Temporary Insanity MTG Card

Torment (TOR)
2002-02-04 - Number 116

Temporary Insanity - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
2011-04-01 - Number 73

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Temporary Insanity swings battles by granting temporary control of opponents’ creatures at instant speed.
The card’s discard cost and mana requirements may hinder its versatility in some MTG decks.
It shines in decks embracing madness mechanics, offering unique combo and theft opportunities.

Text of card

Untap target creature with power less than the number of cards in your graveyard and gain control of it until end of turn. That creature gains haste until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unlocking the potential to take control of an opponent’s creature brings a dual advantage. Not only do you add firepower to your side, but you also temporarily deprive your opponent of a valuable asset, swinging the balance of the battlefield in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Temporary Insanity doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in terms of mana, it can provide indirect acceleration. By commandeering an opponent’s creature, you may benefit from its abilities, possibly leading to ramping effects or other means of advancing your board state.

Instant Speed: One of the strongest attributes of Temporary Insanity is its instant speed, giving you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. The ability to instantly hijack a key blocker or attacker can turn the tides of combat, potentially leading to significant swings in life totals or board advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Temporary Insanity, players must discard a card. This cost can put players at a disadvantage, especially in late-game scenarios where maintaining a full hand could be crucial to leveraging strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: With a demand for both red mana and generic mana, Temporary Insanity requires a focused mana base, potentially limiting its utility in multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a total cost of four mana, this card’s investment may be seen as steep when weighed against other spells that could generate more immediate or lasting board presence or control. Players might consider alternative spells that offer similar control effects for a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Temporary Insanity offers a unique twist on creature control, capable of fitting into decks that exploit temporary theft mechanics. Its ability to snatch a creature for a turn can turn the tides in both offensive and defensive situations.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to create unexpected combos, particularly in formats that favor exploiting creatures’ enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield effects. It can also be paired with sacrifice outlets to permanently rid the board of an opponent’s threat.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where powerful creatures dominate, Temporary Insanity gains value. It allows players to temporarily remove a blocker or to swing with an opponent’s creature, making it a versatile choice against a variety of dominant decks.

How to beat Temporary Insanity

Temporary Insanity is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can temporarily turn the tide of a game by allowing you to gain control of an opponent’s creature for a single turn. To effectively combat this disruption, consider cards that provide protection to your creatures, such as Swiftfoot Boots or Lightning Greaves, which grant hexproof or shroud. Counter spells remain a steadfast defensive tool to negate Temporary Insanity upon its casting. Tricky plays involving sacrificial outlets like Goblin Bombardment enable you to sacrifice your own creatures in response, denying your opponent the benefit.

Maintaining a watchful eye on the board state and being prepared to adjust your strategy is key against such hijacking tactics. Additionally, try to minimize the number of high-value targets on your board to decrease the impact Temporary Insanity can have. If it is successfully cast, remember that its effect is just for one turn. Plan ahead for the turn after when the creature will be returned, ensuring you can swiftly regain momentum and make use of your temporarily lost asset.

In essence, being proactive with protective measures and reactive with instant-speed responses can neutralize the threat posed by Temporary Insanity, keeping you in control of your MTG match.

Cards like Temporary Insanity

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Temporary Insanity finds itself among a unique suite of red cards that temporarily commandeer creatures. Act of Treason stands out as a direct parallel, as it also enables players to gain control of an opponent’s creature for a turn. However, Temporary Insanity provides that extra edge by only costing one red mana if a creature card is in your graveyard due to the madness mechanic.

Comparably, Mark of Mutiny adds a slight twist to this temporary theft theme by placing a +1/+1 counter on the stolen creature, potentially leading to more aggressive plays. Alternatively, Harness by Force allows you to seize any number of creatures, scaling with your mana investment through its strive mechanic. While each of these cards has its unique strategic advantages, Temporary Insanity particularly shines in decks designed to exploit the madness ability, ensuring both flexibility in gameplay and an efficient use of resources.

By weighing the nuances and various in-game situations, Temporary Insanity can be an astute addition to Magic: The Gathering strategies, especially for those who enjoy the thrill of turning an opponent’s assets into their own opportunity, even if just for a fleeting moment.

Harness by Force - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

Cards similar to Temporary Insanity by color, type and mana cost

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - MTG Card versions

Parallectric Feedback - MTG Card versions

Lightning Blast - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Sudden Impact - Premium Deck Series: Fire and Lightning (PD2)

Stoke the Flames - March of the Machine (MOM)

Fated Conflagration - Born of the Gods Promos (PBNG)

Solar Blast - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Blind with Anger - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Ire of Kaminari - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Gaze of Adamaro - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temporary Insanity MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons, 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 Temporary Insanity and other MTG cards: