Reflector Mage

Creature — Human Wizard

When Reflector Mage enters the battlefield, return target creature an opponent controls to its owner's hand. That creature's owner can't cast spells with the same name as that creature until your next turn.

Discussion (51)

ToolmasterOfBrainerd on Upcoming B&R Announcement

1 month ago

Metroid_Hybrid I play Esper Delver Blade in Legacy, so I know my way around a Stoneforge Mystic. I do not think that Stoneforge Mystic would be cancer in modern at all. Blade decks are not oppressive in legacy.

As for stoneblade in legacy, the deck is tier 2 or 3. It is not oppressive in the least. Wrenn and Six + Wasteland is what oppression looks like. And the majority of cards in a stoneblade deck are actually not modern legal. Here is a sample list.. Of 40 nonland cards in the main deck, 14 are legal in modern. If I'm counting correctly, literally less than half.

But the tier level of a legacy deck is a very bad metric for modern power level. I think it's okay in modern because modern is a completely different format. I am absolutely comparing format dynamics; card power levels mean nothing without format context. Looking around, I'm struggling to see what modern deck can't beat a Batterskull . Burn can Searing Blaze your Stoneforge, which is awful for the stoneforge player. Hardcasting Batterskull on turn 5 is not good against burn. And if you do jam through a Batterskull, legacy burn players already know how to sideboard in Smash to Smithereens . I think even modern players can figure out how to do that. Jund has Kolaghan's Command . And Tarmogoyf is bigger than Batterskull . And Thoughtseize is so good vs Stoneforge. And they don't care about you gaining life, so Batterskull is just a 4/4 to them. When you play against Tron, stoneforge is slow. Attacking turn 4 with a 4/4 and a 1/2 is not a winning strategy. Mono-R Phoenix is in about the same position as Burn. Whirza doesn't care. E-tron plays bigger creatures, and can use Thought-Knot Seer to take your Batterskull away after you tutor it if it's that big of a deal. UR Pheonix flies over it or bounces your germ token. Or Flame Slash es your germ token. Gaining 4 life is nice against Phoenix decks, but connecting will be difficult. And even Humans can easily beat a Batterskull. They can go bigger with Thalia's Lieutenant or remove your token with Reflector Mage or Deputy of Detention .

Of course I know that Stoneforge Mystic will be a good card in some of those matchups. And I know that half the time you'll grab Sword of Feast and Famine instead of Batterskull . My point is that modern has the tools to deal with Stoneforge. It will not be oppressive on its own; it needs the support of a good deck to back it up. UW Stoneblade in legacy is a good deck because of True-Name Nemesis , not Stoneforge.

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To address the case of a potential unban, I agree that WOTC will probably not unban it unless there is an upcoming reprint set. Some people may accuse WOTC for taking advantage of a money-grab, but consider the alternative: Stoneforge Mystic spikes to being a $100 card and the barrier to enter modern is even higher than usual. And without a reprint it will stay at $100 for awhile. This is not a reality you want. Having a reprint right after an unban is what players should want for the sake of card accessibility.

Waylayer on U/W Soulherder

2 months ago

I'm liking the feel of the deck so far.

It's hard for me to picture how the deck will play because there are so many possible interactions. By the looks of it, the deck falls most under the archetype of Tempo although there are definite flavors of Tokens and Control. As such, I think my favorite card you have in the deck is Reflector Mage , and I think running 4 of them would be pretty good.

I'm not sure how I feel about your top end. I'm not saying I dislike it, I just have a question mark on it... Lavinia of the Tenth would be great against an Aggro deck, but not as good against Stompy. I do like the idea of cheating out Akromas, though.

I'm wondering if Thraben Inspector is worth its slot if this deck will be used for 1v1. Something with more front end value, i.e. Wall of Omens or even just a scry like from Wall of Runes might set you up better in the early game--since I'm picturing you wanting to use all your mana most turns to cast flicker spells/creatures instead of paying the 2 to cash in clues. I may be off on this forecast though, and that's okay. I'm just trying to share some thoughts.

FenrisBurgess on War EDH

2 months ago

Reflector Mage isn't in Surrak's color identity.

spyder1569 on Flicker For The Win

2 months ago

Thank you for the comment wallisface!

I have definitely thought about Deputy of Detention and I do still consider it a good option. This is why I have it in my maybe board. However, right now the way I'm playing the deck to stay on the controlling front is to use the Reflector Mage or Flickerwisp to bounce creature threats back to their hand and then either Meddling Mage or Thought-Knot Seer to try and remove the threat. I'm not sure if that's overall a better solution than the Deputy in the long run. I just don't like that they get their threat I'm trying to remove back if they have an interaction spell for the Deputy. The mage can try to remove the threat directly, but that isn't always helpful, so at least this route the mage is a second layer. If you have suggestions on where you could see this fitting in the deck over another card, and why, I'm all ears.

As far as Spell Queller it isn't a card I had considered before. It I can definitely see some potential for. The opponent interaction is the biggest challenge for this deck. But with this comes a change to the deck and that's the tough part. I'm definitely going to try to fit this card in somehow, but you have have any suggestions what to replace that would also be welcome.

TCG-Player on Subjective Reality 2.0

2 months ago

There are a couple cards I would suggest. Some of them are a bit more pricey tho.

Creatures

• Felidar Guardian
• Archeomancer
• Gilded Drake $$
• Gonti, Lord of Luxury
• Hostage Taker
• Perplexing Chimera
• Ravenous Chupacabra
• Reflector Mage
• Spellseeker
• Sun Titan
• Torrential Gearhulk
• Venser, Shaper Savant
• Leonin Relic-Warder
• Glen Elendra Archmage

Sorceries

• Toxic Deluge $
• Supreme Verdict
• Damnation $
• Wrath of God

Instants

• Anguished Unmaking
• Generous Gift
• Path to Exile
• Swords to Plowshares
• Rapid Hybridization
• Pongify
• Reality Shift
• Swan Song
• Counterspell
• Mystical Tutor
• Enlightened Tutor $
• Vampiric Tutor $$
• Eerie Interlude
• Ghostway

Enchantments

• Animate Dead
• Dance of the Dead
• Necromancy
• Imprisoned in the Moon
• Oath of Teferi
• Mystic Remora
• Rhystic Study $
• Smothering Tithe
• Propaganda
• Ghostly Prison

Atrifacts

• Fellwar Stone
• Mind Stone
• Thought Vessel
• Talisman of Dominance
• Talisman of Progress
• Talisman of Hierarchy
• Mana Vault $
• Sensei's Divining Top $

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I hope these suggestions are of some help to you. Many of the cards are simply upgrades of the weaker removal/ramp/draw cards contained in the precon.

If you want to make the deck more competitive, cards like The Chain Veil or Felidar Guardian can outright win the game in combination with Altar of the Brood or Vela the Night-Clad .

ToolmasterOfBrainerd on Rocket Science (Competitive)

3 months ago

korakin Thanks! I admit, I haven't looked at this list in some time. I mostly play Tribal Snapcaster these days, but am tinkering with a number of different decks.

I've seen some people playing Kess in modern. Personally, I think what she contributes, we already had. And what we lack, she can't provide. Right now the biggest problem decks for Grixis are Hogaak Vine and Tron. Kess shines when playing against UW Control, Jund, and I suppose Humans and Phoenix to a lesser extent. UW Control and Jund are, like, the best matchups for Grixis. I don't think a 70% win rate or higher is inaccurate. We don't really need more tools to beat those decks. As a 4 mana creature, Kess is a little bit of a liability. If the humans player can bounce her with Reflector Mage , then we're in a bad spot. And she is pretty terrible vs Tron, which is a matchup that can be winnable with the right configuration.

Nonetheless, I may be underestimating her. I have not tested her extensively and there are other grixis players who are big believers in the power of Kess in modern. If a Kess list can prove itself, then I will definitely be interested in trying it out.

Piccoli_ on I Really need help to ...

3 months ago

Hi everyone, ive always wanted to build the Humans deck but, as you know, its very expensive so i came out with differents variations of this deck but they never convinced me. Finally i came out with this variation that is, i think better tha the others, or at least more interesting. This is part of it:

//Creatures

4 Champion of the Parish

4 Harabaz Druid

4 Kazandu Blademaster

3 Kitesail Freebooter

4 Mantis Rider

4 Phantasmal Image

4 Reflector Mage

4 Thalia's Lieutenant

//Spells

2 Nevermore

2 Runed Halo

https://deckstats.net/decks/128240/1332493-allies-of-humans

As you can see, i just changed 3 cards. Noble Heriarch >> Harabaz Druid . Thalia, Guardian of Thraben >> Kazandu Blademaster . And Meddling Mage >> Nevermore / Runed Halo .

The thing is that i dont know if its good enough to start. Im still searching for a substitude for Phantasmal Image , cuz here were i live its at least 15 euros each one. I dont know if i should go with only two or three Aether Vial , cuz its expensive too. Lands are another problem, Cavern of souls its really really expensive so i need a substitude. i guess ill go with Ancient Ziggurat and Unclaimed Territory but i dont know which other lands should i take.

This is my maybeboard: Kabira Evangel , Ondu Cleric , Oran-Rief Survivalist & Hardened Scales .

Thanks!!!

Kiyomei on 秋茄子は嫁に食わすな。(1vs1)

3 months ago

------ Not Viable for DCMD, Extremely slow or just bad to the bone... 20HP mate...

++++++ Gucci 80% - 100% + played cards in Jeskai, Also Auto-includes!

------ Ancient Tomb ++++++ Shivan Reef

------ Temple of the False God ++++++ Eiganjo Castle

------ Sword of Feast and Famine ++++++ Ajani Vengeant

------ Umezawa's Jitte ++++++ Balance

------ Emrakul, the Promised End ++++++ Chandra, Flamecaller

------ Stoneforge Mystic ++++++ Council's Judgment

------ Monastery Mentor ++++++ Dack Fayden

------ Mother of Runes ++++++ Day of Judgment

------ Restoration Angel ++++++ Electrolyze

------ Young Pyromancer ++++++ Fire / Ice

------ Crusade ++++++ Force Spike

------ Intangible Virtue ++++++ Into the Roil

------ Saheeli, Sublime Artificer ++++++ Miscalculation

------ Nahiri, the Harbinger ++++++ Path to Exile

------ Skullclamp ++++++ Pyroclasm

------ Teferi, Time Raveler ++++++ Wrath of God

42 Lands GucciBass

12 Obvious DCMD cuts but okay for the slower MTGO1v1Cmdr :

• True-Name Nemesis

• Reflector Mage

• Kira, Great Glass-Spinner

• Time Wipe

• Personal Tutor

• Nexus of Fate

• Narset's Reversal

• Absorb

• Counterflux

• Detention Sphere

• Settle the Wreckage

• Palace Jailer