Mask of the Mimic MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set name	Stronghold
Set code	STH
Number	37
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Heather Hudson

Key Takeaways

Mask of the Mimic grants card advantage by deck thinning and timely creature swaps.
Requires careful use due to the sacrifice of a creature and specific mana needs.
With combo potential and meta relevance, it’s a powerful addition to blue strategies.

Text of card

Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for any copy of target creature card and put it into play. Shuffle your library afterwards.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mask of the Mimic enables you to swap a creature on the battlefield for another one with the same name from your deck, effectively thinning your deck and bringing you closer to your other key cards. This can be pivotal in maintaining card advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: In formats where duplicates of efficient creatures are common, Mask of the Mimic can serve as a form of resource acceleration. By swapping a token or a less valuable creature for a more impactful one from your deck, you can essentially bypass some of the mana costs associated with casting higher-cost creatures.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Mask of the Mimic at instant speed provides a significant advantage, allowing for surprise blockers or end of turn plays that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy. This flexibility further gives you the upper hand, keeping your opponent guessing and ensuring your responses are always timely.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mask of the Mimic commands you to sacrifice a creature just to activate its ability. This requirement is tricky since it may force players to give up key pieces on their board, undermining their game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation cost necessitates one blue mana, meaning that only decks with blue mana sources can optimize its use. This limitation can deter players running multi-color decks without a heavy blue presence.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the initial investment and the extra steps needed to capitalize on its ability, Mask of the Mimic bears a heavier mana load. In an environment where every mana point counts, this might deter players from including it in fast-paced or mana-efficient decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mask of the Mimic slides seamlessly into various decks, excelling particularly in those that capitalize on cloning creatures. Its ability to swap a simple token for a more powerful creature already in play makes it a multitalented asset in game strategy.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Mask of the Mimic can lead to powerful combos, enabling players to duplicate the most threatening creatures on the battlefield. This can turn the tides in a match, highlighting the card’s synergistic force with creatures designed to enter or leave the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Given its nature, Mask of the Mimic can play a crucial role against decks that rely on singular, potent creatures. By mirroring these threats, it empowers players to stay relevant in a continuously evolving meta that values creature-based tactics.

How to beat

The card Mask of the Mimic often flies under the radar in Magic: The Gathering, yet it can be a game-changer if used properly. This card allows a player to sacrifice a creature and then search their library for a card with the same name as the sacrificed creature to put onto the battlefield. To tackle this card, keep in mind disruption is key. Deploy counter spells to prevent Mask of the Mimic from resolving. Alternatively, use removal spells to target the creature that your opponent aims to mimic before it can be sacrificed.

One strategy to consider is the timing of your removal. Await just before your opponent declares the creature as the target for Mask of the Mimic, ensuring that their sacrifice goes to waste while also clearing their board. Graveyard hate is another favorable tactic. If you can exile creatures from their graveyard or limit their interactions with it, the value Mask of the Mimic can provide diminishes substantially. Always stay aware of the board state and prepare to disrupt your opponent’s plans at the right moment.

Ultimately, focusing on precise timing and the strategic use of spells can nullify the advantage Mask of the Mimic offers, leaving your opponent with fewer options and you in a stronger position during gameplay.

Cards like Mask of the Mimic

Mask of the Mimic stands out as an innovative card in Magic: The Gathering, offering strategic cloning capabilities rarely found in blue spells. It’s often compared to Clone, a card that similarly creates a copy of any creature on the battlefield. Nevertheless, Mask of the Mimic requires a creature to be sacrificed as part of its cost, demanding a more significant decision from the player in sculpting the battlefield to their advantage.

Another comparable card is Cackling Counterpart, which creates a token copy of target creature you control. While it might not require a sacrifice like Mask of the Mimic, the duplication is restricted to creatures you own, thus offering less flexibility. Phantasmal Image is also reminiscent, giving players the ability to copy any creature albeit with the downside of having the copy be easily removed if targeted by any spells or abilities.

Understanding these nuances is crucial as players seek options for creature copying in their blue decks. Each card offers distinct pathways to victory, with Mask of the Mimic providing a potentially game-altering shift in momentum, conditional on the player’s willingness to part with a creature. This adept balance of risk and reward is what defines its place in the MTG landscape.

Cackling Counterpart - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mask of the Mimic by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mask of the Mimic MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Mask of the Mimic and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mask of the Mimic has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If a copy card is targeted by this effect, you get to look for another copy of the card it is copying. This is because a copy card actually takes on the name and initial characteristics of what it copies.
2004-10-04	You do not have to find a card if you do not want to.
2004-10-04	You look for a card of the same name, the current type of the card does not matter.
2013-04-15	Players can only respond once this spell has been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to prevent you from casting this spell.
2013-04-15	You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast this spell; you cannot cast it without sacrificing a creature, and you cannot sacrifice additional creatures.