Puppeteer MTG Card


Puppeteer Clique offers powerful card and battlefield control through reanimating creatures. It requires careful planning due to specific mana costs and high cost impact. Strategically used, Puppeteer Clique can significantly disrupt opponent strategies.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

o U, oc T: Tap or untap target creature.

"Getting people to do what you want is merely a matter of telling them what they want to hear."


Cards like Puppeteer

Puppeteer is an interesting option for players looking to control the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Like Puppeteer, there is the card Icy Manipulator, which can also manipulate combat interactions by tapping potential threats. However, Puppeteer offers a specialized niche by requiring a blue mana and the ability to target only creatures, whereas Icy Manipulator has a broader application but at a higher cost.

Similar to Puppeteer, there’s the enchantment called Claustrophobia, which not only taps a creature but also keeps it locked down and unable to untap during the untap phase. While both are blue, Claustrophobia effectively neutralizes the creature, Puppeteer provides ongoing control, allowing players to tactically tap or untap creatures depending on the situation. Another card in the same realm is Gideon’s Lawkeeper, which taps creatures at the cost of one white mana. The edge Puppeteer has over Gideon’s Lawkeeper is being able to untap a creature, increasing its utility in both offensive and defensive plays.

When evaluating Puppeteer within the spectrum of similar effects, it carves its own value through flexibility and control, making it a nuanced tool for players who prefer strategic manipulation over outright creature removal.

Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Gideon's Lawkeeper - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Gideon's Lawkeeper - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Puppeteer by color, type and mana cost

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Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
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Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Puppeteer Clique excels at providing card advantage by reanimating creatures from any opponent’s graveyard. This effect not only disrupts their game plan but also offers you the opportunity to utilize their creatures’ abilities for a turn.

Resource Acceleration: By bringing creatures back from the graveyard with Puppeteer Clique, you essentially gain additional resources without expending cards from your hand, thereby accelerating your board presence and options.

Instant Speed: Though Puppeteer Clique itself isn’t an instant, its persist ability can be invaluable when it comes at instant speed. Returning to the battlefield after death unexpectedly can catch opponents off-guard during their turn, swinging the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Puppeteer can be a tricky card to utilize effectively as its abilities often come with a discard requirement. This forces players to make tough decisions about resource management, potentially depleting their hand when they need to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of blue mana to play, Puppeteer is not the most flexible addition to a deck. Its specific mana cost can hinder players running multicolored decks and may not fit into strategies that don’t primarily focus on blue mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Puppeteer’s control effects are enticing, its relatively high mana cost can be prohibitive in fast-paced games. There are alternatives in the same cost bracket that may not offer the same level of direct creature manipulation but provide broader utility or an immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Puppeteer in Your Collection

Versatility: Puppeteer is a utility card that can seamlessly integrate into various blue decks. Its ability to tap or untap a creature adds both offensive and defensive dimensions to your gameplay, making it a multipurpose tool for different situations.

Combo Potential: With Puppeteer in play, you can create synergies with cards that benefit from tapping or untapping. It can serve as a key piece in combos, aiding in infinite loops or triggering abilities multiple times in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks or those reliant on specific creatures are prominent, Puppeteer becomes an asset. Its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies or enhance your own makes it a card worth considering for a well-rounded collection.


How to beat Puppeteer

Puppeteer, a Magic: The Gathering card known for its ability to take control of an opponent’s creature, can be a game-changer if left unchecked on the battlefield. Disrupting the enchantment’s grip on your key creatures is vital for maintaining your strategy. Interacting directly with this card through enchantment removal spells is the most straightforward method for regaining control. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize offer clean and efficient ways of dealing with Puppeteer, removing the spell and releasing the ensnared creature.

Another approach is countering Puppeteer before it gets a foothold, using spells such as Negate or Counterspell, which prevent enchantments from resolving in the first place. Additionally, a well-timed sacrifice of your creature can nullify Puppeteer’s effect and curb your opponent’s plans. Lastly, playing creatures with hexproof or shroud ensures that Puppeteer cannot target them, thus preserving your board state. Considering these strategies can help you maintain the upper hand when facing this manipulative card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Puppeteer MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Eighth Edition, 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 Puppeteer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Puppeteer Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-10-01OdysseyODY 971997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 94★2003NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 942003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 91★2003NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 912003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer
62005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H392003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer
72005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H22003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer
82007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 982003NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Puppeteer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 You decide on resolution whether or not to tap or untap the creature.