Dramatist's Puppet MTG Card


Dramatist’s Puppet affords card advantage and strategical depth to the player’s hand and game flow. Instant speed and resource acceleration capabilities provide significant tactical advantages in gameplay. Despite benefits, its specific mana and discard requirements limit versatility and increase casting cost.
Dramatist's Puppet - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Released2022-02-18
Set symbol
Set nameKamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Set codeNEO
Power 2
Toughness 4
Number244
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLivia Prima

Text of card

When Dramatist's Puppet enters the battlefield, for each kind of counter on target permanent, put another counter of that kind on it or remove one from it.

"Who cares if the story's true as long as people are entertained?" —Shin, Towashi street performer


Cards like Dramatist's Puppet

Dramatist’s Puppet introduces a unique twist to creature control in Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors cards like Act of Treason in its ability to seize an opponent’s creature, albeit temporarily. The fundamental difference lies in the Puppet’s multifaceted utility – being a creature itself and offering a controlled duration of commandeering. Act of Treason doesn’t provide a body on the board, which delineates the strategic versatility between the two.

When compared to other creature theft spells, think of Harness by Force. It too grabs hold of enemy creatures, but Dramatist’s Puppet is nuanced, granting repeatable control effects at the cost of returning the creatures back during the end step. This contrast in duration and repeatability pitches the Puppet as a tactical play in games drawn over several turns.

Another parallel can be drawn with Kari Zev’s Expertise, as both exert dominion over opposing creatures and enable a swing on the battlefield. Still, the Puppet allows for a more controlled and recurrent approach to managing opponent’s threats. Weighing up these comparisons shows why the Puppet could be a game-changer in decks built around creature control strategies, offering consistency and continuous pressure on your adversaries.

Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Harness by Force - MTG Card versions
Kari Zev's Expertise - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Harness by Force - MTG Card versions
Kari Zev's Expertise - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dramatist's Puppet by color, type and mana cost

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Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

The Dramatist’s Puppet is a card that brings several strategic advantages to the tabletop, clearing the way for cunning playmakers to outmaneuver their opponents. Its utilities resonate well with seasoned players looking for nuanced control over the game’s flow.

Card Advantage: This card enables you to exert influence on both your and your opponent’s hand, potentially disrupting their game plan while setting up your own. Its ability to sift through cards elevates your strategic potential, ensuring that you maintain a superior position in terms of available resources and options.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does the Dramatist’s Puppet offer strategic depth through card interactions, but it also facilitates resource acceleration. This acceleration can be pivotal in outpacing opponents by providing the resources necessary to deploy your more impactful spells earlier in the game than normally possible.

Instant Speed: The swift nature of this spell, owing to its instant speed, provides a tactical edge. It allows you to adapt on the fly, reacting to your opponent’s moves or making last-minute decisions that could turn the tide of the match. This flexibility is key in responding to threats or opportunities as they arise during the heat of the duel.

With these characteristics in mind, the Dramatist’s Puppet can certainly be considered a formidable asset in the arsenal of any MTG player looking to craft a winning strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Dramatist’s Puppet, part of its activation terms includes discarding a card, which can put you at a disadvantage by decreasing your hand size, particularly if you’re already struggling to maintain a good number of cards in play.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mana composition to cast, demanding both blue and red mana. This confines its utility to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana, potentially excluding it from more color-flexible or single-color strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given the card’s mana value, it’s on the pricier side for its effects in comparison to other options in the same mana range. While the card offers intriguing gameplay possibilities, players must assess if the investment is worth the outcome compared to other cards that demand less mana.


Reasons to Include Dramatist’s Puppet in Your Collection

Versatility: Dramatist’s Puppet is a versatile card that can be easily incorporated into decks that leverage enchantments or artifact synergies. It can actively take part in various strategies, adapting to your game plan whether you aim to control the board or enable intricate combos.

Combo Potential: This card holds substantial potential when it comes to combos. With its unique ability to manipulate counters, it can become a key piece in decks that capitalize on modifying or moving counters for beneficial effects, effortlessly integrating with cards that share or rely on similar mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Keeping pace with the ever-shifting meta-game can be challenging but Dramatist’s Puppet has relevance. Its ability to serve multiple roles, from a blocker to a surprise combo enabler, makes it a strategic choice against a variety of deck types that dominate the current competitive scene.


How to beat

Mastering the art of counterplay is essential when facing an opponent’s Dramatist’s Puppet in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. To outmaneuver this particular artifact creature, it’s crucial we adopt strategies that diminish its impact. The Puppet, notable for its adaptability, hinges on its power to tap and untap repeatedly, which can be capitalized on by a savvy opponent. A reliable method to conquer this nimble construct is by implementing removal spells that target artifacts directly. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Abrade can dismantle this mechanical menace before it can fully express its prowess on the battlefield.

In addition, summoning creatures with the ability to lockdown artifacts provides a sustained solution to the Puppet’s persistence. Kinetic spells that eliminate or exile creatures without targeting them also prove exceptionally efficient, bypassing potential defenses the Puppet’s controller may have woven. Finally, gameplay centered on speed can outpace the Puppet’s theatrics, focusing on rapid strikes and overwhelming force to close the game before the Puppet’s utility can shift the momentum.

Strategic foresightedness and a well-curated deck can ensure that Dramatist’s Puppet poses little threat to your victory. Anticipating its plays and incorporating direct counters will keep you puppeteering the game’s outcome.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dramatist's Puppet MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Dramatist's Puppet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dramatist's Puppet has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-02-18 You choose whether to add or remove counters as the ability resolves. If the permanent has multiple kinds of counters, you don't have to make the same choice for each kind.