Puca's Mischief MTG Card


Puca’s Mischief enables recurring card advantage through creative exchanges each upkeep. It accelerates resources, potentially providing more valuable assets and mana acceleration. Strategic play and deck design are essential to mitigate the card’s higher mana cost and specific requirements.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exchange control of target nonland permanent you control and target nonland permanent an opponent controls with an equal or lesser converted mana cost.


Cards like Puca's Mischief

Puca’s Mischief stands out within the unique subset of blue enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, adding a crafty twist to the control aspect of the game. It echoes the mischief of cards like Switcheroo, which also allows players to exchange control of two target creatures. However, Puca’s Mischief extends this swapping ability to any nonland permanents as long as the converted mana cost condition is met, not just creatures.

Another card with a similar swapping mechanic is Cultural Exchange. This card enables players to exchange control of any number of creatures they control for any number of creatures an opponent controls. While this effect can be more sweeping than Puca’s Mischief, it lacks the recurring aspect that Puca’s Mischief provides each turn. Meanwhile, Confusion in the Ranks, although it transfers control of artifacts, creatures, and enchantments whenever they enter the battlefield, does not have the precision or the mana cost condition that makes Puca’s Mischief a controlled and strategic option.

In the realm of control and exchange effects in Magic: The Gathering, Puca’s Mischief offers a distinct and recurring ability to influence the board every turn, positioning it as a key card for players who enjoy a long-term tactical advantage.

Switcheroo - MTG Card versions
Cultural Exchange - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Switcheroo - MTG Card versions
Cultural Exchange - MTG Card versions
Confusion in the Ranks - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Puca's Mischief by color, type and mana cost

Steal Artifact - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Animate Artifact - MTG Card versions
Merseine - MTG Card versions
Zur's Weirding - MTG Card versions
Abduction - MTG Card versions
Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Treasure Trove - MTG Card versions
Mystic Restraints - MTG Card versions
Ambiguity - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Leyline of Singularity - MTG Card versions
Psychic Possession - MTG Card versions
Steal Artifact - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Animate Artifact - MTG Card versions
Merseine - MTG Card versions
Zur's Weirding - MTG Card versions
Abduction - MTG Card versions
Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Treasure Trove - MTG Card versions
Mystic Restraints - MTG Card versions
Ambiguity - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Leyline of Singularity - MTG Card versions
Psychic Possession - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Puca’s Mischief enables ongoing card exchange, offering a unique form of card advantage as you strategically acquire key pieces from your opponent’s side of the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By swapping control of permanents, you can speed up your own gameplay with potentially more valuable assets that may tap for additional mana, allowing you to maximize your resources each turn.

Instant Speed: While Puca’s Mischief itself isn’t an instant, it can disrupt opponents’ strategies at the speed of surprise. Swapping at the upkeep each turn can be seen as leveraging instant speed tactics, keeping opponents off balance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Puca’s Mischief offers a unique exchange ability, it requires you to have a permanent card to trade. This can be a drawback when you’re out of suitable cards to swap, limiting the card’s functionality.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two blue mana, it demands a commitment to blue mana sources within your deck. This can restrict deck-building options and make the card incompatible with color-flexible strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including two color-specific, Puca’s Mischief’s ability could be considered cost-prohibitive for its effect. Given the need for consistent and valuable permanents to exchange, players may find other cards more efficient for achieving similar control or swap-based strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Puca’s Mischief offers a flexible approach to gameplay, allowing the swapping of permanents to disrupt opponent strategies or benefit your own board position. It fits well in decks that can leverage its unique exchange ability.

Combo Potential: This card is a cornerstone for inventive combos, particularly in decks that can capitalize on exchanging low-value permanents for more valuable targets, or where the swapped permanents have enter-the-battlefield effects or other triggered abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values control or the maneuvering of key pieces, Puca’s Mischief can be an unexpected game-changer. It manipulates the battlefield in ways that can give you the upper hand against an unprepared opponent.


How to Beat Puca’s Mischief

Puca’s Mischief is a unique and tricky card within the Magic: The Gathering arena, famed for its ability to permanently exchange control of nonland permanents every turn. To successfully navigate against this enchantment, it’s imperative to deploy a strategy that minimizes its impact. Keeping your board presence lean with fewer enchantments and artifacts, for instance, can limit the options available for your opponent to swap.

Implementing instant-speed removal or bounce spells like Naturalize or Boomerang can disrupt the mischief Puca’s Mischief intends to cause, by targeting either the enchantment itself or the newly acquired permanent before it can be utilized. Sideboarding cards that handle enchantments, or employing strategies that outpace the switch in control through aggressive play, can often tilt the match in your favor. It’s all about recognizing and interrupting the rhythm this card tries to establish.

Ultimately, though Puca’s Mischief can introduce a chaotic element into the play, a carefully curated deck with the right balance of removal, counterspells, or even sacrificing your own permanents for greater benefits can help ensure that this mischief doesn’t lead to your downfall.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depth of MTG strategy can lead to discovering cards like Puca’s Mischief, a dynamic blue enchantment that thrives on cunning and disruption. Tapping into its power can shift the tide of a match, provided you wield it wisely. It’s about understanding your deck and the meta, anticipating your opponent’s moves, and making every card count. Curious about incorporating Puca’s Mischief into your arsenal or finding ways to counteract its chaotic nature? We have resources and insights tailored for players who aim to navigate the complexities of card exchanges and emerge on top. Dive deeper with us, and sharpen your strategies for your next duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Puca's Mischief MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils, 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 Puca's Mischief and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Puca's Mischief Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by Scott Altmann.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 472003NormalBlackScott Altmann
22020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 292003NormalBlackScott Altmann
32020-09-26The ListPLST SHM-472003NormalBlackScott Altmann

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Puca's Mischief has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-05-01 Even if you don’t plan on exchanging control of any permanents, if you can choose two legal targets when the ability triggers, you must do so. If you can’t, then you don’t choose any targets.
2008-05-01 If either one of the targets becomes illegal (because it leaves the battlefield or for any other reason) by the time the ability resolves, the exchange won’t happen. If both targets become illegal, the ability doesn’t resolve.
2008-05-01 You choose two targets such that as a set, all of the targeting conditions are met. That means, for example, that if you control a nonland permanent whose converted mana cost is lower than any of your opponents’ nonland permanents, you can’t choose it as a target. (If you did, you’d be unable to choose a second target.)