Master Decoy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Master Decoy offers battlefield control, tapping threats to advantageously shape the game’s flow.
  2. It demands strategic mana allocation, potentially restricting its use in diverse-color decks.
  3. Despite certain limitations, Master Decoy’s versatility makes it a resilient defensive option.

Text of card

o W, oc T: Tap target creature.

"A skilled decoy can throw your enemies off your trail. A master decoy can survive to do it again." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Master Decoy’s tapping ability can indirectly contribute to card advantage by neutralizing key threats from your opponent without expending additional cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Master Decoy can prolong the game, allowing players to reach critical mana thresholds to deploy game-changing spells.

Instant Speed: The utility of Master Decoy shines at instant speed, enabling you to react to opponents’ attacks and strategically decide when to neutralize their creatures, keeping you in control of the pace.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Master Decoy doesn’t directly require discarding cards, but its tap ability can make it harder to maintain card advantage, especially if you’re forced to keep it untapped to deter attacks.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two specific white mana in its casting cost, the Master Decoy can be challenging to cast on curve in multicolored decks that are not heavily white-based.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a 1/2 creature, the two mana investment can be steep considering other creatures in the same cost range could offer greater offensive or defensive capabilities without needing to be manually activated.


Reasons to Include Master Decoy in Your Collection

Versatility: Master Decoy is a flexible tool in your MTG arsenal, adept at controlling the battlefield by tapping potential threats. Its capacity to fit into various deck themes, especially ones that prioritize defensive tactics, makes it a sleeper hit for your collection.

Combo Potential: When paired with equipment or auras that enhance its survivability, Master Decoy’s repeating tap ability can become the cornerstone of a lockdown strategy, disrupting your opponent’s offense and setting up favorable conditions for your victory.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to consistently neutralize key creatures, Master Decoy remains relevant in metas crowded with aggressive creatures. It can be a simple yet effective solution against decks that rely on combat to secure a win, underscoring its enduring utility in versatile defensive strategies.


How to beat

Master Decoy, a clever card in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, presents an interesting tactical challenge. As a utility creature, it can consistently tap an opponent’s creature, thereby ensuring that your paths to victory remain clear. To outmaneuver this pesky card, one needs to adopt an effective strategy.

Consider using removal spells that can bypass its ability such as Murder or Doom Blade, efficiently dispatching the Decoy before it becomes a nuisance. Alternatively, mass removal spells like Wrath of God clear the board, including creatures like Master Decoy that hide behind their abilities. If the strategy leans more towards control, counterspells can preemptively keep the Decoy from hitting the battlefield altogether.

Lastly, one should not underestimate the power of instant speed interaction. Being able to act on your opponent’s turn can disrupt their plans, and in the case of Master Decoy, using a spell like Lightning Bolt in response to its activation can eliminate the threat before it affects the board state. Master Decoy can be a roadblock, but with the right spells and timing, one can navigate past it towards victory.


Cards like Master Decoy

Master Decoy stands out in its role as a defensive creature within the expansive library of Magic: The Gathering cards. It draws parallels with cards such as Veteran Armorer, which also provides a defensive advantage with its ability to boost the toughness of your other creatures. Master Decoy, however, offers direct control over the battlefield, giving you the power to tap an attacking or blocking creature, which can be pivotal at crucial moments during a match.

Examining further, Gideon’s Lawkeeper is another close relative in terms of functionality. Both cards share the same tapping ability, yet Gideon’s Lawkeeper demands less mana for its activation allowing for more flexibility in your plays. Conversely, Master Decoy requires additional mana but boasts a sturdier body on the battlefield. Then there is Blinding Mage, which showcases a similar tapping ability, but unlike Master Decoy, it can be used multiple times in a single turn if enough mana is available, potentially locking down an opponent’s key creature.

Overall, while analyzing various cards with similar abilities, Master Decoy remains a competitive option for control strategies, especially for players seeking a balance between utility and board presence in their deck’s creature lineup.

Veteran Armorer - MTG Card versions
Gideon's Lawkeeper - MTG Card versions
Blinding Mage - MTG Card versions
Veteran Armorer - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Gideon's Lawkeeper - Magic 2012 (M12)
Blinding Mage - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Master Decoy by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
Revered Dead - MTG Card versions
Starlight Invoker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Urza's Saga (USG)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Revered Dead - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Starlight Invoker - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Master Decoy MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Master Decoy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Master Decoy Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 291997normalblackPhil Foglio
21999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 441997normalwhitePhil Foglio
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 292003normalwhiteBen Thompson
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 29★2003normalblackBen Thompson
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 272003normalwhiteBen Thompson
62005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 27★2003normalblackBen Thompson
72014-09-05Duel Decks: Speed vs. CunningDDN 502015normalblackBen Thompson
82015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 182015normalblackPhil Foglio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Master Decoy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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