Mystical Dispute MTG Card


Mystical Dispute - Throne of Eldraine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2019-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameThrone of Eldraine
Set codeELD
Number58
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byEkaterina Burmak

Key Takeaways

  1. Advantageous against blue spells with its cost reduction, enhancing mana efficiency and strategic depth.
  2. Offers instant speed flexibility, critical for real-time responses and maintaining control.
  3. Limited to decks with blue mana, which may affect deck-building choices and in-game utility.

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast if it targets a blue spell. Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

"Poor, lost mage. Your feet are on land, yet you're in over your head, aren't you?"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mystical Dispute offers a strategic edge in blue-centric matchups, allowing you to counter target spells unless their caster pays an additional cost, potentially disrupting their plays and swinging the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This spell’s mana efficiency is a key benefit. At a reduced cost against blue spells, it accelerates your resource allocation, setting up for a powerful follow-up or leaving mana open for further interaction.

Instant Speed: The real power of Mystical Dispute lies in its instant speed, enabling on-the-fly reactions to opponents’ threats. This flexibility allows for adept maneuvering during the heat of battle, making it a formidable tool for maintaining control.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Mystical Dispute can be a powerful counter in Magic the Gathering, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. One major disadvantage is its requirement for casting with a particular mana setup – if you’re aiming for the reduced cost against a blue spell, you’ll need to have the right mana available. Otherwise, you’ll be paying full price.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Mystical Dispute at its lower cost strictly requires blue mana. This can limit its potential as a sideboard card primarily to decks that run blue. Players not using blue as part of their deck’s color scheme will find it difficult to incorporate Mystical Dispute effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When not targeting a blue spell, the three mana cost can be a little steep. Players must evaluate whether the mana investment is worth it, particularly in fast-paced matches where mana efficiency is key. Alternative counter spells might offer a more economical solution for stopping non-blue spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mystical Dispute can be seamlessly incorporated into various decks that are looking for efficient ways to deal with opponents’ spells. Its lower casting cost when targeting a blue spell makes it a flexible option for any stage of the game.

Combo Potential: As a cheap instant, Mystical Dispute can work well with other cards in your deck that aim to counter or capitalize on the control you maintain during the game. It helps to disrupt opponents’ strategies while keeping up your pace.

Meta-Relevance: Given the presence of powerful blue spells in many competitive formats, Mystical Dispute stands out as a relevant and strategic card to have on hand. Its impact on gameplay and ability to swing the momentum can be crucial in high-stakes matches.


How to beat

Mystical Dispute is known for its efficiency in the realm of counter spells within Magic: The Gathering. Its true strength lies in its mana cost flexibility against blue spells. When pitted against a non-blue spell, Mystical Dispute requires three mana, akin to the classic counter spell, Cancel. However, its cost drops significantly when confronting a blue spell – demanding only a single blue mana.

Countering this card can be as strategic as understanding your opponent’s mana availability. This is especially true in formats like Standard or Historic, where mana efficiency can swing the game. To effectively navigate around Mystical Dispute, consider baiting it out with less critical spells, or play your impactful non-blue spells when your opponent may lack the resources to pay its full cost. Playing around the card by keeping track of your opponent’s open blue mana can sometimes be enough to mitigate the threat of a crippling counter.

Observing and exploiting Mystical Dispute’s conditional cost reduction is key. By forcing your adversary to utilize more mana than they would prefer or by carefully timing your plays, you can diminish the impact of this formidable card and maintain the momentum of your game strategy.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we’ve seen, Mystical Dispute can be a game-changer, offering nuanced control in MTG matches. Its ability to disrupt opponents at instant speed makes it a must-have for players who aim to dominate in blue-centric metagames. While it excels in blue spell confrontations, smart mana management ensures it remains effective against any color. Incorporating Mystical Dispute into your deck can provide a competitive edge, enhancing your strategic capabilities. Keen to refine your deck-building skills and optimize your counterspell strategy? Discover further insights and strategies with us to turn the tides of your MTG battles.


Cards like Mystical Dispute

Mystical Dispute adds depth to the suite of counterspells in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. It draws close comparison to Mana Leak, another staple in blue’s counter magic lineup. Both demand that the opponent pays additional mana to resolve their spell. Yet, Mystical Dispute offers a strategic edge in matchups by specifically targeting blue spells for a lower mana cost, making it especially potent in blue-heavy metagames.

In relation to Spell Pierce, the focus shifts slightly. Spell Pierce is a more cost-effective option, requiring only one mana. However, it limits its disruption to noncreature spells, whereas Mystical Dispute can tackle any type, provided you’re prepared to invest a little more mana in nonblue conflicts. Negate also joins the fray, allowing players to counter noncreature spells without discrimination for a fixed two mana cost. What Mystical Dispute loses in universality, it gains in versatility against blue spells.

Evaluating each card’s unique advantages is key to mastering control decks in Magic: The Gathering. Mystical Dispute’s ability shines against blue opponents, offering a strategic edge and reinforcing its place among the preferred counterspells in current metagames.

Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Spell Pierce - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Spell Pierce - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mystical Dispute by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Dissipate - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Dissipate - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mystical Dispute MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Mystical Dispute and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mystical Dispute has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks