Mesmeric Fiend 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
When this creature enters, target opponent reveals their hand and you choose a nonland card from it. Exile that card. When this creature leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to its owner's hand.
Complete guide
Mesmeric Fiend is a classic black disruption creature that provides a temporary look at your opponent's hand. While it seems straightforward, its two separate triggered abilities allow for some advanced timing tricks that can permanently remove threats. Understanding the difference between 'enters' and 'leaves' triggers is key to mastering this Nightmare Horror.
Temporary Exile Explained
When Mesmeric Fiend enters the battlefield, its first ability triggers, forcing a target opponent to reveal their hand so you can exile a nonland card. This exile is intended to be temporary, lasting only as long as the Fiend remains on the battlefield. Because these are two distinct triggered abilities rather than a single duration-based effect, they interact with the stack independently.
The Leaves-the-Battlefield Clause
The second ability triggers specifically when Mesmeric Fiend leaves the battlefield for any reason, such as being destroyed, exiled, or returned to your hand. Under normal circumstances, this returns the exiled card to its owner. However, if the Fiend leaves the battlefield before the first ability has even resolved, the 'return' trigger will resolve first and do nothing, effectively exiling the chosen card for the rest of the game.
Strategic Timing
To use Mesmeric Fiend effectively, play it early to disrupt your opponent's curve or protect your own combo pieces. It is particularly potent in decks that can sacrifice creatures at instant speed, allowing you to respond to the first trigger by removing the Fiend to trigger the second one immediately. This ensures your opponent never gets their card back.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou cast Mesmeric Fiend while your opponent has an Ornithopter of Paradise in hand. The enters-the-battlefield ability triggers, you choose the Ornithopter of Paradise, and it is exiled. If your opponent later uses a removal spell on Mesmeric Fiend, the second ability triggers and the Ornithopter of Paradise returns to their hand.
Blood ArtistYou have Blood Artist on the battlefield and cast Mesmeric Fiend. When the Fiend enters, you target an opponent. If the Fiend is destroyed later, not only does your opponent get their card back, but Blood Artist triggers, allowing you to drain 1 life from your opponent and gain 1 life yourself.
In a vacuum, playing Mesmeric Fiend on turn two allows you to see your opponent's entire hand. Even if they destroy it immediately, you have gained valuable information about their future plays and forced them to use a removal spell on a low-cost creature.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Mesmeric Fiend
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Mesmeric Fiend leaves the battlefield before its first ability has resolved, its second ability will trigger and do nothing. Then its first ability will resolve and exile a nonland card from the target opponent's hand indefinitely.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Mesmeric Fiend
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.