Esper Charm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Esper Charm’s instant speed and drawing ability provide significant card advantage in fast-paced games.
  2. With mana-specific casting requirements, Esper Charm demands strategic deck construction for optimal use.
  3. Its multifaceted nature makes Esper Charm a tactical asset in control-focused competitive decks.

Text of card

Choose one Destroy target enchantment; or draw two cards; or target player discards two cards.

"Thoughts are commodities. Someone will pay a good price for them. Even ones as simplistic as yours . . ." —Ennor, mentalist


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Esper Charm shines by giving players the edge with its versatile card advantage ability. Drawing two cards at instant speed can be pivotal in replenishing your hand, setting you up for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana, Esper Charm’s flexibility contributes to resource acceleration by efficiently handling your opponent’s threats or resources. This multitasking tool keeps you ahead of the game.

Instant Speed: The power of Esper Charm is vastly increased due to its instant speed. This characteristic empowers you to adapt to the board state, disrupt opponent strategies during their turn, and keep your options open as the game unfolds.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the modes of Esper Charm requires the user to discard two cards, making it potentially disadvantageous in scenarios where hand size is critical to maintaining control.

Specific Mana Cost: Esper Charm demands a precise combination of white, blue, and black mana to cast, which might be challenging for decks that don’t consistently produce the right colors or are prone to mana disruption.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Esper Charm’s versatility can be a boon, its three-mana cost is significant. There are alternatives that might require less mana for each ability, allowing players to keep up with the pace of the game more effectively.


Reasons to Include Esper Charm in Your Collection

Versatility: Esper Charm stands out as a multifaceted tool capable of adapting to numerous situations on the battlefield. With options to draw cards, destroy an opponent’s enchantments, or force a discard, it’s suited for nearly any game phase, granting a noteworthy tactical advantage.

Combo Potential: Esper Charm’s flexibility is also its strength in combo setups. Forcing a discard before an opponent’s draw phase can disrupt plans, while enriching your own hand supports combo execution. Additionally, being an instant, it synergizes with strategies focused on casting during an opponent’s turn or utilizing spell-based triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control is king, Esper Charm thrives. The ability to dismantle critical enchantments or upkeep-discard can swing games in your favor. With control elements shaping the competitive scene, incorporating Esper Charm into your deck ensures you have answers and options that align well with current trends.


How to beat Esper Charm

Esper Charm stands out as a versatile tool in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, offering players options to draw cards, destroy an enchantment, or force an opponent to discard. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to consider the timing of its multiple abilities. Denying resources through discard can be mitigated by maintaining hand advantage or utilizing cards that benefit from being in the graveyard. When facing the enchantment destruction option, prioritize less vital enchantments or employ hexproof abilities to protect key pieces.

A robust strategy against Esper Charm involves proactive measures. Keeping your hand well-stocked, either through card draw of your own or spells that allow you to play with the top card of your library revealed, can nullify the discard effect. Additionally, having a response with instant-speed enchantment protection or counterspells like Negate can neutralize Esper Charm’s impact. Lastly, understanding the metagame and predicting when your opponent is likely to play Esper Charm will empower you to hold back key spells or play around its discard effect, ensuring that your game plan continues uninterrupted.

Ultimately, beating Esper Charm requires a blend of strategic resource management, timing, and reactive measures. By assessing the game state and making informed decisions, players can mitigate the charm’s potential disruptions and maintain control of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Esper Charm stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of MTG, demonstrating how a single card’s flexibility can greatly influence the tide of any match. With its balanced mix of utility and power, it’s no surprise that many players consider it an indispensable component in their decks. Whether you’re fortifying your collection, seeking refined strategies, or looking to maintain an edge in a meta dominated by control, Esper Charm deserves attention. We invite you to dive deeper into the art of deck-building and strategic gameplay with us. Discover comprehensive guides, expert insights, and tips to harness the full potential of Esper Charm and other pivotal cards in your arsenal—let’s advance your MTG acumen together.


Cards like Esper Charm

Esper Charm stands out in the realm of multi-purpose spells in MTG. It’s akin to cards like Abzan Charm, which also offers three distinct modes to choose from. Yet, Esper Charm is unique in its ability to target and disrupt an opponent’s hand by making them discard two cards. Unlike Abzan Charm, which leans more towards creature utility and bolstering, Esper Charm prioritizes control and card advantage. It’s this versatility that allows players to adapt to multiple situations, much like its counterpart, Crosis’s Charm, which provides different, but equally versatile options. However, Crosis’s Charm doesn’t include the straightforward card-drawing ability that makes Esper Charm a consistent choice for replenishing one’s hand.

Additionally, the charm shares similarities with cards like Kolaghan’s Command, another instant with a choice of impactful effects. Although Kolaghan’s Command does not offer card draw, it compensates with its potential for creature recursion and direct damage. Balancing comparison of costs, effects, and strategic flexibility is key to understanding Esper Charm’s valued placement among its peers, solidifying its role as a multifaceted tool in any MTG player’s arsenal.

Abzan Charm - MTG Card versions
Crosis's Charm - MTG Card versions
Kolaghan's Command - MTG Card versions
Abzan Charm - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Crosis's Charm - Planeshift (PLS)
Kolaghan's Command - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Cards similar to Esper Charm by color, type and mana cost

Dromar's Charm - MTG Card versions
Resounding Wave - MTG Card versions
Obscura Charm - MTG Card versions
Void Rend - MTG Card versions
Dromar's Charm - Commander 2013 (C13)
Resounding Wave - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Obscura Charm - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)
Void Rend - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Esper Charm MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Commander 2018, 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 Esper Charm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Esper Charm Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Michael Bruinsma.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 1672003normalblackMichael Bruinsma
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1792015normalblackMichael Bruinsma
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14212015normalblackMichael Bruinsma
42020-09-26The ListPLST C18-1792015normalblackMichael Bruinsma

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Esper Charm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-10-01 If this spell is copied, the copy will have the same mode as the original.
2008-10-01 While the spell is on the stack, treat it as though its only text is the chosen mode. The other two modes are treated as though they don’t exist. You don’t choose targets for those modes.
2008-10-01 You can choose a mode only if you can choose legal targets for that mode. If you can’t choose legal targets for any of the modes, you can’t cast the spell.

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