Spell
NormalMind Control
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2192
Target 1 monster your opponent controls; until the End Phase, take control of that target, but it cannot declare an attack or be Tributed.
Mind Control — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 60 ± 5 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 62 · Deck: 58 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Removal / Negation
Why it scores here
Mind Control is a strong, flexible removal effect that disrupts opposing threats by seizing monsters and preventing attacks or tributes, making it a staple tech across 115+ distinct archetypes. Its power derives from reliable disruption and splashability rather than combo conversion or material synergy—it is a reactive control tool inserted into decks as a tech option, not a proactive engine piece. The high deck inclusion rate (100% of sample, avg 1.41 copies) confirms it as a consistent and accessible tech choice, though its temporary effect and lack of combo integration prevent it from reaching higher power.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 45 | Conditionally playable and not integrated into combo lines, drawn as a reactive tech rather than tutored; found in 400 decks at 1.41 avg copies (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 15 | Appears in 1 combo (Myutant) with no specific role as starter, searcher, material, or payoff—inserted as a utility piece that does not drive the combo board (verified) |
| Resource Economy | 50 | Trades 1 card for temporary control and threat disruption; a roughly break-even exchange with occasional upside if the seized monster is used as material before End Phase (inferred) |
| Effect & Interaction | 75 | Seizes any opponent monster, preventing attacks and tributes for one turn; strong flexible disruption with a clear ceiling—does not stop summons, only post-summon threats (verified) |
| Material Utility | 10 | Mind Control is a Spell Card incapable of becoming material on its own; the seized monster may offer situational material value but is not a reliable source (verified) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 60 | Works across all monster types and archetypes (115 distinct homes), but vulnerable to negation (Ash Blossom, hand traps) and only persists until End Phase (observed) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 75 | Splashable staple with mild garnet risk at high copy counts (max 3, avg 1.41); no archetype lock or deckbuilding restriction (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: Removal / Negation (primary role only). Intrinsic ≈ 62, Deck ≈ 58, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Flexible disruption against any monster type
- Generic staple splashable across 115+ archetypes
- Clean to play with no complex setup
- Seizes valuable threats that would otherwise attack or be tributed
Weaknesses
- Reactive card, not combo-driven or proactive
- Dies to any negate (Ash Blossom, hand traps)
- Temporary effect (until End Phase only)
- Requires opponent to have a monster threat
- No card advantage gain (1-for-1 trade)
Counters / choke points
- Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
- Any hand trap that negates Spell activation
- Spell speed 2+ negation effects
Best use
Removal/Negation tech; reactive disruption against opponent threats. Decks: Snake-Eye, Synchron, Blackwings, Black Luster Soldier, Monarch, Lightsworn, Junk, Thunder Dragon, Gravekeeper's, Heroic, and 100+ other archetypes.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Card text: targets 1 opponent monster, seizes control until End Phase, prevents attacks and tributes; Appears in 400 decks (100% of sample) across 115 distinct archetypes; Average 1.41 copies per deck; distribution: 277 decks run 1 copy, 83 run 2 copies, 40 run 3 copies; Appears in at least 1 combo (Myutant basic combo, power index 58); Mentioned in 5 guides as staple tech in multiple archetypes; Assumed unlimited (no banlist entry provided)
- Observed: 115 distinct archetypes run Mind Control, indicating high splashability; Top partners include Mystical Space Typhoon (68.8%), Mirror Force (56%), Torrential Tribute (55.5%)—all control/removal staples; Usage statistics: Nimble 100% inclusion (1 copy), Flamvell 100% inclusion (1 copy), Spright 66.7% inclusion (1 copy); Myutant combo featuring Mind Control produces power index 58 with board of 1 end monster, 1 boss monster, net +3 card advantage
- Inferred: Mind Control is a reactive removal/negation card, not a combo starter or core piece (no role in the observed combo); Generic utility across all archetypes due to targeting any monster regardless of type; High splashability inferred from presence across Nimble, Flamvell, Spright, and 115 total distinct archetypes; Temporary control (until End Phase) prevents use as repeatable effect but allows pre-End Phase material use if setup exists
- Data gaps: No specific rulings mentioned; unclear interaction with modern mechanics Combo evidence is thin (1 combo); unclear how Mind Control integrates into broader combo meta No recent tournament results or top-card rankings; cannot confirm current metagame dominance No detailed synergy evidence with specific newer archetypes (card predates many modern themes)