Reflector Mage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. It gains an edge by forcing opponents to delay replays, controlling the pace of play effectively.
  2. Reflector Mage’s versatility shines in creature-focused and tempo-control deck archetypes.
  3. Despite specific mana requirements, it stays relevant, countering creature-heavy metagames.

Text of card

When Reflector Mage enters the battlefield, return target creature an opponent controls to its owner's hand. That creature's owner can't cast spells with the same name as that creature until your next turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reflector Mage nets a substantial edge by bouncing an opponent’s creature back to their hand. This effective move not only disrupts their board presence but also forces them to skip a turn before they can recast that creature, giving you a tactical advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Reflector Mage doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, its ability to set your opponent back can act as a tempo play, essentially accelerating your board state advantage relative to your opponent’s.

Instant Speed: Though Reflector Mage itself is a creature that doesn’t operate at instant speed, the immediate impact of its enter-the-battlefield ability can feel as disruptive as an instant. Plus, it pairs exceptionally well with other instant-speed spells and effects in your deck that can protect it or bounce it back to your hand to reuse its powerful ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Reflector Mage does not directly require discarding cards, it’s important for players to be aware that bouncing an opponent’s creature back to their hand can indirectly lead to discard scenarios for the opponent, especially if their hand is already full. In some cases, this might not be the desired strategic outcome.

Specific Mana Cost: Reflector Mage has a mana cost that includes both blue and white, which means it closely fits into Azorius-themed decks. Players running other color combinations might find it challenging to incorporate Reflector Mage without adjusting their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, including specific colors, Reflector Mage is sometimes considered to have a high cost for its immediate impact on the game state. In fast-paced formats or games, players may seek lower-cost alternatives to maintain tempo and resource efficiency.


Reasons to Include Reflector Mage in Your Collection

Versatility: Reflector Mage is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, particularly those that leverage creature-based strategies and benefit from controlling the tempo of the game.

Combo Potential: Its ability to return an opponent’s creature to their hand sets up advantageous board states and combos well with cards that capitalize on casting multiple spells or disrupting opponent’s plays.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting metagame that often includes creature-heavy decks, Reflector Mage stands out as a card that can significantly impact the flow of matches, giving you an edge against aggressive strategies.


How to Beat Reflector Mage

Reflector Mage is a valuable utility creature in Magic: The Gathering, often seen in decks that are keen on disrupting the adversary’s board presence. The prowess of this card lies in its ability to bounce opposing creatures back to the player’s hand while also preventing them from being cast again in the subsequent turn. To outmaneuver this obstacle, savvy players opt for cards that invalidate Reflector Mage’s ability or mitigate its impact. Instead, consider employing instant-speed removal to destroy or exile it before its enter-the-battlefield effect triggers.

Summoning creatures with haste post-Reflector Mage’s effect is another tactic to immediately reassert pressure on the battlefield. In addition, utilize spell-based removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to efficiently deal with Reflector Mage without being hindered by its casting restriction. Broadly speaking, adapting a strategy to sidestep or negate the constraints imposed by Reflector Mage can swing the momentum in your favor, retaining the cadence of play and blunting the tactical edge this mage might otherwise confer to your opponent.

Keep in mind that implementing strategies that rely less on creature plays and more on diverse methods to apply pressure can usually diminish the overall efficacy of Reflector Mage in your matchups. Inherent resilience through versatile card choices will serve you well when facing this particular Magic card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Reflector Mage is more than just a piece in your MTG deck; it’s a tactical game-changer that can tip the scales in your favor. The ability to bounce and delay opponents’ creatures offers you a unique tempo advantage, setting you up for victory. But integrating this card into your collection is only a piece of the puzzle. Are you ready to harness its full potential? Dive into the strategies that will maximize its impact and discover how to outplay this mage on the battlefield. Begin your journey towards mastering Reflector Mage and refining your deck to take command of the game flow. Your path to a calculated victory starts here.


Cards like Reflector Mage

Reflector Mage stands as an intriguing option for control strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It is often weighed against its peers like Man-o’-War, which similarly returns a creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. Where Reflector Mage excels is in preventing the immediate recasting of the returned creature. This extra clause grants a unique tempo advantage, disrupting opponent strategies with more than just a simple bounce effect.

Another card worth comparing is Voidwielder. It also bounces creatures, but unlike Reflector Mage, it does not hinder recasting. This makes Reflector Mage the superior choice for denying opponents a quick board presence recovery. Additionally, Reflector Mage’s synergy with enter-the-battlefield triggers in decks that capitalize on such effects cannot be overlooked, offering a layer of strategic depth that Voidwielder lacks.

In essence, Reflector Mage finds its niche by combining immediate board impact with a short-term denial mechanism. When critical board states arise, the distinctive ability to not only bounce but delay the replay of an opponent’s threat positions Reflector Mage as a formidable tool in controlling the pace of the game.

Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Voidwielder - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)
Voidwielder - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reflector Mage MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch 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 Reflector Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Reflector Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2022-12-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 1572015normalblackWillian Murai
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14732015normalblackWillian Murai
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 11082015normalborderlessJack Hughes
42020-09-26The ListPLST OGW-1572015normalblackWillian Murai
52022-12-13Explorer Anthology 2EA2 192015normalblackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reflector Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-01-22 If the returned creature had no name while it was on the battlefield (likely because the creature was face down), its owner can still cast face-down creature spells with morph or megamorph, or cast the same card face up, before your next turn.
2016-01-22 In several cases, the name of the creature that was returned won’t match the name of that card once it’s back in its owner’s hand. For example, if the card was copying another creature, it will probably have a different name in its owner’s hand and can be cast again before your next turn. The same is true if a double-faced card with its back face up is returned to its owner’s hand this way.
2016-01-22 Reflector Mage’s ability doesn’t stop any player from playing lands (in the case that the returned creature was also a land).

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