Meletis Charlatan MTG Card


Meletis Charlatan - Theros
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Released2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set nameTheros
Set codeTHS
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number54
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJason A. Engle

Key Takeaways

  1. Meletis Charlatan enhances play by doubling spells, offering a significant card advantage without extra cost.
  2. Requires careful mana management and a full hand to fully harness its potential, challenging player resourcefulness.
  3. Though powerful, it faces competition from other three-mana cards and can be neutralized by strategic play.

Text of card

, : The controller of target instant or sorcery spell copies it. That player may choose new targets for the copy.

"Every object has an echo in the Æther beyond the world. Every idea has a shadow that can be brought to light."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Meletis Charlatan possesses the ability to copy instant or sorcery spells, effectively doubling your spell output without expending additional cards from your hand. This not only balances your hand against opponents but may create overwhelming advantages as you execute powerful spells more than once.

Resource Acceleration: By duplicating mana-intensive spells, Meletis Charlatan aids in maximizing your available resources. You’re effectively using the resources spent on the original spell to fuel the copy, stretching your mana and card resources further in the course of a game.

Instant Speed: Even though Meletis Charlatan features an activated ability rather than an instant, it is pivotal in strategies revolving around instant speed interaction. Since the ability can be activated at any time you could pay its cost, it allows you to react to your opponent’s moves on their turn, providing flexibility and surprise elements to disrupt their strategy effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Meletis Charlatan’s abilities don’t directly involve discarding, but using it effectively often requires a well-stocked hand to maximize the value of copied spells. A dwindling hand can render the Charlatan’s talents underwhelming.

Specific Mana Cost: This character’s ability demands a specific mana allocation, not just in color but in the combination of blue and generic mana. This can be restrictive, as it compels players to maintain a certain mana base, limiting deck variability and making it less flexible in multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana to cast, including two blue, Meletis Charlatan sits at a point on the mana curve where players expect impactful plays. While the potential for duplicating spells is intriguing, the initial mana investment and ongoing costs for its ability can compete with more directly influential cards at similar mana points.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Meletis Charlatan offers dynamic play across various strategies due to its ability to copy instant or sorcery spells for a minor investment. This lets it adapt and find a place in decks that thrive on spell-slinging versatility.

Combo Potential: With this card, you can double up on high-impact spells within the same turn, leading to potent combinations with spells that have powerful effects. This can escalate quickly, tipping the scales in your favor during critical moments of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where spell-based combos or control decks prevail, Meletis Charlatan ensures that your key spells yield double the value and impact, keeping you competitive and often ahead of the curve.


How to beat

Meletis Charlatan is a unique creature in the vast array of cards available to Magic: The Gathering players. Known for its ability to copy instant or sorcery spells, it’s a formidable asset for any player looking to leverage strategy and cunning. However, it does have its vulnerabilities that can be exploited. One effective tactic to overcome Meletis Charlatan is to prioritize the removal of this creature from the battlefield. Utilizing spells that can dispatch it before its ability is triggered is crucial. Cards that can bypass its potential defenses or target it directly, such as Murder or Path to Exile, are excellent choices.

Another method is to limit the number of viable targets for the Charlatan. By crafting a deck that operates with fewer instants and sorceries, or ones with less impactful effects when copied, you can mitigate the Charlatan’s influence on the game. Playing around the Charlatan involves strategic planning and keeping a close eye on your opponent’s mana pool, as this will signal when they’re able to activate its ability. By considering these strategies, players can navigate around the tricks of Meletis Charlatan and secure their position in the game.


Cards like Meletis Charlatan

Meletis Charlatan is a unique card from the rich tapestry of Magic: The Gathering. It shares conceptual space with cards like Naru Meha, Master Wizard. Both creatures have abilities that manipulate spells, but whereas Naru Meha can copy an instant or sorcery when it comes into play, Meletis Charlatan requires two mana and a tap to duplicate any instant or sorcery on demand.

Another card that echoes the Charlatan’s ability is Dualcaster Mage, which also copies instant or sorcery spells. However, the Mage’s effect is a one-time deal linked to its arrival on the battlefield. The Charlatan, contrastingly, can repeatedly copy spells as long as you can pay the cost and keep it untapped. Echo Mage is a card with a similar idea, able to copy spells multiple times, but it requires a significant investment in its level up mechanic to reach its full potential.

Assessing these comparisons shows that while Meletis Charlatan isn’t the only card with a copy ability in Magic: The Gathering, its ability to continually leverage the power of other spells provides ongoing strategic advantages, situating it as a valuable asset for spell-focused decks.

Naru Meha, Master Wizard - MTG Card versions
Dualcaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Echo Mage - MTG Card versions
Naru Meha, Master Wizard - MTG Card versions
Dualcaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Echo Mage - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Meletis Charlatan MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Meletis Charlatan and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Meletis Charlatan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-09-15 If the spell being copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast (like Curse of the Swine has), the copy has the same value of X.
2013-09-15 If the spell being copied is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode. Its controller can't choose a different one.
2013-09-15 Meletis Charlatan's ability can target any instant or sorcery spell, not just one with targets and not just one that you control.
2013-09-15 The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless its controller chooses new ones. That player may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, that player can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
2013-09-15 When the ability resolves, it creates a copy of the spell. The controller of the original spell controls the copy. That copy is created on the stack, so it's not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger. The copy will then resolve like a normal spell, after players get a chance to cast spells and activate abilities.

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