Sleight of Mind MTG Card


Enables color word manipulation, turning situational cards into key strategy components in real-time. Offers tactical flexibility at instant speed, disrupting opponent plays and accelerating your game plan. Demands careful mana management and card resource consideration due to discard requirement and specific costs.
Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Change the text of any card being played or already in play by replacing one color word with another. For example, you can change "Counters red spells" to "Counters black spells." Cannot change mana symbols.


Understanding Sleight of Mind’s Unique Effect

Sleight of Mind stands out in the roster of MTG cards due to its unique ability to alter the text of any spell or permanent until end of turn. This versatility differs from most cards which typically have fixed abilities.

Cards like Sleight of Mind

Sleight of Mind showcases its enchanting prowess by enabling players to change one instance of a color word on any spell or permanent. This trait can be likened to cards like Magical Hack or Whim of Volrath, which also play with the text of spells and permanents on the fly. Magical Hack, in particular, targets lands by changing land type references, while Whim of Volrath offers greater flexibility, allowing changes to any text—not just color words. Yet, Sleight of Mind’s focus on color can be a strategic boon in the right deck, particularly one that manipulates protection abilities or in a color-intensive meta.

Comparing this with Spectral Shift or Alter Reality reveals a trade-off between scope and specificity. Those cards cover a broader range of potential changes, including altering color words throughout the entire text, not just one instance. However, Sleight of Mind’s lower mana cost and being an interrupt (now an instant) gives it the speed advantage in reactive play. While it may not offer the broad text manipulation of its counterparts, its precision in altering color words can have a substantial impact, making it a noteworthy option for decks where such tweaks are essential.

Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Whim of Volrath - MTG Card versions
Spectral Shift - MTG Card versions
Alter Reality - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Whim of Volrath - MTG Card versions
Spectral Shift - MTG Card versions
Alter Reality - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sleight of Mind by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Brainstorm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sleight of Mind offers a unique kind of card advantage, particularly in combo decks. With the ability to change a word on a target spell or permanent, it can effectively turn a once situational card into a key piece of your strategy, aligning with your current game state for greater efficacy.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources like mana, Sleight of Mind can accelerate your strategic resources. By altering key words on cards, it helps steer the game in your favor faster. This might mean changing a creature’s color to bypass protection or enabling a combo with a newly compatible piece—crucial accelerations in the pace at which your plan unfolds.

Instant Speed: The power of casting spells at instant speed cannot be understated in MTG. Sleight of Mind’s instant nature gives players the flexibility to adjust their tactics on the fly, responding to opponents’ actions in real-time and potentially disrupting their strategies during crucial phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A major downside to Sleight of Mind is its necessity for a card to be discarded to trigger its effect. This exchange can often lead to a loss of valuable resources, diminishing your hand advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Sleight of Mind needs a precise combination of mana to be played. Sporting a single blue mana requirement could potentially restrict its integration into multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of one blue mana may seem economical, but when considering the scope of utility and impact on the game, Sleight of Mind can feel costly. Especially when evaluating other options within the same mana range, it becomes apparent that there are alternatives that could provide a greater influence on the board or card advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sleight of Mind offers flexibility in any blue-focused deck, able to adjust key card texts in real-time, and navigate through opponents’ strategies by altering words on the fly.

Combo Potential: This card creates unique synergies, pairing well with cards that have specific word-dependent abilities. It can enable unusual and game-winning interactions in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of the meta, Sleight of Mind can counter or exploit decks that hinge on particular keywords, maintaining its relevance in various competitive environments.


How to beat

Sleight of Mind is an intriguing card that allows players to change the text of a spell or permanent by substituting one color word for another. This can be quite the strategic tool in Magic: The Gathering for those looking to manipulate gameplay in their favor. To effectively counter this card, players must anticipate the pivotal moment when their opponent might utilize Sleight of Mind’s ability.

As a countermeasure, one might consider using spells that are less dependent on color-specific mechanics. This would minimize Sleight of Mind’s impact. Moreover, keeping versatile removal or counterspell options in hand can disrupt your opponent’s attempt to use this tricky card optimally. If Sleight of Mind is being used in tandem with certain combos, identifying and interrupting these combinations can be a key strategy. Therefore, playing proactively and having a breadth of responses is crucial to outmaneuvering the clever applications of Sleight of Mind.

Ultimately, versatility and foresight in deck construction and in-game decision-making are invaluable when facing down the potential challenges posed by Sleight of Mind. By considering the card’s strengths and keeping its effects in mind, you can devise strategies that turn the tide of battle in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sleight of Mind MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Sleight of Mind and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sleight of Mind Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 781993NormalBlackMark Poole
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 791993NormalBlackMark Poole
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 791993NormalWhiteMark Poole
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 791993NormalBlackMark Poole
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 791993NormalBlackMark Poole
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 811993NormalBlackMark Poole
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 811993NormalWhiteMark Poole
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 811993NormalWhiteMark Poole
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1021993NormalWhiteMark Poole
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1021993NormalBlackMark Poole
111995-06-03Ice AgeICE 991993NormalBlackNicola Leonard
121997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1241997NormalWhiteMark Poole
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3751997NormalBlackMark Poole
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 782015NormalBlackMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sleight of Mind has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sleight of Mind 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 Alters all occurrences of the chosen word in the text box and the type line of the given card.
2004-10-04 Can target a card with no appropriate words on it, or even one with no words at all.
2004-10-04 Can target a card with no color words on it.
2004-10-04 Can’t change a color word to the same color word. It must be a different word.
2004-10-04 Changing the text of a spell will not allow you to change the targets of the spell because the targets were chosen when the spell was cast. The text change will (probably) cause it to be countered since the targets will be illegal.
2004-10-04 If you change the text of a spell which is to become a permanent, the permanent will retain the text change until the effect wears off.
2004-10-04 It can’t change a word to the same word. It must be a different word.
2004-10-04 It only changes what is printed on the card (or set on a token when it was created or set by a copy effect). It will not change any effects that are on the permanent.
2004-10-04 You can’t Sleight proper nouns (i.e. card names). This means that you can’t affect a “Black Vise”.
2004-10-04 You choose the words to change on resolution.