Pojo's Magic The Gathering news, tips, strategies and more!

Pojo's MTG
MTG Home
Message Board
News & Archives
Deck Garage
BMoor Dolf BeJoSe

Columnists
Paul's Perspective
Jeff Zandi
DeQuan Watson
Jordon Kronick
IQ
Aburame Shino
Rare Hunter
Tim Stoltzfus
WiCkEd
Judge Bill's Corner


Trading Card
Game

Card of the Day
Guide for Newbies
Decks to Beat
Featured Articles
Peasant Magic
Fan Tips
Tourney Reports


Other
Color Chart
Book Reviews
Online Play
MTG Links
Staff



This Space
For Rent

Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Distended Mindbender
Image from Wizards.com

Distended Mindbender
- Eldritch Moon

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2016

Constructed: 3.67
Casual: 3.50
Limited: 4.13
Multiplayer: 3.00
Commander [EDH]: 3.00

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale:
1 - Horrible  3 - Average.  5 - Awesome

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Distended Mindbender
 
It was interesting for me to note the arguably surprising synergy between the emerge ability and much older cards like Jund's sacrifice themes. Even without taking that into account, something like Distended Mindbender is worth looking at twice, as there have been few recent cards that permit some sort of mass discard attack (and more than one if you can return it to your hand or cast it from your graveyard). The fact that it eliminates two cards and its synergy with popular multiplayer and EDH themes is also relatively unique, as many of the most powerful discard abilities are dramatically less effective in such settings.
 
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
EDH/Commander: 3/5
James H. Distended Mindbender (8/3)
 
Another emerge creature, and this one is certainly one of the more potent ones. It's not quite as game-ending as Elder Deep-Fiend or Decimator of the Provinces was, but this is still a very powerful card.
 
The most powerful this card can be is curving from a three-drop into this by paying Emerge. It comes down and can get your opponent while they're setting up, ripping away a small body (or removal spell) and their big threat. Hitting your choice of potentially two cards means this is taking a massive chunk out of your opponent in the early game, and this is still a 5/5 after it does its early damage. And it's a cast trigger, like all Eldrazi are, so stopping this isn't going to be easy for them.
 
This isn't a good card if you fall behind; it's too expensive to not use the emerge cost on, and it's just a large body with no protection. But it can take your opponent out of the game early if it drops around turn 4 or 5, and that's an excellent place for this card.
 
Constructed: 4.25
Casual: 4
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 3
Commander: 3

Copyright© 1998-2016 pojo.com - Magic the Gathering Card Reviews
This site is not sponsored, endorsed, or otherwise affiliated with any of the companies or products featured on this site. This is not an Official Site.