Trickster MageHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Trickster Mage features a classic Spellshaper ability that mimics the effect of a specific utility spell—in this case, a flexible tap or untap effect. For the cost of one blue mana, tapping the mage, and discarding a card, you can choose a target artifact, creature, or land and change its status. The ability is highly flexible because you decide whether to tap or untap the target as the ability resolves.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you activate the ability by paying one blue mana, tapping Trickster Mage, and choosing a card from your hand to discard. Second, you choose a legal target: an artifact, creature, or land. Once the ability resolves, you make the final choice to either tap the target if it is untapped, or untap it if it is tapped. If the target is already in the state you want (for example, you choose to tap a creature that is already tapped), the ability simply resolves with no effect.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that the choice to tap or untap is made upon resolution, not when the ability is put on the stack. Additionally, remember that you cannot target enchantments or planeswalkers unless they are also creatures or artifacts. Since the ability requires tapping Trickster Mage, it is susceptible to summoning sickness; you cannot use its ability the turn it enters the battlefield unless it has haste.

When to Play It

Trickster Mage is best utilized in decks that benefit from 'discard outlets' or require specific timing to disrupt opponents. It is excellent for tapping down an opponent's largest creature during their beginning of combat step or untapping your own powerful utility creatures to use their abilities twice in one turn cycle.

Interaction examples

Mana Acceleration and Fixing

Ornithopter of Paradise

You can use Ornithopter of Paradise to produce one mana, then activate Trickster Mage by discarding a card to untap the Ornithopter of Paradise. This allows you to tap the Thopter a second time for another mana, effectively converting a card in your hand into extra mana production.

Defensive Disruption

Faerie Mastermind

If an opponent is preparing to attack with Faerie Mastermind, you can activate Trickster Mage's ability during their beginning of combat step. By choosing to tap the Faerie Mastermind, you remove its ability to be declared as an attacker, effectively neutralizing the threat for that turn.

Tapping a Land

During your opponent's upkeep, you can activate Trickster Mage to tap one of their lands. This can prevent them from having the specific color or amount of mana needed to cast a spell during their main phase, forcing them to use the mana immediately or lose it as the step ends.