Magistrate's Veto MTG Card


Magistrate's Veto - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Number204
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBrian Snõddy

Key Takeaways

  1. Countering spells, Magistrate’s Veto provides significant card advantage and strategic control over the game flow.
  2. Instant speed and resource acceleration are central benefits, allowing players to maintain a solid board presence.
  3. It requires skillful play, as it demands specific mana types and card discards, challenging deck synergy.

Text of card

White creatures and blue creatures can't block.

The magistrate had been the goblins' puppet for so long that he made the right decisions with little prompting.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Magistrate’s Veto grants the ability to negate an opponent’s spell, effectively reducing their hand while preserving the balance of your own resources. In a situation where each card is pivotal, this can establish a significant edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Through its denial effect, Magistrate’s Veto can indirectly aid in resource acceleration. By thwarting a potentially game-shifting spell from an opponent, it allows you to maintain the pace of the game and confidently invest in your board state without the fear of an immediate setback.

Instant Speed: The power of Magistrate’s Veto is amplified by its instant speed, offering flexibility in your game plan. This allows you to efficiently manage your mana each turn and ensure that you’re always in a position to respond to threats as they emerge, safeguarding your strategy and keeping you one step ahead of the competition.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Magistrate’s Veto demands the player to discard a card to utilize its full potential. This trade-off can be detrimental when your hand is already strained for resources, forcing tough decisions on what to keep and what to let go of.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise combination of mana types, including white, Magistrate’s Veto can be somewhat restrictive, posing a challenge for inclusion in multicolor decks that may not always have the necessary mana available at the critical moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for casting Magistrate’s Veto is significant when stacked up against other options readily available in the format. Players seeking to optimize their deck’s pace and efficiency might find this cost inhibiting, especially in a game where speed can be a deciding factor.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Magistrate’s Veto is a powerful option for decks seeking control tools. Its ability to negate opponent’s spells is valuable in various formats, adapting to diverse gameplay styles with ease.

Combo Potential: This card excels in setups aiming to lock down the adversary’s game plan. It can work in tandem with other disruption pieces, elevating control strategies to new levels.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with high-impact spells, Magistrate’s Veto proves its worth. This card can effectively counter pivotal plays, making it a critical inclusion in a competitive collection.


How to beat

Magistrate’s Veto is an intriguing card in the MTG arsenal, giving players the power to counter spells that your opponent casts. Similar to staple counters like Counterspell or Mana Leak, it plays a crucial role in control decks to maintain dominance over the game’s flow. To outmaneuver Magistrate’s Veto, it’s essential to anticipate when your opponent might have it available. Playing less critical spells can bait out the Veto, paving the way for your more important cards to hit the battlefield unimpeded.

Another effective strategy is to deploy spells at a time when your opponent might be low on available mana, possibly after they’ve committed resources to their own board. In addition, running cards that can’t be countered by spells or abilities, such as those with the ability “can’t be countered” or similar protective effects, renders Magistrate’s Veto powerless against them. Lastly, direct damage spells and abilities that target the player can pressure the Veto wielder and force them to make difficult decisions about what to counter, potentially overloading their counter strategy.

Adapting to the presence of Magistrate’s Veto includes smart resource management, timing, and deploying threats which force opponents to make tough choices – ultimately overcoming the obstacle it presents in a match and securing your foothold in the game.


Cards like Magistrate's Veto

Magistrate’s Veto enters the arena of control magic in Magic: The Gathering, aligning closely with a suite of countermagic cards. It shares elements with traditional counters like Counterspell, granting players the power to nullify an opponent’s spell as it’s cast. Yet, Magistrate’s Veto brings its unique condition to the table; it’s not just a simple cancellation but contingent upon certain deck or game states, giving it a situational edge.

Comparably, Dovin’s Veto offers a similar function with an unconditional negation of noncreature spells that can’t be countered. It stands out for its reliability but comes without the additional nuanced conditions that can make Magistrate’s Veto more challenging and strategic to use effectively. Mana Leak is another familiar spell in this spectrum, providing a cost-effective solution to disrupting the opponent’s play, albeit with an escape clause depending on the opponent’s available mana.

Assessing the trade-offs between these spells reveals Magistrate’s Veto as a valuable tactical choice in decks that can meet its conditions. It can be a game-changer in the right circumstances, making it a worthy consideration for players crafting a control-based strategy in Magic: The Gathering.

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Dovin's Veto - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Dovin's Veto - War of the Spark (WAR)
Mana Leak - Stronghold (STH)

Cards similar to Magistrate's Veto by color, type and mana cost

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Wave - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Citadel of Pain - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Granite Grip - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Magma Vein - MTG Card versions
Pyromania - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Gravity Sphere - Legends (LEG)
Goblin War Drums - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Aggression - Ice Age (ICE)
Heat Wave - Visions (VIS)
Goblin Warrens - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Heat Stroke - Weatherlight (WTH)
Seismic Assault - Tenth Edition (10E)
Torch Song - Urza's Saga (USG)
Ghitu War Cry - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Fervor - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Spellshock - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Mana Cache - Nemesis (NEM)
Citadel of Pain - Prophecy (PCY)
Insolence - Planeshift (PLS)
Granite Grip - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Steam Vines - Odyssey (ODY)
Magma Vein - Odyssey (ODY)
Pyromania - Torment (TOR)
Curse of Hospitality - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Magistrate's Veto MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Magistrate's Veto and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Magistrate's Veto has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks