Lost in the Mist MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Number	63
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Palumbo

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by bundling a counter spell and permanent bounce into one, requiring strategic hand management.
Challenges players with specific mana costs, pushing innovation in deck-building to accommodate its blue-centric nature.
Lost in the Mist accentuates versatility and combo potential, making it a valuable piece in control-oriented MTG decks.

Text of card

Counter target spell. Return target permanent to its owner's hand.

The secrets she carried could have saved many lives, but they quietly drowned with her.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lost in the Mist allows you to simultaneously counter a spell and return a permanent to its owner’s hand, offering a two-for-one deal that can disrupt your opponent’s board presence and plans.

Resource Acceleration: While Lost in the Mist doesn’t directly produce resources, it can set your opponent back by forcing them to re-spend mana on their bounced permanent, effectively giving you a tempo advantage and the opportunity to pull ahead in resource deployment.

Instant Speed: Being an instant, Lost in the Mist gives you the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their strategy, preserving the element of surprise and allowing for strategic plays that align with your overall game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Incorporating Lost in the Mist within your deck strategy may lead to occasional setbacks, as it does not specifically call for a discard but the counterbalance lies in the need to have an additional card at hand to make the most out of its counter spell or bounce ability. Holding onto critical cards while waiting to play Lost in the Mist could hinder the pacing of your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost:The casting cost for Lost in the Mist includes both blue and colorless mana. This dual requirement positions the card for exclusive inclusion in decks that readily avail blue mana sources, potentially limiting its broad application across multiple deck types without sufficient mana-fixing strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three colorless and two blue mana, Lost in the Mist stands at a higher mana investment compared to some other counter spells or bounce effects in the game. This cost assessment suggests players may opt for lower-costing alternatives that offer similar or more flexible effects, which could better align with faster or more mana-efficient gameplay strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lost in the Mist brings flexibility to blue-based control decks, allowing players to simultaneously counter a spell and bounce a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. This card is perfect for disrupting opponent’s plays while protecting your game state.

Combo Potential: The dual functionality of Lost in the Mist opens up various synergies, particularly with cards that capitalize on returned permanents or spells countered. It works well in decks that seek to maximize the value of each card played.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state filled with heavy spell-slinging or pesky permanents, Lost in the Mist holds significant meta power. Its ability to counter and return to hand can shift momentum in your favor and aligns well with the strategic needs of control players facing diverse threats.

How to beat

Lost in the Mist is a unique counter spell that combines two potent effects in one. It not only counters a spell, but it also forces a player to return a permanent to their hand. This can be disruptive to an opponent’s strategy, as it delays their plans and sets them back mana-wise. To counteract this, the key is to play around Lost in the Mist’s dual function.

On a strategic level, baiting out the counter spell with a less critical spell can be an effective tactic, allowing more important spells to pass through afterward. Additionally, maintaining a diverse range of instants that can be played at the end of an opponent’s turn can minimize the impact of having a permanent bounced back to your hand. Hexproof can also be a valuable ability in your arsenal, as it prevents your permanents from becoming targets. Moreover, cards with flash allow you to play on your opponent’s turn, potentially avoiding the timing of Lost in the Mist.

Ultimately, playing smartly around the counters and bounces, maximizing the timing of your own spells, and utilizing abilities that protect your assets can help mitigate the dual threat posed by Lost in the Mist.

Cards like Lost in the Mist

Lost in the Mist carries its unique charm within the control archetype of Magic: The Gathering. This card offers a dual utility – not only does it counter a target spell, but it also bounces a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. This fusion of denial and tempo disruption makes it an interesting comparison to cards like Disperse and Negate. Disperse solely returns a nonland permanent without the counter option, while Negate counters any noncreature spell but lacks the return to hand effect.

Another similar card is Remand which is aligned with the tempo playstyle, as it returns the target spell to its owner’s hand rather than countering it outright and allows the caster to draw a card. Although it doesn’t permanently deal with the spell, the card-drawing aspect gives it a different tactical advantage.

Nevertheless, Lost in the Mist stands distinguished due to its comprehensive impact on the board state. The ability to hinder an opponent’s play while simultaneously dealing with a threat on the board is rather significant. Hence in matchups where delaying tactics and board control are paramount, Lost in the Mist could yield substantial strategic benefits.

Cards similar to Lost in the Mist by color, type and mana cost

Mysteries of the Deep - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lost in the Mist MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Lost in the Mist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lost in the Mist has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-09-22	If one of Lost in the Mist’s targets is illegal by the time it resolves, Lost in the Mist will still affect the remaining legal target. If both targets are illegal at this time, Lost in the Mist won’t resolve.
2011-09-22	Lost in the Mist targets both the spell and the permanent. You can only cast it if you can choose legal targets for both parts.