Faerie Mastermind — ruling 1

Faerie Mastermind doesn't need to have been under your control when the first card is drawn for its ability to trigger. As long as you control it when an opponent draws their second card in a turn, that ability will trigger.

Faerie Mastermind : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Faerie Mastermind is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Flash Flying Whenever an opponent draws their second card each turn, you draw a card. : Each player draws a card.

Complete guide

Faerie Mastermind is a powerful utility creature that excels at punishing opponents for drawing extra cards while providing its own card-draw engine. With Flash and Flying, it can enter the battlefield at the perfect moment to ensure you never fall behind in card advantage.

Punishing Extra Draws

Faerie Mastermind has a triggered ability that checks every time an opponent draws their second card in a single turn. It does not matter how they drew the first card—whether it was during their draw step or via a spell—the moment the second card is drawn, the ability triggers and you draw a card. Crucially, the Mastermind only needs to be on the battlefield when that second card is drawn; it doesn't need to have seen the first draw to work.

Activating the Engine

The Mastermind also features an activated ability costing {3}{U} that forces every player to draw a card. Because this ability causes your opponent to draw a card, it can be used strategically to trigger its own passive ability. If you activate this on an opponent's turn after they have already drawn their card for the turn, you will draw one card from the activated ability and a second card from the triggered ability.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming this triggers on every card an opponent draws. It only triggers on the second card each turn. If an opponent draws a third or fourth card in the same turn, the Mastermind will not trigger again. Additionally, in multiplayer games, this can trigger once for each opponent, provided each one reaches their second draw for the turn.

Interaction examples

Flash and Evasion

Ornithopter of Paradise

You can cast Faerie Mastermind during your opponent's end step using Flash. On your following turn, you can tap Ornithopter of Paradise for blue mana to help pay for the Mastermind's activated ability, ensuring you have the resources to force symmetrical draws that benefit you more.

Accelerating the Game

Foundry Inspector

While Foundry Inspector reduces the cost of artifact spells, it helps you stabilize your board early so you can hold up mana for Faerie Mastermind. If you have both on the field, you can use the mana saved on artifacts to activate the Mastermind's {3}{U} ability more frequently, keeping your hand full while your opponent struggles to keep up with your cost-reduced plays.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Faerie Mastermind

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Faerie Mastermind doesn't need to have been under your control when the first card is drawn for its ability to trigger. As long as you control it when an opponent draws their second card in a turn, that ability will trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.