Intrude on the MindHow it works & interactions with other cards

Separating the Piles

When this spell resolves, you reveal the top five cards of your library and divide them into two piles of any size. You can even create one pile with all five cards and one empty pile. You then choose one opponent to pick which pile goes to your hand; the remaining pile is sent to your graveyard.

Building the Thopter

After the cards are moved, you create a 0/0 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. The spell then checks how many cards were moved to your graveyard specifically by this effect and places that many +1/+1 counters on the Thopter. If all five cards went to your hand, you still get a 0/0 Thopter, which will unfortunately die immediately as a state-based action for having 0 toughness.

Timing and Strategy

Because this is an instant, it is perfect for casting at the end of your opponent's turn. It allows you to keep mana open for counterspells or removal, and then develop your hand and board right before you untap.

Common Pitfalls

Remember that the +1/+1 counters only count the cards put into the graveyard by the resolution of Intrude on the Mind. You cannot count cards that were already in your graveyard or cards discarded earlier in the turn. Additionally, you cannot choose yourself to pick the pile; it must be an opponent.

Interaction examples

The Big Thopter Gamble

Intrude on the MindThopter

You cast Intrude on the Mind and reveal five cards. You place all five cards into Pile A and leave Pile B empty. Your opponent, fearing your hand size, chooses Pile B. You put all five cards into your graveyard, then create a Thopter token. It receives five +1/+1 counters, resulting in a 5/5 flier.

Finding Protection

Intrude on the MindForce of Will

You reveal five cards, including a Force of Will. You put Force of Will in Pile A and the other four cards in Pile B. If your opponent chooses Pile A, you get your counterspell and a 4/4 Thopter. If they choose Pile B, you get four new cards and a 1/1 Thopter.

Dealing with Bounce Effects

Intrude on the MindAetherize

After creating a large Thopter token with Intrude on the Mind, your opponent casts Aetherize during your next attack. The Thopter token is returned to your hand, where it ceases to exist. Since it is a token, you cannot cast it again like a normal creature card.