MindslicerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Mindslicer features a singular, symmetrical death trigger. When it moves from the battlefield to the graveyard, its ability goes on the stack. Once that ability resolves, every player—including you—must discard every card currently in their hand. It does not matter how many cards a player has; they all go to the graveyard.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, Mindslicer must die, meaning it moves from the battlefield to the graveyard. Second, the triggered ability is put onto the stack. Players may respond with spells or abilities at this time. Finally, if the ability resolves, the active player discards their entire hand, followed by each other player in turn order. Because the discard happens simultaneously for all players, triggers that occur due to discarding will wait until the Mindslicer ability has finished resolving to be put onto the stack.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that this ability is mandatory. You cannot choose to keep cards in your hand just because you are the controller of Mindslicer. Additionally, remember that the discard only happens if Mindslicer actually dies. If it is exiled instead (for example, by a replacement effect), the ability never triggers.

When to Play It

Mindslicer is best utilized in aggressive decks that empty their hand quickly or in graveyard-centric strategies that benefit from having cards in the discard pile. It is particularly effective against control decks that rely on keeping a full hand of answers, as it forces them to trade their entire hand just to remove a single creature.

Interaction examples

Simultaneous Deaths

Solemn Simulacrum

If Mindslicer and Solemn Simulacrum die at the same time (perhaps due to combat or a board wipe), you control both triggers. If you put the Mindslicer trigger on the stack last, it will resolve first, emptying everyone's hands. Then, the Solemn Simulacrum trigger resolves, allowing you to draw a card into an otherwise empty hand, giving you a distinct advantage.

Doubling the Horror

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Horror' chosen as the creature type, Mindslicer's ability will trigger an additional time when it dies. The first instance of the ability will resolve and everyone will discard their hands. The second instance will then resolve, but since everyone already has zero cards, it will generally have no further effect unless a player drew cards in response to the first trigger.