Deputy of Detention MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vedalken Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Deputy of Detention offers strategic board control by exiling multiple threat cards.
  2. It can work with instant-speed plays for flexible and responsive game tactics.
  3. Its presence on the field requires careful protection to maintain advantage.

Text of card

When Deputy of Detention enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls and all other nonland permanents that player controls with the same name as that permanent until Deputy of Detention leaves the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deputy of Detention shines by removing multiple tokens or identical cards with a single spell, effectively disrupting your opponent’s strategy and creating a card advantage. This can turn the tide of the game by stripping them of crucial resources on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana, Deputy of Detention’s ability to clear the board of pesky permanents allows for a more streamlined play. This indirectly accelerates your strategy by saving resources you might have spent on dealing with individual threats.

Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, Deputy of Detention pairs well with instant-speed interaction. It allows you to reset the board state on your terms after the opponent has committed to their plays, paving the way for instant-speed counters or removals without the need to target each threat individually.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Deputy of Detention doesn’t have a discard requirement, it’s worth noting that losing the Deputy from the field can often lead to the return of the previously removed threats, indirectly costing you card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific mana cost including both white and blue, which may not fit seamlessly into every deck archetype, particularly those running three or more colors or lacking sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, there are alternatives for creature or permanent removal that might be lower on the mana curve, enabling faster and potentially more efficient reactive plays during a game.


Reasons to Include Deputy of Detention in Your Collection

Versatility: Deputy of Detention shines in its flexibility, fitting seamlessly into a variety of deck types. This card’s ability to exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls and all other permanents that player controls with the same name offers a universal solution to threats across the board.

Combo Potential: This card can be a linchpin in strategies focused on removing multiple key pieces from your opponent’s side, working exceptionally well with flicker effects or ways to recur it from the graveyard, therefore allowing multiple uses in a single game.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting landscape of the competitive scene, Deputy of Detention holds its ground as a meta-relevant choice. Its capacity to disrupt opponent’s strategies by dealing with multiple problematic permanents at once can be a game-changer, particularly in formats where similar cards, tokens, or duplicates are prevalent.


How to beat Deputy of Detention

Deputy of Detention is a versatile card in MTG that can disrupt your board presence by detaining multiple creatures or permanents with the same name. Overcoming this obstacle requires strategic plays and keen deck building. Instant-speed removal spells are your best ally against the Deputy. Cards such as Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can efficiently remove it from the board, releasing any detained cards back into your command.

Another effective tactic is to use hexproof or indestructible creatures that are immune to the Deputy’s ability. Cards like Slippery Bogle or Darksteel Myr can’t be targeted by the Deputy, thus maintaining your board advantage. It’s also beneficial to play around the Deputy’s effect by diversifying the names of permanents in play, limiting the impact of its detention ability.

Taking a proactive approach in managing threats is the key to besting Deputy of Detention. Whether it’s through protective spells, playing a variety of creatures, or timely removal, ensuring you have the right answers in your deck will keep you ahead of this powerful deterrent.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Deputy of Detention offers a strategic edge in MTG, skillfully extracting value by detaining multiple threats with a single cast. Its versatility and compatibility with different deck strategies make it a staple for those seeking to outmaneuver opponents. As the meta evolves, adding this card to your collection could be a decisive move, given its ability to sway the course of battle. Enhance your deck and playstyle by considering the Deputy’s potent game-changing abilities. Eager to explore more about this card’s potential and how it fits into your arsenal? Join our community and dive deeper into the MTG universe with us.


Cards like Deputy of Detention

Deputy of Detention offers a unique approach to creature control within Magic: The Gathering. It stands out in comparison to cards like Fiend Hunter, which also exiles a target creature until it leaves the battlefield. However, Deputy of Detention expands upon this by detaining any number of targets with the same name, adding a wider impact in games against decks relying on certain creatures or tokens.

Similar to Detention Sphere, Deputy of Detention does not restrict its removal power to creatures alone but can target nonland permanents as well. While Detention Sphere has an ongoing effect without relying on the permanence of the card itself, our Deputy requires vigilance to maintain the detention, as the release of captured cards ensues upon its departure from the field.

Banisher Priest follows a similar pattern, focusing exclusively on creatures but with a singular target. While the Deputy is arguably more versatile, in a one-on-one creature scenario, both cards provide the same temporary solution. These comparisons place Deputy of Detention as a valuable option for players seeking strategic removal of multiple threats, validating its unique space in the realm of control cards.

Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Detention Sphere - MTG Card versions
Banisher Priest - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - Innistrad (ISD)
Detention Sphere - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Banisher Priest - Magic 2014 (M14)

Cards similar to Deputy of Detention by color, type and mana cost

Adarkar Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Leering Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Guiding Spirit - MTG Card versions
Samite Archer - MTG Card versions
Riptide Crab - MTG Card versions
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Emissary - MTG Card versions
Silver Drake - MTG Card versions
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Minister of Impediments - MTG Card versions
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Jötun Owl Keeper - MTG Card versions
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Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - MTG Card versions
Talon Trooper - MTG Card versions
Wall of Denial - MTG Card versions
Geist of Saint Traft - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Unicorn - Ice Age (ICE)
Leering Gargoyle - Mirage (MIR)
Guiding Spirit - Visions (VIS)
Samite Archer - Invasion (INV)
Riptide Crab - Invasion (INV)
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - Commander Masters (CMM)
Tolarian Emissary - Invasion (INV)
Silver Drake - Planeshift (PLS)
Soulherder - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Soulsworn Jury - Dissension (DIS)
Minister of Impediments - Dissension (DIS)
Court Hussar - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Jötun Owl Keeper - Coldsnap (CSP)
Thistledown Duo - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Plumeveil - Modern Masters (MMA)
Silkbind Faerie - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - Commander 2016 (C16)
Talon Trooper - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Wall of Denial - The List (PLST)
Geist of Saint Traft - Shadows of the Past (SIS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deputy of Detention MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance Promos and Ravnica Allegiance Promos, 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 Deputy of Detention and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deputy of Detention Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-01-25. Illustrated by G-host Lee.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 165p2015normalblackG-host Lee
22019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 165s2015normalblackG-host Lee
32019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1652015normalblackG-host Lee

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deputy of Detention has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-01-25 A face-down creature has no name, so it can’t share a name with anything. This includes other creatures with no name.
2019-01-25 Auras attached to the exiled permanents will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanents will cease to exist.
2019-01-25 If Deputy of Detention leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, nothing is exiled.
2019-01-25 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield.
2019-01-25 If the target nonland permanent is an illegal target by the time this ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve. Nothing is exiled.
2019-01-25 The name of a creature token is the same as the creature types specified as it was created, unless the token is a copy of another creature or the effect that created the token specifically gives it a different name.
2019-01-25 This ability has only one target. The other permanents with that name aren’t targeted. For example, a permanent with hexproof will be exiled if it has the same name as the target nonland permanent.

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