Thoughtrender Lamia MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 6 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Enchantment Creature — Lamia |
Abilities | Constellation |
Released | 2014-05-02 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Journey into Nyx |
Set code | JOU |
Power | 5 |
Toughness | 3 |
Number | 85 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Magali Villeneuve |
Text of card
Constellation — Whenever Thoughtrender Lamia or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent discards a card.
Some predators can sense fear in their prey, but the lamia is drawn to madness.
Cards like Thoughtrender Lamia
Thoughtrender Lamia stands out in the realm of enchantment creatures in MTG. It shares certain aspects with cards like Hypnotic Specter, in that it impacts the opponent’s hand with each attack. However, What makes Thoughtrender Lamia unique is its all-encompassing ability to force a discard at each one of your upkeeps, provided you have an enchantment spell to cast which aligns well with enchantment-heavy decks.
Another similar card, Liliana’s Specter, offers a similar discard effect upon entering the battlefield. While Liliana’s Specter is less expensive to cast, Thoughtrender Lamia’s consistent effect can prove more disruptive over time. Conversely, we have Cunning Lethemancer, supplying a symmetrical discard effect during your upkeep – a broader approach that affects all players but lacks the enchantment synergy that Thoughtrender Lamia provides.
Ultimately, Thoughtrender Lamia’s enchantment-based strategy gives it a niche role in decks designed around such synergies, and it remains a powerful tool for resource denial in comparison to other singular discard-enabling cards in the game.
Cards similar to Thoughtrender Lamia by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thoughtrender Lamia ensures ongoing card depletion for your opponent each upkeep, leading to a significant disparity in hand size over time. This steady erosion of your opponent’s resources ensures you maintain the upper hand in the duel, giving you a tactical edge.
Resource Acceleration: While Thoughtrender Lamia does not directly accelerate resources, its synergy with enchantment-focused decks can pave the way for other accelerants. Additionally, by depleting an opponent’s hand, you indirectly accelerate your own resource dominance by comparison.
Instant Speed: Thoughtrender Lamia’s impact begins at the slower pace of your upkeep, thus not at instant speed. However, its influence persists across each turn, setting a rhythm that dictates the pace of the game. It slots well into decks that can afford to wait, gaining value incrementally while operating with instant speed removal or countermagic elsewhere in your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When Thoughtrender Lamia enters the battlefield, its inspired ability forces each opponent to discard a card whenever it becomes untapped. This can be less impactful in games where opponents have already dwindled their hands, reducing the effectiveness of the discard trigger.
Specific Mana Cost: Thoughtrender Lamia comes with a specific mana cost that includes both black and other colors. This composition can be challenging to manage in multicolored decks or for players who strive to keep their mana base consistent.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, this places Thoughtrender Lamia in a higher mana bracket which could slow down your game, especially when faster, low-costing creatures or spells could be played instead to maintain tempo.
Reasons to Include Thoughtrender Lamia in Your Collection
Versatility: Thoughtrender Lamia can slide into various deck types, especially those leveraging graveyard mechanics or playing with discard strategies. Its ability to enforce a discard at every upkeep makes it a universal fit for control or reanimator decks.
Combo Potential: In decks focused on enchantments or maintaining a strong board presence, this card synergizes well by continually diminishing your opponent’s resources. It can be a key piece in lock-down combinations, removing answers from your opponent’s hand before they can be used.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely on a full grip of cards to execute their strategy, Thoughtrender Lamia shines. In a meta with combo-heavy or control-oriented decks, the consistent discard pressure can tilt matches in your favor, disrupting your opponent’s tactics each turn.
How to beat
Thoughtrender Lamia presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to force opponents to discard cards whenever you cast an enchantment. Its combination of enchantment synergy and discard effects can be overwhelming for unprepared adversaries. Tackling this problem head-on calls for disruption of your opponent’s hand and board strategy.
In dealing with Thoughtrender Lamia, it’s critical to manage enchantments effectively. Cards like Back to Nature, which can destroy all enchantments, swiftly neutralize the advantage Lamia looks to exploit. For individual removal, consider spells like Oblivion Ring, giving you a tool to temporarily exile the Lamia or other problematic enchantments. Additionally, having instant speed removal, such as Hero’s Downfall or Murder, can be pivotal in removing the Lamia before its ability triggers.
Moreover, countering the card before it hits the table with counterspells like Counterspell or Negate limits its impact. Preventive measures include hand disruption tools to remove it from your opponent’s hand before they have the chance to cast it, utilizing cards like Thoughtseize or Duress. Combining proactive and reactive strategies will optimize your game plan against Thoughtrender Lamia’s unique discard mechanics.
BurnMana Recommendations
Optimizing your MTG deck with strategic card choices can be the difference between victory and defeat. Thoughtrender Lamia, with its enchantment synergy and consistent discard ability, serves as a formidable tool for controlling the pace of the game and depleting your opponent’s resources. Balancing its higher mana cost with the advantages of its disruptive power is key. Whether you’re looking to stifle your rivals in a control deck or seeking cards that complement your enchantment-centric strategies, further exploration of Thoughtrender Lamia’s potential is worth your while. Join us to delve deeper into building a stronger deck around this potent card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thoughtrender Lamia MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Thoughtrender Lamia and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thoughtrender Lamia has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thoughtrender Lamia card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2014-04-26 | A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger. |
2014-04-26 | An Aura spell without bestow that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve won't resolve and will be put into its owner's graveyard. It won't enter the battlefield and constellation abilities won't trigger. An Aura spell with bestow won't be countered this way. It will revert to being an enchantment creature and resolve, entering the battlefield and triggering constellation abilities. |
2014-04-26 | When an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each constellation ability of permanents you control will trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves. |