Hypnotic Cloud MTG Card

Invasion (INV)
2000-10-02 - Number 109

Hypnotic Cloud - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)

Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
2014-03-14 - Number 67

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Kicker

Key Takeaways

Strategically diminish opponents’ options, potentially controlling the game’s outcome with timely discards.
Leverages instant speed for flexible responses, crucial in disrupting opponents during draw or play phases.
Restrictive casting cost and discard requirement can hinder its play, yet its benefits often outweigh the cost.

Text of card

Kicker o4 (You may pay an additional o4 as you play this spell.) Target player discards a card from his or her hand. If you paid the kicker cost, that player discards three cards from his or her hand instead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hypnotic Cloud enables players to disrupt opponent’s hand while setting up their own strategy, effectively swinging the game in their favor. By causing opponents to discard, you can diminish their options and increase your chances of controlling the match.

Resource Acceleration: Though Hypnotic Cloud doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it indirectly aids in establishing board superiority by removing potential threats or key cards from your opponent’s hand. This creates smoother turns ahead as you face fewer obstacles, paving the way for faster, more decisive plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Hypnotic Cloud at instant speed provides a strategic edge, allowing you to respond with flexibility during the game. This can be particularly advantageous during the opponent’s draw phase or after they have drawn additional cards, potentially discarding their newly gained resources before they have a chance to use them.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hypnotic Cloud necessitates discarding a card as part of its casting cost. This can create a significant disadvantage, particularly in game situations where your hand is already depleted or when every card counts towards your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires both black and generic mana, making it a card that fits primarily into decks that run on black mana sources. This criteria can restrict the versatility of the card, especially in multi-colored decks where the black mana might not be as readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to play Hypnotic Cloud might overshadow its benefits. Given the card’s effect of causing an opponent to discard cards, there are instances where less expensive alternatives might achieve a similar outcome or where the mana could be better spent on more impactful plays.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hypnotic Cloud offers flexibility as both an early game disruption and a late game finisher when enhanced with its kicker cost. It can be a strategic addition to decks that aim to control the opponent’s hand and dictate the pace of the game.

Combo Potential: As a card that influences an opponent’s hand, Hypnotic Cloud can synchronize with strategies that benefit from opponents’ discarded cards, enabling combinations with graveyard manipulation or punisher mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In environments rich with combo or control decks, the ability to preemptively strip key pieces from an opponent’s hand makes Hypnotic Cloud a relevant sideboard card that can tip the balance in your favor.

How to beat

Hypnotic Cloud presents itself as a challenging disruption tool for any opponent in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to compel a player to discard cards can unsettle even the most balanced of hands. However, like every card, there are strategies to lessen its impact on your game. An efficient approach is to prioritize playing your most valuable cards early, minimizing the advantage your opponent can gain from Hypnotic Cloud’s effect.

Another tactic is to employ cards that benefit from being in the graveyard, thus turning a potential setback into an advantage. This can be frustrating for the player relying on Hypnotic Cloud to upset their opponent’s strategy. Additionally, cards that allow you to draw or retrieve cards from your graveyard can help recover from the disruption caused by Hypnotic Cloud, maintaining your hand size and preserving your strategic options.

Counterspells also play a critical role when guarding against Hypnotic Cloud. A timely counterspell can negate the effect entirely, keeping your hand intact. Ultimately, by remaining nimble and adopting a strategy that mitigates the potential card disadvantage, you can effectively outplay the disruption caused by Hypnotic Cloud and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Hypnotic Cloud

Hypnotic Cloud is an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering, blending elements of discard and disruption. It aligns with cards like Mind Rot, which also forces the opponent to discard two cards. Nevertheless, Hypnotic Cloud offers flexibility with its kicker cost that, when paid, allows you to target an additional opponent, making it potentially more impactful in multiplayer games.

Another card worth mentioning is Delirium Skeins, which indiscriminately makes each player discard three cards. While more powerful in effect, it doesn’t have the selective advantage of Hypnotic Cloud. Conversely, Hymn to Tourach, renowned for its randomness in making opponents discard two, can sometimes hit more critical alternatives out of the opponent’s hand than the predictable selections due to Hypnotic Cloud’s transparency.

In weighing the pros and cons of similar MTG cards, Hypnotic Cloud holds its ground due to its customizable nature. Its ability to control games in both duel and group formats gives it a niche appeal that players looking for tailored discard strategies might find very useful.

Cards similar to Hypnotic Cloud by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hypnotic Cloud MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Hypnotic Cloud and other MTG cards: