Mystic Snake MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Snake
Abilities Flash
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by countering a spell while offering board presence.
  2. Instant speed allows flexible disruption of opponent strategies mid-game.
  3. Demands specific mana but is a potent inclusion for control-focused decks.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

You may play Mystic Snake any time you could play an instant. When Mystic Snake comes into play, counter target spell.

Its fangs are in your flesh before its hiss leaves your ears.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mystic Snake offers the unique benefit of not just countering a target spell but also putting a creature on the battlefield. This two-for-one deal means you’re effectively handling an opponent’s threat while developing your board presence, an excellent way to get ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Mystic Snake itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, it contributes to tempo, allowing you to utilize your mana efficiently. By countering a key spell, you can negate your opponent’s play while using your mana to affect the board, which can be a form of indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Mystic Snake’s ability to counter spells at instant speed grants you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at a crucial moment. It can be cast in response to an opponent’s actions, which adds a layer of complexity to your game plan, making it harder for your opponent to predict and play around your potential moves.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mystic Snake does not inherently require discarding, but its controller might be forced to discard if it is the only card in hand and a counterplay is necessary, costing potential later game plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a precise mana arrangement of one green and one blue, plus additional generic mana, making it less versatile for decks not aligned with those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at a total of four mana, including two that are color specific, Mystic Snake’s cost is significant when compared to other counterspells, which could hinder its inclusion in a fast-paced or low-curve deck strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mystic Snake offers a unique blend of creature and counter spell, allowing you to add a solid body to the board while protecting your interests. It’s a fine choice for decks that seek to control the board and capitalize on spell-casting.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that allow you to bounce creatures back to your hand or to the battlefield, Mystic Snake can become a recurring nightmare for opponents, providing repeated denial of their key spells.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with key spells and triggers, having Mystic Snake in your arsenal gives you an edge. It’s a card that remains pertinent as control decks consistently appear in the meta.


How to beat

Confronting Mystic Snake on the battlefield can feel like a daunting challenge. This creature not only presents a respectable body on the field but also carries a powerful counter ability, disrupting your strategies right as you cast them. However, there are several reliable tactics you can employ to overcome this serpentine threat.

First and foremost, baiting out the counter with a less crucial spell can exhaust your opponent’s resources, leaving them vulnerable. Employing instant-speed removal when they’re tapped out ensures the Snake won’t have the chance to coiled its fangs around your game plan. Furthermore, playing around Mystic Snake by holding back key spells until you can deal with it or having backup plans for your important plays will tip the scales in your favor.

Decks with access to uncounterable spells or abilities nullify Mystic Snake’s primary strength. Additionally, leveraging creature abilities that don’t use the stack or implementing a robust hand disruption suite can unravel the reliance on this flash creature. In essence, while Mystic Snake poses a multi-faceted threat, a balanced approach encompassing foresight and alternative strategies can effectively mitigate its impact on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding Mystic Snake’s role in MTG strategy goes beyond the basics of creature summoning and spell countering. As we’ve delved into the card’s pros, cons, and strategic value, it’s clear that this card has a place in decks that prize flexibility and control. Balancing board presence with the ability to counter key spells, Mystic Snake proves invaluable in certain meta environments. Considering how it pairs with other cards for combo potential, it’s a staple for control players looking to maintain momentum. Embrace Mystic Snake’s versatility and ensure your deck is equipped to handle the shifting tides of MTG gameplay. Delve deeper into the tactics and deck builds that can empower Mystic Snake to its full potential by joining us to refine your skills and strategy.


Cards like Mystic Snake

Mystic Snake is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that combines the utility of creature play with the control aspect of counter spells. It’s often compared to cards like Frilled Mystic, which share a similar enter-the-battlefield ability, countering a spell when it’s cast. However, Mystic Snake has an edge with its potential in recursion strategies, as it belongs to the earlier sets and can be utilized in decks geared towards casting creatures from the graveyard.

Looking across the multiverse of MTG, one can find cards like Draining Whelk that also offer a creature-counter combo. Although Draining Whelk has a variable counter effect based on the cost of the countered spell, it comes with a higher mana investment. Another comparable card is Venser, Shaper Savant, which doesn’t counter but returns spells or permanents to the owner’s hand, offering a different type of control that can be more versatile.

In evaluating these alternatives, Mystic Snake holds its ground with a strong balance of immediate board presence and spell disruption. Its synergies particularly shine in decks that can repeatedly leverage its ability, making it a classic and multifaceted choice for players looking for reactive creature options.

Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Venser, Shaper Savant - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Draining Whelk - Time Spiral (TSP)
Venser, Shaper Savant - Future Sight (FUT)

Cards similar to Mystic Snake by color, type and mana cost

Living Airship - MTG Card versions
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - MTG Card versions
Parcelbeast - MTG Card versions
Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Omnibian - MTG Card versions
Grazing Kelpie - MTG Card versions
Swirling Spriggan - MTG Card versions
Jungle Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Horizon Chimera - MTG Card versions
Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - MTG Card versions
Altered Ego - MTG Card versions
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - MTG Card versions
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - MTG Card versions
Sharktocrab - MTG Card versions
Louvaq, the Aberrant - MTG Card versions
Living Airship - Apocalypse (APC)
Adrix and Nev, Twincasters - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Parcelbeast - The List (PLST)
Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Omnibian - Dissension (DIS)
Grazing Kelpie - Eventide (EVE)
Swirling Spriggan - Eventide (EVE)
Jungle Barrier - The List (PLST)
Fathom Mage - Commander Legends (CMR)
Horizon Chimera - Commander 2016 (C16)
Patagia Viper - Commander 2015 (C15)
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Altered Ego - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Master Biomancer - Commander 2021 (C21)
Frilled Mystic - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Sharktocrab - Commander Legends (CMR)
Louvaq, the Aberrant - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 (CMB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mystic Snake MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Mystic Snake and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mystic Snake Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-06-04ApocalypseAPC 1121997normalblackDaren Bader
22006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 971997normalblackDaren Bader
32015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1802015normalblackDaren Bader
42015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2282015normalblackDaren Bader
52018-03-16Masters 25A25 2082015normalblackDaren Bader

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mystic Snake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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