Ixidor's Will MTG Card


Ixidor's Will - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Number90
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byEric Peterson

Key Takeaways

  1. Ixidor’s Will grants control over opponents, maintaining resource and board advantage through spell countering.
  2. Its instant speed provides versatile tactical disruption, keeping opponents uncertain of your strategies.
  3. The discard cost and specific mana needs are trade-offs for its significant impact on gameplay.

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller pays for each Wizard in play.

"Some dreams should not come to be."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ixidor’s Will enables you not just to control the flow of your opponent’s strategy but also helps ensure you maintain lead in resources. Every countered spell potentially disrupts an opponent’s plan and keeps you ahead on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana, effectively denying your opponent’s play can set them back on resources, thus indirectly accelerating your relative position in the game.

Instant Speed: Ixidor’s Will operates at instant speed, allowing you tactical flexibility to choose the most opportune moment for disruption. This ensures that your mana isn’t wasted and keeps your adversaries guessing about your hand and mana availability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Ixidor’s Will, a player must discard a card which can be a significant setback when you’re trying to maintain a full hand. This cost adds a level of risk and could potentially deplete your valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Ixidor’s Will demands a precise combination of mana to be cast. This requirement can sometimes complicate things for players running multi-color decks as it requires both blue mana and generic mana, potentially causing delays or even preventing the card from being played when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card possesses a powerful effect, it comes at a relatively high mana cost. There are alternative spells in MTG that might fulfill a similar function with a lower investment, making them a more favorable choice in a deck that needs to operate quickly or with greater mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include Ixidor’s Will in Your Collection

Versatility: Ixidor’s Will is a flexible addition to several deck archetypes, adept at managing threats while preserving your own board state.

Combo Potential: This card’s capacity to disrupt opponents’ strategies synergizes well with combos that require uninterrupted turns to execute powerful sequences.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating dynamics of competitive play, Ixidor’s Will remains pertinent as it adapts well to various meta environments, effectively countering popular spells and abilities.


How to beat

Ixidor’s Will is a unique entrant in the world of counter spells within Magic: The Gathering. This card distinguishes itself by offering conditional permission, reacting to spells only if a morph creature is controlled. Understanding this requirement becomes key in strategizing against it. Without the presence of a morph creature, Ixidor’s Will loses its potency, rendering itself inapplicable. Therefore, targeting morph creatures or preventing their successful deployment can effectively neuter Ixidor’s Will’s defensive capabilities.

Strategies involving mass removal or pinpointed removal spells prove to be particularly efficacious in dismantling the morph-based defense line. Cards such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can remove a crucial morph creature, leaving the opponent unable to activate the conditions of Ixidor’s Will. Additionally, playing around the possible counter by opting to cast non-critical spells when a morph creature is up, saves your pivotal spells for a safer turn. Keeping the battlefield clear of morph creatures limits Ixidor’s Will’s influence, thereby making it a less formidable obstacle to your game plan.

Overall, the ability to outmaneuver Ixidor’s Will rests on a player’s prowess to control the battlefield and anticipate the conditions required for its activation. It is a test of patience and tactical acumen in the intricate dance of MTG plays.


Cards like Ixidor's Will

Ixidor’s Will is a hidden gem within the arsenal of counter spells available to players of Magic: The Gathering. It stands on common ground with traditional favorites like Counterspell, which serves as the basic model for denying opponents their plays. Nevertheless, Ixidor’s Will brings a personalized twist to the table – it requires you to have a face-down creature to cast, adhering to its morph theme. While Counterspell is straightforward, offering an unconditional no to your opponent’s spells, Ixidor’s Will’s condition aligns with a strategy built on surprise and adaptability.

Another card echoing Ixidor’s Will’s intentions is Voidmage Prodigy. This card also resonates with players who appreciate turning creatures into counterspells. However, Voidmage Prodigy offers repeatable use at the cost of sacrificing a Wizard. Here, the trade-off is between a one-time surprise that Ixidor’s Will offers and the ongoing threat posed by Voidmage Prodigy.

Ending our comparison, Ixidor’s Will deserves attention for those intrigued by synergy and subterfuge. Its requirements set the stage for a tactical play style, rewarding players for their clever deck construction and strategic gameplay within Magic: The Gathering.

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Voidmage Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Voidmage Prodigy - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Ixidor's Will by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
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Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
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Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Psionic Blast - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Crystal Spray - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Dream Fracture - Eventide (EVE)
Oona's Grace - Eventide (EVE)
Cancel - Ixalan (XLN)
Deluge - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Stoic Rebuttal - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ixidor's Will MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Ixidor's Will and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ixidor's Will has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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