Perplex MTG Card


Perplex acts as a strategic tool, countering spells or tutoring cards while influencing opponents’ hands. Its demand for specific mana and the discard requirement can impose deckbuilding constraints. Understanding how to play around Perplex is key to mitigating its impact on your strategy.
Perplex - Ravnica: City of Guilds
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Transmute
Released2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameRavnica: City of Guilds
Set codeRAV
Number217
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTsutomu Kawade

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller discards his or her hand. Transmute (, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same converted mana cost as this card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Play only as a sorcery.)


Cards like Perplex

Perplex is a unique card in MTG that offers both a counter and a discard mechanic. A comparable card is Countersquall, which also counters noncreature spells, but it comes with the upside of dealing damage to the opponent. While both cards are cost-efficient and serve a dual function, Perplex allows the player to force their opponent to discard their entire hand if they choose not to pay the three mana, adding a potential psychological edge to gameplay.

Another relative in this category is Remand. This card doesn’t permanently counter a spell but rather sends it back to the casting player’s hand while allowing you to draw a card. It’s immediate and less punishing than Perplex, but it lacks the discard threat that can dismantle an opponent’s plan. Conversely, Diabolic Edict is a forceful discard mechanic but it doesn’t offer the versatility of countering spells, focusing solely on the attrition game.

Thus, Perplex stands out in MTG as a versatile card that can unsettle opponents with the threat of significant disruption to their hand, making it a strategic staple in the decks that can accommodate its color requirements and tactical applications.

Countersquall - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Countersquall - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Perplex by color, type and mana cost

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Sauron's Ransom - MTG Card versions
Essence Vortex - MTG Card versions
Undermine - MTG Card versions
Recoil - MTG Card versions
Forbidden Alchemy - MTG Card versions
Soul Manipulation - MTG Card versions
Psychic Strike - MTG Card versions
Dihada's Ploy - MTG Card versions
Sauron's Ransom - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBRGWUBRG PauperPauper Preliminary 2024-04-16
Mono-Blue ControlMono-Blue Control Legacy2 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - Liga Paulista Legacy

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Perplex presents the possibility of disrupting your opponent’s strategies by countering key spells, while its transmute ability offers you the advantage of searching for a needed card, maintaining a solid grip on the game state.

Resource Acceleration: Though Perplex itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its transmute function serves as a reliable tutor, expediting the acquisition of essential combo pieces or land cards to ensure your mana base is unshakable.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Perplex at instant speed enables you to meticulously time your interventions, countering opponent plays efficiently or choosing the perfect moment to transmute when the coast is clear or your resources are aligned.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing Perplex in your strategy may come at the unwelcome price of card advantage. To cast it, you must be ready to part with another card in hand, which can be a hefty sacrifice, especially in situations where your hand size is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: This tri-colored card demands a precise combination of blue, black, and colorless mana. Aligning your land base to reliably cast Perplex can restrict deckbuilding, potentially limiting its integration to only specific multicolor decks tailored around these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost set at three mana including blue and black, Perplex’s counter ability might appear costly when pitted against other streamlined blue spells that counter for less. Moreover, its alternate function to cause a discard won’t always be the timely solution you need, further questioning its efficiency in a fast-paced game.


Reasons to Include Perplex in Your Collection

Versatility: Perplex is not merely a counter spell; its flexibility allows it to disrupt opponents in multiple ways. It serves either to nullify a crucial play or to force a tough decision regarding hand economy, making it adaptable to a variety of situations.

Combo Potential: As a card with a transmute ability, Perplex can search your deck for any card with the same mana cost, thus enhancing combo strategies by helping you find key pieces at critical moments.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where counter spells and hand disruption are vital for controlling the game, Perplex holds its own. It can be particularly effective in metas filled with decks that rely on specific spells to execute their strategy.


How to beat

In the realm of MTG, Perplex is known for its dual utility as a counter spell and a hand disruption tool. There are efficient strategies to circumvent the card’s disruptive effects. Primarily, it is important to manage your hand effectively, playing around Perplex by holding back on casting spells that are crucial to your game plan until you have enough mana to pay the transmute cost, or to counter Perplex itself. Players should also consider the strategic timing of spell casting, as Perplex can only be cast during the owner’s turn.

Furthermore, baiting out Perplex with less critical spells can exhaust your opponent’s resources, leaving an opening to safely cast more significant spells. Deck building can also play a pivotal role; incorporating cards that can retrieve spells from your graveyard can negate the impact of the discard effect. Lastly, keep up the pressure with low-cost spells, potentially overwhelming the Perplex user’s ability to respond to multiple threats across the course of a turn.

Leveraging these tactics not only helps you to maintain the rhythm of your gameplay but also ensures that when facing Perplex, you’re well-prepared to navigate around it and secure your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the finesse of Perplex in MTG is key to both employing it effectively in your deck and countering its multidimensional threat. Given its ability to counter spells or become a targeted tutor for your deck, mastering Perplex provides a noticeable edge. Supporting your game with versatile cards like Perplex can be your avenue to achieving greater strategic depth and resilience in play. Enhance your MTG experience by perfecting your deck’s dynamic and gaining insights into card interactions that dictate the flow of a match. Ready to delve deeper into the tactical applications of Perplex? Join the community of seasoned players and enrich your strategic toolkit today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Perplex MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Perplex and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Perplex has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2005-10-01 If the spell’s controller has no cards in their hand, that player can still choose to discard their hand and prevent the spell from being countered.