Traitorous Instinct MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Traitorous Instinct can swing the game by temporarily controlling an opponent’s creature, without losing card equity.
  2. The card lacks instant speed and can strain mana resources in non-red-centric decks.
  3. Effective counters include instant removal, counter spells, and utilizing creatures with hexproof or shroud.

Text of card

Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. Until end of turn, it gets +2/+0 and gains haste.

The horror lurched about like a puppet from a madman's nightmare, squeezing the life from its own kind.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Traitorous Instinct doesn’t inherently draw you cards, it effectively negates an opponent’s card for a turn, providing a swing in board presence. This tempers the battlefield to your favor without losing card equity from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: By gaining temporary control of a creature, you can utilize its abilities or inherent mana abilities for a burst in resources. This can expedite your game plan substantially.

Instant Speed: Traitorous Instinct operates at sorcery speed, which while not as flexible as an instant, allows for planned and impactful turns, letting you catch opponents by surprise and maximize your turn’s potential.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limiting factors of Traitorous Instinct is the absence of a card disadvantage mechanism. Unlike some spells that offer card draw or replacement, using this card does not replenish your hand, potentially leaving you with fewer options later.

Specific Mana Cost: Traitorous Instinct requires both generic and red mana to play, which can be restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in red mana might find it challenging to cast this spell at the crucial moment, reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, Traitorous Instinct is somewhat costly for a temporary gain. Players might consider the investment steep when there are alternatives that permanently affect the board or provide more substantial and lasting advantages.


Reasons to Include Traitorous Instinct in Your Collection

Versatility: Traitorous Instinct offers a unique twist to red’s aggressive strategy, allowing you to momentarily take control of an opponent’s creature and benefit from its power on the battlefield. It fits seamlessly into various red decks, including those focused on stealing opponents’ resources or requiring a temporary blocker.

Combo Potential: The ability to gain control and untap a creature makes this card a perfect combo enabler. It can synergize with sacrifice outlets, essentially letting you use an opponent’s creature for your gain before offering it up as a tribute for your effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where larger threats dominate, Traitorous Instinct can turn an opponent’s high-value creature against them. This can result in significant life swings and potentially game-ending plays, particularly relevant if the meta favors creature-heavy decks.


How to Beat Traitorous Instinct

Traitorous Instinct takes center stage as a game-shifting card, offering a temporary control of an opponent’s creature along with a notable power boost. This can lead to surprising swings in board control, especially if the creature in question has a powerful attack or a valuable ability. However, this move is not without its counters.

One effective strategy to counteract Traitorous Instinct involves instant-speed removal spells. By eliminating the creature targeted by Traitorous Instinct before the power bonus becomes relevant, you negate the card’s effects and maintain the equilibrium on the battlefield. Similarly, flashing in creatures with abilities like ‘Sacrifice another creature: You gain life equal to that creature’s power’ can prove to be a savvy maneuver. It can turn your opponent’s attack into an advantage for you.

Additionally, counter magic should not be underestimated. Cards such as Negate or Essence Scatter can be used to prevent Traitorous Instinct from resolving in the first place. Lastly, cards with hexproof or shroud can protect your valuable creatures from being snatched away, ensuring the consistency of your board presence against such surprise tactics.

The key to overcoming Traitorous Instinct lies in preparedness and timing. By keeping these counters in mind and managing resources wisely, players can turn the tides against an opponent attempting to leverage your own creatures against you.


Cards like Traitorous Instinct

Traitorous Instinct stands out as a dynamic option within the temporary creature control spells niche in Magic: The Gathering. It has commonalities with cards like Act of Treason, both allowing players to gain control of an opponent’s creature for a turn. Where Traitorous Instinct gains an edge is in the power boost it grants to the hijacked creature, giving it +2/+0 until end of turn. Act of Treason doesn’t offer this enhancement, which can be crucial during combat phases for overpowering opponents.

Another card in the conversation is Hijack, which shares the trait of commandeering an opponent’s asset for a turn. Unlike Traitorous Instinct, Hijack expands its influence by targeting artifacts in addition to creatures. Yet, it lacks the power bonus, making it less aggressive in terms of direct damage potential. Then there’s Portent of Betrayal, which also takes control of an opponent’s creature for a turn and scrys 1, giving you slight deck manipulation on top of temporary control but without the punch that Traitorous Instinct provides.

Evaluating their strategic benefits and in-game effects, Traitorous Instinct carves a formidable position among MTG’s temporary control spells, favored for its aggressive push in player versus player combat scenarios.

Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Hijack - MTG Card versions
Portent of Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - Magic 2010 (M10)
Hijack - Kaladesh (KLD)
Portent of Betrayal - Theros (THS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Traitorous Instinct MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Return to Ravnica, 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 Traitorous Instinct and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Traitorous Instinct Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2017-03-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1682003normalblackScott Chou
22012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1092003normalblackDaarken
32017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1142015normalblackScott Chou

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Traitorous Instinct has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-06-15 You may target a creature you already control. You may target a creature that’s already untapped.

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