Wrench Mind MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by creating potential 2-for-1 scenarios, giving players a decisive resource edge.
  2. Can fit well into black control decks and elevate discard-focused strategies for strategic players.
  3. Less effective against graveyard-based strategies or decks rich in artifacts which mitigate its impact.

Text of card

Target player discards two cards from his or her hand unless he or she discards an artifact card from his or her hand.

What is the sound of one head snapping?


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wrench Mind is a powerful tool for disrupting your opponent’s hand, often resulting in a 2-for-1 scenario where the opponent loses two cards while you only use one. This inherent ability to outpace your opponent in resources can tilt the scales in your favor over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly accelerating your resources, Wrench Mind hampers your opponent’s ability to build their board or keep options open. By effectively stripping them of resources, you indirectly maintain the pace of the game, keeping a step ahead through strategic resource depletion.

Instant Speed: Wrench Mind is a sorcery, but its relevance comes from the psychological advantage and the timing of its play. Knowing when to deploy this spell can be as crucial as an instant, forcing your opponent to discard right after they’ve drawn, maximizing the chance of disrupting a well-curated hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Wrench Mind asks your opponent to discard two cards, which might be less effective against decks that benefit from or are indifferent to discarding, such as graveyard-based strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This card needs two black mana to be played, making it less flexible for decks that aren’t heavily invested in black mana or those that are multi-colored.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite costing only two mana, in matches where tempo is crucial, spending a whole turn to potentially only disrupt your opponent’s hand can set you back, especially if artifacts are a common fixture in their deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wrench Mind is a superb addition to any player’s arsenal who appreciates disruption tactics, fitting seamlessly into black control or discard-focused decks.

Combo Potential: It shines when paired with cards that capitalize on an opponent’s dwindling hand size, bolstering strategies that reward you as your opponent discards.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment saturated with complex strategies, Wrench Mind disrupts the opponent early on, throwing a wrench in meticulously crafted plans and maintaining relevance in numerous match-ups.


How to beat Wrench Mind

Wrench Mind is a disruptive force in Magic: The Gathering, known for compelling opponents to discard two cards. It provides a significant advantage, especially in the early game where resource denial can severely cripple an opponent’s strategy. One effective method to mitigate its impact is by incorporating artifacts into your deck. Since Wrench Mind has a clause that lessens its effectiveness if an artifact card is discarded, having a higher artifact density in your deck could turn the tables on the casting player.

Additionally, using cards with ‘Madness’ or similar abilities that benefit you when discarded can counteract Wrench Mind’s downside. These strategic elements ensure that even if you’re forced to lose cards from your hand, you gain value in another form, thus dampening Wrench Mind’s potency. It’s also crucial to manage your hand size efficiently. Playing out your lesser-value cards early keeps your key spells safe from such disruption. In practice, astute hand management coupled with strategic deck building minimizes Wrench Mind’s potential damage and keeps you competitive in the face of this menacing spell.


Cards like Wrench Mind

Wrench Mind is a powerful disruption tool in Magic: The Gathering, standing out in the realm of discard spells. It’s akin to cards like Mind Rot, which also forces an opponent to discard two cards. Wrench Mind differentiates itself with its lower mana cost, demanding only two mana versus Mind Rot’s three. While it offers a potentially less restrictive casting cost, it comes with a particular caveat – if the opponent discards an artifact card, they reduce the effects by discarding only one.

Then we have Black Cat, another card that impacts an opponent’s hand, but through a different mechanic. Upon its death, the opponent discards at random, offering a differing strategic angle to Wrench Mind’s targeted approach. Liliana’s Specter brings a similar effect on entry, forcing a discard and offering a flying creature body as well. Yet, neither has the immediate impact of Wrench Mind in depleting the opponent’s options.

Assessing these comparative cards, Wrench Mind delivers potent hand disruption at a low mana cost. It stands as a crucial card for those looking to sway the tide of the game by strategically thinning out an adversary’s hand resources early on.

Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Black Cat - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Specter - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - Portal (POR)
Black Cat - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Liliana's Specter - Magic 2011 Promos (PM11)

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

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Cruel Edict - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Demonic Tutor - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Binding - Renaissance (REN)
Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dry Spell - Homelands (HML)
Hymn to Tourach - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mind Knives - Portal (POR)
Shattered Crypt - Weatherlight (WTH)
Disturbed Burial - Tempest (TMP)
Death Stroke - Stronghold (STH)
Exhume - Jumpstart (JMP)
Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Decompose - Odyssey (ODY)
Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Walk the Plank - The List (PLST)
Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nausea - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Distress - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Cruel Edict - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wrench Mind MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Iconic Masters, 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 Wrench Mind and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wrench Mind Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 842003normalblackPete Venters
22017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1152015normalblackPete Venters
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 8282015normalblackPete Venters
42020-09-26The ListPLST IMA-1152015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wrench Mind has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-12-01 You can discard either one artifact card or two cards which may or may not be artifacts. If you really want to, you can discard two artifact cards.

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