Psychic Miasma MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	76
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Svetlin Velinov

Key Takeaways

Psychic Miasma applies pressure by discarding cards and can disrupt opponent’s hand at instant speed.
It has versatile applications in black control decks and combo-centric strategies that thrive on discard.
Despite its great tactical edge, Miasma’s impact varies based on the opponent’s deck composition.

Text of card

Target player discards a card. If a land card is discarded this way, return Psychic Miasma to its owner's hand.

"A mind may be steeled against madness, but all battlements fall in time." —Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Psychic Miasma forces the opponent to discard a card while you potentially strip them of two if they choose to protect their hand, subtly shifting the balance of resources in your favor during the match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Psychic Miasma does not directly provide mana or tokens, it disrupts your opponent’s resource planning. This hindrance can accelerate your position in the game as your adversary may lose access to crucial mana-fixing or ramp cards.

Instant Speed: The charm of Psychic Miasma lies in its ability to be used at the opportune moment. By casting it at instant speed, you retain the element of surprise and strategic flexibility. You can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn, maximizing your mana efficiency and allowing you to respond more effectively to threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Psychic Miasma mandates that your opponent discards a card, but this effect might be less advantageous against decks that rely on or benefit from graveyard strategies. In such cases, helping your opponent might inadvertently enable their strategy rather than hinder it.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands one black mana, which aligns it with particular deck archetypes. If your deck doesn’t run on black mana, or you’re running a multi-colored deck and are unable to secure black mana at the right time, playing Psychic Miasma could be challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its costing of two mana (one black and one of any color), there are instances where you might find the card to be a bit expensive for the discard effect, considering there are other lower-cost discard options available in the game that could align better with your overall deck strategy.

Reasons to Include Psychic Miasma in Your Collection

Versatility: Psychic Miasma is a card that offers flexibility in black control decks, allowing you to disrupt your opponent’s hand while potentially causing additional discard with a spell mastery condition. It can be easily slotted into various strategies that aim to dismantle an opponent’s resources.

Combo Potential: With decks that capitalize on opponents’ discard, Psychic Miasma serves as a synergistic piece. It pairs well with cards triggering off discarded cards or benefiting from reduced opponent hand size, enhancing such combo strategies significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In game metas that feature heavy reliance on hand and combo strategies, Psychic Miasma can act as a critical preemptive strike. Removing key pieces from opponents’ grip can be pivotal in controlling the pace and outcome of matches.

How to Beat

Psychic Miasma is a unique spell that adds a strategic depth to any Magic: The Gathering matchup. Key to overcoming this card lies in anticipating the hand disruption it causes. Unlike broad-spectrum discard spells, Psychic Miasma targets a single card when cast and has a conditional effect that might result in a land card discard from the graveyard for an additional toll on the hand.

Proactive measures are crucial when confronting this card. Players often safeguard their strategies by maintaining a diverse hand to minimize the impact of any single discard. Cards with flashback or similar abilities that operate from the graveyard can mitigate the adverse effects of Psychic Miasma, turning a potential setback into a strategic advantage.

Adapting plays to be less reliant on individual cards and more on synergistic strategies dilutes Psychic Miasma’s potential disruption. Employing an approach that consistently refills your hand ensures you can recover swiftly from its effect. By playing around with these elements and staying one step ahead, Psychic Miasma’s influence on the game can be effectively neutralized, keeping your deck’s goals within reach.

Cards like Psychic Miasma

Psychic Miasma is an intriguing spell within Magic: The Gathering that offers both a discard mechanic and the potential for life point shaving. Its nearest relative in terms of gameplay is Distress, allowing you to peek into an opponent’s hand and choose a nonland card for them to discard. Unlike Psychic Miasma, Distress does not have the added bite of life point loss if the card is played from the graveyard.

Another close cousin within the MTG universe is Thoughtseize, a more aggressive hand disruption tool that lets you target any nonland card at the low cost of one black mana and two life points. Thoughtseize doesn’t offer Psychic Miasma’s conditional life loss but compensates with its lower casting cost and lack of graveyard restrictions.

And let’s not forget Mind Rot, a staple that forces a straightforward two-card discard with no extras attached. It serves as a sturdier option for pure hand depletion, setting aside Psychic Miasma’s potential for additional strategizing with graveyard play. Balancing cost, effect, and tactical nuance, Psychic Miasma carves out a distinct role in the roster of black disruption spells.

Cards similar to Psychic Miasma by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Psychic Miasma MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Psychic Miasma and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Psychic Miasma has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-01-01	If a land card is discarded this way, Psychic Miasma is returned to its owner’s hand from the stack. It finishes resolving, but it isn’t put into the graveyard.