Mind's Desire — ruling 1

The copies are put directly onto the stack. They aren't cast and won't be counted by other spells with storm cast later in the turn.

Mind's Desire — ruling 2

Spells cast from zones other than a player's hand and spells that were countered are counted by the storm ability.

Mind's Desire — ruling 3

A copy of a spell can be countered like any other spell, but it must be countered individually. Countering a spell with storm won't affect the copies.

Mind's Desire — ruling 4

The triggered ability that creates the copies can itself be countered by anything that can counter a triggered ability. If it is countered, no copies will be put onto the stack.

Mind's Desire — ruling 5

If the card is not played by end of turn, it remains exiled until end of game.

Mind's Desire — ruling 6

The card is face-up when exiled.

Mind's Desire : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Mind's Desire 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

Shuffle your library. Then exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card without paying its mana cost. Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.)

Complete guide

Mind's Desire is one of the most powerful 'Storm' finishers in Magic history, offering a cascade of free spells that can win a game on the spot. By turning every previous spell cast this turn into another chance to peel a game-winning card from the top of your deck, it serves as a chaotic yet effective engine for blue mages. This sorcery doesn't just draw you cards; it lets you cast them for free, bypassing their mana costs entirely.

Understanding the Storm Trigger

When you cast Mind's Desire, its Storm ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of the original spell. This ability counts every spell cast earlier in the turn by any player, including spells that were countered. Each copy created by Storm is put directly onto the stack; since these copies are not 'cast', they do not contribute to the count of any subsequent Storm spells you might play later in the same turn.

Resolving the Cascade

Each instance of Mind's Desire (the original and each copy) resolves one at a time. First, you shuffle your library. Next, you exile the top card face-up. You then have the option to play that card until the end of the current turn without paying its mana cost. If you exile a land, you may play it as your land drop for the turn (if you haven't already). If you choose not to play the card by the end of the turn, it remains in exile for the rest of the game.

Timing and Restrictions

You must follow all normal timing restrictions for the exiled card unless the effect says otherwise; however, Mind's Desire gives you a duration ('until end of turn'), meaning you don't have to cast the exiled card immediately while Mind's Desire is resolving. If you exile a Sorcery, you can still only cast it during your main phase when the stack is empty. If the spell has an X in its mana cost, you must choose 0 for the value of X when casting it for free.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking a 'Counterspell' stops the whole effect. Countering the original Mind's Desire spell does not stop the Storm trigger from creating copies. To stop the copies, an opponent must specifically counter the Storm trigger itself using an ability like 'Stifle'. Additionally, remember that you still pay additional costs, such as Kicker, even if the mana cost is free.

Interaction examples

Scaling Your Hand Size

Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn

If you resolve Mind's Desire and exile Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn, you can cast the sorcery side for free. This will often result in drawing a massive amount of cards, which provides more fuel for subsequent spells. Since Mind's Desire allows you to 'play' the card, you could also choose to play the land side, Sea Gate, Reborn, if you have a land drop available.

Clearing the Path

Raise the Palisade

Suppose you have cast three spells this turn before Mind's Desire. The Storm trigger creates three copies. If the first copy exiles Raise the Palisade, you can cast it immediately for free. You choose a creature type (like Wizard), returning all other creatures to their owners' hands. This clears the battlefield while the other three instances of Mind's Desire are still waiting to resolve on the stack.

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

How it works : Mind's Desire

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The copies are put directly onto the stack. They aren't cast and won't be counted by other spells with storm cast later in the turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Spells cast from zones other than a player's hand and spells that were countered are counted by the storm ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
A copy of a spell can be countered like any other spell, but it must be countered individually. Countering a spell with storm won't affect the copies.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4December 8, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The triggered ability that creates the copies can itself be countered by anything that can counter a triggered ability. If it is countered, no copies will be put onto the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 4, 2004· Wizards of the Coast
If the card is not played by end of turn, it remains exiled until end of game.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 4, 2004· Wizards of the Coast
The card is face-up when exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.