Mind Control MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Mind Control secures board advantage by commandeering opponents’ creatures, doubling as resource acceleration.
  2. Varied mana requirements and higher cost can limit Mind Control’s adaptability in non-blue decks.
  3. Strategic counters like enchantment removals or sacrifice effects can mitigate Mind Control’s impact.

Text of card

Enchant creature You control enchanted creature.

"Why fight the body when you can dominate the mind that rules it?" —Jace Beleren


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mind Control effects let you take command of an opponent’s creature, effectively swinging the board state to your favor. This not only deprives your opponent of a valuable asset but also enriches your side of the battlefield, offering a dual advantage with a single action.

Resource Acceleration: While Mind Control does not directly generate mana or reduce costs, it does mean you’re spending fewer resources to deal with enemy threats. Assimilating an opposing creature saves the resources you would have allocated to summon your own creature, amounting to indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Some variants of Mind Control-esque cards function at instant speed, allowing you subtle leverage as you navigate through complex matchups. The ability to upset your opponent’s strategy during their turn or in response to an action adds a layer of depth to gameplay, often tipping the scales in crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Mind Control is the need to part with another card in your hand, which can deplete your options especially when you’re playing with fewer cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a particular combination of mana types, requiring both blue and generic, which means it fits primarily into blue or blue-inclusive decks, potentially restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its control effects, Mind Control might not always be the most mana-efficient choice when considering the range of control spells available in the game.


Reasons to Include Mind Control in Your Collection

Versatility: Mind Control adds strategic depth to blue decks by allowing you to take command of your opponent’s creatures. This adaptable spell can swing the tide of the game, disrupting your opponent’s board presence.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to seize key creatures sets up numerous combos, especially in decks that exploit your opponents’ resources or utilize their creatures’ abilities for your gain.

Meta-Relevance: Mind Control’s relevance increases in metas with powerful creature-based strategies. It turns an opponent’s asset into your advantage, making it a game-changer against decks that rely on big, impactful creatures.


How to Beat

Overcoming the challenge of a Mind Control card in your MTG matches requires a tactical approach. At its core, Mind Control is a form of enchantment that enables players to seize command over their opponent’s creatures, turning the tides of the match. To counter this powerful control effect, players must employ removal spells or abilities that explicitly deal with enchantments or can target any nonland permanents. Cards like Disenchant, Naturalize, or Krosan Grip can directly dispel the Mind Control from the creature it has enchanted, freeing it from the opponent’s clutches.

An alternate strategy is to utilize sacrifice effects, compelling the opposing player to forfeit their own creature before they can profit from Mind Control’s capabilities. This can be done through cards that include sacrifice as part of their cost or through forcing the opponent to sacrifice with a spell like Diabolic Edict. Lastly, playing creatures with hexproof or shroud can also serve as a safeguard against such control tactics, as these abilities prevent the creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities, including Mind Control.

Anticipating the potential use of Mind Control and having a prepared response in your deck can reassure you as you navigate your way through the intricate strategies of MTG. It’s a critical aspect of deck building and gameplay to consider, ensuring you’re never left defenseless against control strategies.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Mind Control can redefine your MTG gameplay, adding a layer of strategic manipulation that keeps your opponents guessing. The ability to annex creatures swiftly shifts the balance on the battlefield. Your deck needs to be prepared to both exploit this advantage and defend against it. We delve deeper into this topic, dissecting the capabilities, counters, and clever decks that leverage Mind Control’s power. For a comprehensive guide on seamlessly integrating these tactics into your gameplay and ensuring your deck is robust against such strategies, join us for a deep dive into the art of control. Unleash your true potential in MTG with BurnMana’s insights.


Cards like Mind Control

Mind Control is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering that enables players to take possession of their opponent’s creature. This card reminds MTG enthusiasts of Control Magic, a classic enchantment with a similar effect. Both cards allow you to seize control of a creature, but Mind Control has the advantage of being printed in more recent sets, offering greater accessibility in various formats.

Another relative on the control spectrum is Confiscate, which not only targets creatures but any permanent, offering far more flexibility. However, the increased power comes with a higher mana cost, making Mind Control a more streamlined choice for creature-focused strategies. We can’t overlook Treachery either, which takes control of a creature at no mana cost after the initial cast, essentially paying for itself if you untap five lands.

When comparing these options, Mind Control holds a stable position among control-type cards for its balanced cost-to-effect ratio. Although not as versatile as Confiscate or as cost-efficient as Treachery, Mind Control provides a straightforward and effective solution for influencing the battlefield in MTG. Its specificity to creatures makes it easier to cast and integrates well into decks designed around manipulating opponents’ threats.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Confiscate - Urza's Saga (USG)
Treachery - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Cards similar to Mind Control by color, type and mana cost

Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Cowardice - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Followed Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Biting Tether - MTG Card versions
Coma Veil - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snare - MTG Card versions
Gravitational Shift - MTG Card versions
Psychic Allergy - The Dark (DRK)
Duplicity - Tempest (TMP)
Dream Halls - Stronghold (STH)
Bureaucracy - Unglued (UGL)
Treachery - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Heightened Awareness - Prophecy (PCY)
Sunken Hope - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Ice Cave - The List (PLST)
Persuasion - Tenth Edition (10E)
Telekinetic Bonds - Judgment (JUD)
Reflections of Littjara - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Wrath of Marit Lage - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Shared Fate - Mirrodin (MRD)
Cowardice - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Battle of Wits - The List (PLST)
Followed Footsteps - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Biting Tether - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Coma Veil - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Vapor Snare - Worldwake (WWK)
Gravitational Shift - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mind Control MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI 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 Mind Control and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mind Control Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2011-07-15. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 362982003normalblackKeith Garletts
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 302003normalblackKeith Garletts
32009-07-17Magic 2010M10 632003normalblackMark Tedin
42010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 112003normalblackRyan Pancoast
52010-07-16Magic 2011M11 672003normalblackRyan Pancoast
62011-07-15Magic 2012M12 672003normalblackRyan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Control has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-08-15 Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it.

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