Master of Winds MTG Card


It excels in card advantage, drawing upon entry and when targeted by spells. Flexible instant speed responses elevate it as a dynamic game changer. The demand for card discard and specific mana can limit its versatility.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Sphinx Wizard
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying When Master of Winds enters the battlefield, draw two cards, then discard a card. Whenever you cast an instant, sorcery, or Wizard spell, you may have Master of Winds's base power and toughness become 4/1 or 1/4 until end of turn.


Cards like Master of Winds

Master of Winds stands as an intriguing creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique twist on drawing and filtering cards. It is comparable to cards like Sphinx of Foresight, which allows you to manipulate your draws in advance. While both are sphinxes with flying, Master of Winds brings an immediate impact by letting you draw cards upon casting a spell with a kicker, enhancing deck synergy.

Another card worth mentioning is Gadwick, the Wizened, which also allows for drawing multiple cards. However, Gadwick’s ability scales with the amount of mana spent upon casting, providing a potentially higher draw. In contrast, Master of Winds presents a more consistent card advantage with its focus on kicker spells, backed by its potential to switch its power and toughness. It’s a valuable asset for controlling the board state.

When evaluating these choices in a strategy to finesse your hand and maintain aerial dominance, Master of Winds comes across as a highly adaptable option that can shape the course of the game by optimizing your draws and posing a formidable presence in the skies.

Sphinx of Foresight - MTG Card versions
Gadwick, the Wizened - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of Foresight - MTG Card versions
Gadwick, the Wizened - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Master of Winds by color, type and mana cost

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Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Screeching Drake - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Extravagant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Archmage Emeritus - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Master of Winds offers a significant boost in card advantage by allowing you to draw cards when it enters the battlefield. By synergizing with spells that target it, you ensure a continuous flow of options at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: While Master of Winds itself doesn’t produce resources directly, it can be the lynchpin in a deck that aims to cast multiple spells in a single turn. This flying creature can pivot your game strategy and speed up your victory through card selection and tempo.

Instant Speed: One of the standout features of Master of Winds is its flexibility in responding at instant speed. Its ability to exchange hands when it becomes the target of a spell you cast allows for dynamic play choices during critical moments, especially when you’re casting instants to trigger its ability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Master of Winds demands a card to be discarded to fully utilize its ability, which can be a taxing cost if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana requirement of two blue sources, Master of Winds mandates a deck with reliable blue mana generation, potentially limiting its inclusion only to dedicated blue or two-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a casting cost of four mana, including two blue, Master of Winds can compete with other spell options at a similar mana range that may offer immediate impact or more versatile abilities.


Reasons to Include Master of Winds in Your Collection

Versatility: Master of Winds serves as a flexible addition to your arsenal, adapting to various situations on the board. As a creature that can change its power and toughness, it offers defensive and offensive capabilities depending on your needs.

Combo Potential: The ability to draw cards and then discard a card opens up numerous combo possibilities. Whether you’re aiming to fill your graveyard for strategies that play with reanimation, or you’re looking to cycle through your deck for the perfect answer, Master of Winds can be a linchpin in executing complex plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that’s ever-evolving, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. Master of Winds can be a crucial play against decks that rely on noncreature spells, allowing you to take advantage of the spellslinging nature of current metagames while ensuring your flyers soar over blockers.


How to beat

Master of Winds is a versatile creature card that brings a strategic edge to the board in MTG, but every card has its counterplays. The key to overcoming this card lies in preventing its prowess trigger or dealing with it swiftly before it can generate substantial value for your opponent. Removal spells that can target creatures without triggering prowess, such as Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst, can be highly effective. Alternatively, utilizing instant-speed interaction to remove it in response to the prowess trigger will limit its impact on the game.

Counterspells are also an excellent strategy against Master of Winds, especially when cast during your opponent’s turn, to avoid them benefiting from any spells they might cast to trigger prowess. It’s crucial to anticipate and respond to the spell that could activate its ability, rather than directly engaging the Master of Winds itself. In addition, edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature, like Liliana’s Triumph, can bypass the potential hexproof or protection defenses that might shield the Master of Winds.

By focusing on these strategies, MTG players can effectively neutralize the advantage that Master of Winds is designed to provide and maintain control of the game. As with any powerful card, recognizing its strengths and planning your tactics accordingly are the keys to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Master of Winds MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising Promos, 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 Master of Winds and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Master of Winds Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Yigit Koroglu.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 837462015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 68s2015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
32020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3312015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 68p2015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu
52020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 682015NormalBlackYigit Koroglu

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Master of Winds has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-09-25 A Wizard spell is one with the creature type Wizard. Spells that are Wizard-themed (such as Relic Amulet) aren’t Wizard spells.
2020-09-25 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell (if it has any targets). The ability resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-09-25 Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Master of Winds may become lethal if you change its base toughness during that turn.
2020-09-25 Effects that modify the power or toughness of Master of Winds without setting it will apply to its new base power and toughness no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for counters that change its power and toughness.
2020-09-25 The ability of Master of Winds overwrites any previous effects that set its power and/or toughness to specific values. Other effects that set these characteristics to specific values that start to apply after the ability resolves will overwrite that part of the effect.
2020-09-25 You don’t choose a power and toughness for Master of Winds as its ability triggers. Rather, as it resolves, you choose whether to have Master of Winds become 4/1, become 1/4, or not change its power and toughness.