Bewilder MTG Card

Time Spiral (TSP)
2006-10-06 - Number 49

Iconic Masters (IMA)
2017-11-17 - Number 43

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 298

Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
2021-03-19 - Number 53

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number IMA-43

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Bewilder offers card draw and power reduction, enhancing hand size while weakening opponent creatures.
Instant speed and flexibility allow for strategic play, making it a surprise element in combat.
Despite drawbacks like discard requirement and specific mana cost, Bewilder has potent utility.

Text of card

Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn. Draw a card.

"Teferi snapped his fingers, and the viashino started clucking like a chicken. Silly, yes, but exactly the thing we needed to break the stifling tension." —Jhoira, master artificer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bewilder offers a tactical benefit as it causes a target creature to get -3/-0 until end of turn and allows its caster to draw a card, subtly tilting the numbers in favor of the player by enhancing their hand while potentially dampening an opponent’s offensive capabilities.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or tokens, Bewilder can function as a form of indirect resource acceleration by keeping your threats on the board alive longer versus weakened creatures, giving you more time to draw into your deck’s powerful spells and lands.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed gives competitive aficionados the ability to navigate complex board states more efficiently, choosing the optimal moment to reduce an intimidating creature’s power during combat or an opponent’s end step, thereby preserving strategic surprise and maintaining pressure.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bewilder necessitates a card to be discarded upon casting when targeting a creature an opponent controls. This can be a setback when your hand is already depleted or when every card in hand is vital to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a single blue mana, Bewilder’s requirement for color-specific mana can be troublesome for multicolored decks, especially in situations where mana fixing or availability is an issue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, including one blue, there are cards with similar or better effects that come at a lower cost. This puts Bewilder in a tough spot when it comes to optimal deck building, as players often prefer more cost-effective options for their control elements.

Reasons to Include Bewilder in Your Collection

Versatility: Bewilder offers two-fold utility with its ability to disrupt an opponent’s creature while also providing card draw. This can be a boon to decks that aim to outpace the opponent with resources and options.

Combo Potential: As an instant, this card plays well with strategies looking to capitalize on casting spells on the opponent’s turn or in response to actions. It also has potential synergy in decks that reward spell-slinging or draw mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Bewilder serves as an effective tool for tempo plays, allowing you to potentially outmatch opponents by limiting their offensive capabilities and maintaining card advantage.

How to Beat

Bewilder can be a tricky card to tackle in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This instant not only disrupts an opponent’s creature but also allows its caster to draw a card. To overcome this, players need to be strategic. Timing is crucial—cast spells or engage in combat on your terms to minimize the impact of Bewilder on the game.

Maintaining a diverse hand that includes counterspells or hexproof abilities can shield your creatures from Bewilder’s influence. Additionally, spells that can’t be countered, such as those with the “can’t be countered” clause, stand strong against such instant tricks. Emphasizing creatures with built-in resilience or providing your own buffs preemptively can also help fortify your board position against potential Bewildering moves by your adversary.

Ultimately, understanding that Bewilder is a single-use spell with a temporary effect allows you to plan a long-term strategy. Ensuring a well-thought-out deck build and making calculated plays will help keep Bewilder from turning the tide against you in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.

Cards like Bewilder

Bewilder is an interesting utility spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, sitting alongside similar cards like Unsummon in terms of instant disruption abilities. Bewilder not only bounces a creature to its owner’s hand but also allows the caster to draw a card, sweetening the deal. Despite its higher mana cost compared to Unsummon, the card advantage Bewilder provides can be a critical factor in maintaining momentum.

Peek into the blue spell repertoire and you’ll find another comparable option in the form of Drag Under. It too displaces a creature and draws a card, but as a sorcery, it lacks the flexibility of instant timing that Bewilder offers. Additionally, Grip of the Roil serves a related function, unseating a creature and drawing a card, with the added bonus of potentially freezing another target if Spell Mastery is achieved.

In shaping a deck, it’s vital to consider the strategic advantages of spells like Bewilder. Its combination of immediate board impact and card replacement can carve a path to victory. By examining these facets, Bewilder holds its own within the collection of creature-bouncing draw spells in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Bewilder by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bewilder MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Iconic Masters, 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 Bewilder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bewilder Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Ralph Horsley.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2006-10-06	Time Spiral	TSP	49	2003	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley
2	2017-11-17	Iconic Masters	IMA	43	2015	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	298	2015	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	IMA-43	2015	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley
5	2021-03-19	Time Spiral Remastered	TSR	53	2015	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bewilder has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bewilder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.