Maniac enters the battlefield, put a 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature token onto the battlefield.

"At last! Proof that it's not all in my head!"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Enlightened Maniac contributes to your card advantage by creating a 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature token, effectively giving you an additional presence on the board without losing a card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While the Enlightened Maniac itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the 3/2 token it generates can become an asset in strategies that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for greater benefits or using such creatures to power various synergies within your deck.

Instant Speed: Although Enlightened Maniac is a creature and not an instant, its ability to quickly create a token can be seen as a form of instant speed impact on the game. By casting it during your main phase, it can immediately affect the board state, which can be pivotal in the tempo of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To take full advantage of Enlightened Maniac, you often need to employ a strategy that helps you benefit from discarding, which may not suit every deck’s game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Enlightened Maniac’s casting cost requires both blue and generic mana, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that may struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to summon may impede your tempo, especially when other creatures in the same mana range could potentially offer greater immediate board presence or impact.

Reasons to Include Enlightened Maniac in Your Collection

Versatility: Enlightened Maniac provides a valuable creature token upon entering the battlefield, which can be a significant boon for decks that capitalize on token generation or need board presence.

Combo Potential: The Eldrazi token generated by Enlightened Maniac can serve as a foundation for various combo plays, pairing well with sacrifice outlets or any mechanics that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where producing multiple creatures can be advantageous for overrun strategies or defenses against single-target removal, Enlightened Maniac stands as a useful addition with its ability to affect the board immediately upon casting.

How to beat

Enlightened Maniac is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to produce a significant token upon entry. While it may not seem intimidating at first glance, its strength comes from the 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror token it generates, which can quickly turn the tides of a game.

Understanding how to effectively nullify this card’s advantage is key. Removal spells cast before the maniac’s effect resolves can prevent the token from ever coming into play. Counterspells are also a strategic choice, ensuring the maniac never hits the battlefield. Targeted removal, such as Fatal Push, or exile effects, like Path to Exile, can dispatch the generated token without much fuss. Board wipes can be useful as well, dealing with both the maniac and any tokens in one fell swoop. Additionally, efficient mana usage and keeping pace with your opponent’s creature plays are essential when facing any card like Enlightened Maniac.

Ultimately, while Enlightened Maniac offers a solid token creature, its impact is readily mitigated with the right strategy. Timely removal and board control are the keys to ensuring that the benefits of this crafty creature are kept firmly in check.

Cards like Enlightened Maniac

Enlightened Maniac offers an interesting dynamic to creature token strategies in Magic: The Gathering. When you compare it to creatures like Watcher for Tomorrow, which also enters the battlefield with a delayed benefit, Enlightened Maniac stands out by immediately creating a 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature token. This token can be a remarkable advantage for those looking to apply early pressure on opponents or establish board control.

Then we have Skyspawner, which also dives into the world of Eldrazi tokens. Skyspawner may be less impactful on its own as a 2/1, but the 1/1 flying Eldrazi Scion token it creates contributes to both aerial defense and ramping abilities. It’s a different approach, focusing on incremental advantage and mana flexibility. Additionally, we can look at Drowner of Hope, a more potent but costly creature that brings along two Eldrazi Scion tokens with the added utility of tapping opponents’ potential threats.

Assessing these options, Enlightened Maniac is a solid choice for decks that are hungry for a substantial token payoff right away. It cements its place in the MTG landscape as a card that adds immediate value to the board, situating itself comfortably among its peers that offer tokens as a side bonus.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Enlightened Maniac MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Mystery Booster, 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 Enlightened Maniac and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Enlightened Maniac Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jaime Jones.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-07-22	Eldritch Moon	EMN	58	2015	Normal	Black	Jaime Jones
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	364	2015	Normal	Black	Jaime Jones
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	EMN-58	2015	Normal	Black	Jaime Jones