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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!

Mind Control
Image from Wizards.com

Mind Control
M10

Reviewed October 14, 2009

Constructed: 2.50
Casual: 2.75
Limited: 4.00
Multiplayer: 2.25

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

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Card of the Day Reviews 


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Mind Control

Who needs creatures when you can turn your opponent's creatures against them? It's always been a solid strategy in both constructed and limited, and explains the recent popularity of creatures like Bogardan Hellkite and Mulldrifter, where at least you got some value out of it even if the opponent has Mind Control or Sower of Temptation. In M10 drafts, I'd almost always pick this, even if only to prevent the other people from using it against you!

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 2/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno Today's card of the day is Control Magic with an additional colorless mana in the cost, otherwise known as Mind Control. While not a bad card seeing an older card directly weakened makes it hard to justify sometimes. I mainly prefer the Red temporary control with Haste that has become a running theme for them compared to the slower, yet longer lasting Blue options.

In Constructed, Casual, and Multiplayer there is no reason to play this in a format that allows Control Magic, but for Limited or Extended this is an alternative to simply countering a creature. It generally needs to be a large threat and taking control instead of countering, especially since no Haste is involved, leaves you vulnerable to it backfiring or the advantage being otherwise negated. To be worth the control the monster should be a threat and that threat can be returned to your opponent or simply removed in any number of ways.

An additional note for Casual and Multiplayer as both formats have a better likelihood of some impressive creature being played to be a prime target for Mind Control. At least one player around the table in multiplayer should have something dangerous and many casual decks revolve around a key single creature. The ease of disrupting the value in the formats prevents a dramatically higher score, but it is a bit better compared to Constructed.

For Limited the smaller number of options and increased number of large creatures dramatically improves the look of this card. Choices for killing the creature are less common and the likelihood of taking something being a huge shift in balance is much bigger. I consider this card to be worth including in any Sealed deck that can handle the double blue and just below true removal in Booster for drafting purposes. The high cost makes it less flexible, but later in the game little can beat out topdecking this against a Darksteel Colossus or Enormous Baloth.

Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 2.5
Paul Magic The Gathering COTD: Mind Control

Welcome back readers today’s card of the day is mind control a powerful enchantment that allows you to gain control of enchanted creature for give mana. Relying on what your opponents are playing is never the best option and sinking five mana into stealing a creature an opponent controls at sorcery speed is not the best finisher or support card today in standard. In extended and eternal formats this card is expensive and does not provide enough bang for the buck and won’t see play. In casual and multiplayer being able to snatch the scariest creature at the table and counter remaining threats opponents play is blues forte, this cards power increases as the variety of creature’s increases at the table. In limited this card shines as it allows you to steal an opponent’s powerful creature in lieu of utilizing removal. Combined with cards like Ice Cage blue mages in limited have a powerful card at their disposal. Overall Mind Control is a powerful card that fills a niche for control players allowing them to manipulate creatures players have already played.

Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 3.0
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 3.0

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