Mindswipe MTG Card


Mindswipe - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Number189
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRyan Alexander Lee

Key Takeaways

  1. Mindswipe provides card advantage by countering spells and forcing opponents to lose resources.
  2. Its instant speed allows for reactive play, granting strategic leverage in games.
  3. The card’s demand for specific mana and potential high cost are notable limitations.

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller pays . Mindswipe deals X damage to that spell's controller.

"The past and the unwritten are frozen. To understand their meaning requires heat." —Arel the Whisperer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mindswipe packs a dual threat as it not only deals damage to an opponent or creature, but it also forces your opponent to pay an additional cost or have their spell countered, potentially causing them to lose that card from their hand, which can tip the scales in your favor during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: Although Mindswipe doesn’t directly generate additional resources, it can be a pivotal tool in controlling the tempo of the game. By making spells more costly for your opponent, you slow down their resource progression, which indirectly accelerates yours by comparison.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Mindswipe at instant speed grants you significant leverage as you can respond reactively to your opponent’s actions. This flexibility allows you to make decisions with the most current information available and potentially deter your opponent from executing key plays when they know you have untapped mana.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mindswipe necessitates pitching cards to fuel its damaging and countering abilities. This condition might strain your hand size, particularly when you’re running low on options and need to maintain a defense.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting requires both blue and red mana, which demands a dedicated mana base tailored for a Izzet deck strategy. This specificity might limit its inclusion in multi-color decks that value mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a hybrid mana cost that scales with the spell you intend to counter, Mindswipe can quickly become expensive. This cost can be restrictive, particularly in faster-paced games where efficiently allocating mana is crucial.


Reasons to Include Mindswipe in Your Collection

Versatility: Mindswipe fits seamlessly into blue and red deck strategies, offering both a countermeasure against opponents’ spells and a direct hit to their life totals. This duality enables players to maintain control while keeping pressure on the opponent.

Combo Potential: The card pairs well with spells and abilities that reward you for dealing damage or casting noncreature spells, such as prowess or storm. Plus, its scaling effect based on the mana you invest means it can be tailored to various stages of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where counterspells are essential for survival and burn strategies can tip the scales toward victory, Mindswipe’s unique blend makes it a potent choice for controlling the pace and outcome of matches.


How to beat Mindswipe

Mindswipe is a unique blend of counter and burn within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It offers players a way to disrupt opponents while also chipping away at their life totals. Found in decks that play blue and red, this spell requires strategic insight to effectively work around.

One method to outmaneuver Mindswipe is by maintaining a robust hand size. This allows for alternative spell options when a key spell faces a counter threat. In addition, being mindful of open mana your opponent has can signal the potential for a Mindswipe, suggesting a more cautious approach to spell casting.

Deck types rich in instant speed spells and abilities enable players to wait until the opponent’s end of turn to cast, thereby reducing Mindswipe’s effectiveness as a countermeasure. Aggressive decks can also overwhelm control-oriented strategies that rely on cards like Mindswipe by deploying multiple threats that exceed the mana available for the Mindswipe cost. Understand the pace of your gameplay and adapt to the mana curve of your spells, and Mindswipe becomes less of an obstacle and more of a predictable play to work around.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Mindswipe demands strategic deck building and a knack for timing. This compelling MTG card blurs the line between thwarting your opponent’s plans and dealing crucial damage. By understanding both its strengths and its limitations, you can transform this spell into a formidable weapon in your MTG arsenal. Whether you’re integrating it into an Izzet deck or exploring its synergy with damage-boosting abilities, Mindswipe has the potential to be a game-changer on the battlefield. Dive deeper into its strategic uses, compare it to its counterparts, and discover ways to overcome it when you’re on the receiving end. Ready to harness the power of Mindswipe? Explore the possibilities and turn the tides of your next match in your favor with our insightful content.


Cards like Mindswipe

Mindswipe stands out in the vast array of counter and damage spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often weighed against familiar cards like Syncopate, which allows you to counter spells unless their caster pays an additional cost. Mindswipe differentiates itself with the added burn effect, dishing out damage to an opponent equal to the mana spent to counter. Syncopate lacks this punch, focusing only on the countering aspect.

Counterspell is another cornerstone in the MTG arena, offering a straightforward approach: for two blue mana, counter any spell, no questions asked. While Counterspell’s efficiency is unquestionable, it doesn’t provide the strategic pressure that Mindswipe’s damage component exerts. Then there’s Ionize, serving as a bridge between the two. Like Mindswipe, it counters and hurts the opponent, yet Ionize’s damage is a flat two, regardless of the mana invested, whereas Mindswipe scales with your investment.

Assessing Mindswipe against its cousins, it’s clear that it offers a unique strategic advantage. Its ability to disrupt an opponent’s play while also whittling down their life total makes it a versatile tool for controlling the battlefield and pressuring the opponent.

Syncopate - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Ionize - MTG Card versions
Syncopate - Odyssey (ODY)
Counterspell - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Ionize - Guilds of Ravnica Promos (PGRN)

Cards similar to Mindswipe by color, type and mana cost

Jilt - MTG Card versions
Galvanic Iteration - MTG Card versions
Izzet Charm - MTG Card versions
Leap of Flame - MTG Card versions
Inside Out - MTG Card versions
Swerve - MTG Card versions
Desperate Ravings - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Trick - MTG Card versions
Teach by Example - MTG Card versions
Arcane Infusion - MTG Card versions
Fires of Victory - MTG Card versions
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - MTG Card versions
Run for Your Life - MTG Card versions
Jilt - Apocalypse (APC)
Galvanic Iteration - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Izzet Charm - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Leap of Flame - Guildpact (GPT)
Inside Out - Eventide (EVE)
Swerve - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Desperate Ravings - The List (PLST)
Chemister's Trick - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Teach by Example - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Arcane Infusion - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Fires of Victory - Dominaria United (DMU)
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine (YWOE)
Run for Your Life - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mindswipe MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Mindswipe and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mindswipe has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-09-20 If the controller of the target spell pays , the spell won’t be countered. Mindswipe will still deal damage to that player.
2014-09-20 If the target spell is an illegal target as Mindswipe tries to resolve (perhaps because it was countered by another spell or ability), Mindswipe won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No damage will be dealt.

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