Callous Deceiver MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Released | 2004-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Champions of Kamigawa |
| Set code | CHK |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 53 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kensuke Okabayashi |
Key Takeaways
- Peeking at your library with Callous Deceiver aids informed decision-making and can improve card draws.
- Activating its abilities to increase power can accelerate your offensive strategy efficiently.
- Requires blue mana and discard, potentially limiting its flexibility and integration in decks.
Text of card
: Look at the top card of your library. : Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land, Callous Deceiver gets +1/+0 and gains flying until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Callous Deceiver provides strategic depth by letting you peek at the top card of your library, allowing you to make informed decisions and potentially draw into more powerful cards.
Resource Acceleration: By paying a small amount of mana, this card can increase its own power, enabling you to expedite the pressure on your opponent by turning it into a more formidable creature quickly.
Instant Speed: While Callous Deceiver itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to check the top card of your library at any time offers an instant-speed-like tactical advantage, giving you the flexibility to adapt your strategy on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Callous Deceiver’s gameplay becomes tricky when you’re clinging onto each card in your hand. Needing to discard other cards to activate its abilities could set you back if you’re in need of maintaining card advantage throughout the match.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring blue mana narrows down this card’s versatility, making it a less flexible option in decks that are not focused on that color. This may discourage players from integrating it into a multicolored strategy or those that prefer a more color-fluid deck build.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Callous Deceiver’s mana cost isn’t the steepest, it does compete with other cards in its mana range that boast more impactful abilities. This means it might not find a spot in competitive play where every mana point counts and efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Callous Deceiver offers adaptability in decks looking to manipulate the top card of the library. Its ability to influence potential draws makes it a wise choice for strategies emphasizing library control.
Combo Potential: This card’s synergy with cards that care about the top deck order, such as ways to reveal or play the top card, makes it a fine component in combos centered around deck manipulation.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where prediction and setting up the right card at the right time are crucial, Callous Deceiver can become a tactical asset. Its low mana cost and the ability to check the top card of your deck make it suitable for decks looking to maintain control and consistency.
How to beat
Callous Deceiver, a characteristically elusive creature card in Magic: The Gathering, has a trick up its sleeve for changing its power level. Its unique ability allows a player to look at the top card of their library and it gains power based on the card type revealed. This can lead to surprising shifts in power that can catch an opponent off guard, but there are several ways to handle this shapeshifter.
Having removal spells ready is a sound strategy. Instants like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can dispose of it regardless of its power at the time. Counterspells such as Cancel are also effective because they prevent the Deceiver from entering the battlefield altogether. Alternatively, employing creatures with power and toughness that are not easily impacted by the Deceiver’s fluctuating strength can maintain a solid defense. Cards with deathtouch, like Typhoid Rats, can also be a deterrent, as they can take down the Deceiver irrespective of its power increase.
Ultimately, preparedness and adaptability are key when facing Callous Deceiver. By understanding its strengths and employing versatile responses, players can mitigate the impact of this crafty creature and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Callous Deceiver
Callous Deceiver remains a unique figure in the realm of creature cards in MTG. This card bears similarities to creatures like Llanowar Augur or Norwood Ranger, which also have abilities that enhance their stats. Yet, Callous Deceiver differentiates itself with its capacity to affect its power level for a specific turn. Unlike its counterparts, it does not permanently change its stats or demand a sacrifice for a temporary boost.
The nuanced skill of Callous Deceiver allows a player to manipulate the top deck, which can be advantageous when setting up for future draws. In comparison, creatures like Augur of Bolas or Sea Gate Oracle provide a level of deck manipulation, but their focus is on filtering or card advantage instead of instantaneous power increase. Furthermore, the Callous Deceiver’s versatility in either offense or defense adds layers of strategic depth to the gameplay, which is not commonly found in similar-cost creatures.
Ultimately, when considering the depth of strategy and adaptability, Callous Deceiver has its niche, offering players a way to leverage information and resources with its unique power-twisting ability, making it an interesting piece in the intricate game of MTG.
Cards similar to Callous Deceiver by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Callous Deceiver MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Callous Deceiver and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Callous Deceiver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |