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Opening Hand Decisions for Beguiler of Wills

Beguiler of Wills is one of those blue gems that rewards restraint and tempo in the right hands. With a mana cost of 3UU, this five-mana creature demands a patient setup: you want to untap into a stable blue mana base and have at least a couple of creatures ready to feed its powerful, color-shifting ability. The key question for your opening hand isn’t just “Can I cast this on curve?”—it’s “Will this hand translate into a reliable early board presence that lets Beguiler of Wills steal the right targets?” 🧙‍♂️🔥

In gameplay terms, Beguiler of Wills reads as a political tool and a tempo engine rolled into one. Its activated ability is straightforward yet potent: T: Gain control of target creature with power less than or equal to the number of creatures you control. That means the more bodies you command early, the more options you unlock on your next turns. On a crowded board, you can snatch a threat that’s bigger than what your mulligan-kicked hand might suggest you can handle. In multiplayer commander formats, that’s a recipe for swing turns that tilt the game in your favor. In one-on-one duels, it becomes a cat-and-mause dance where you threaten steals and your opponent either overreacts or overextends. Either way, Beguiler rewards thoughtful mulligans and careful sequencing. 🧵⚔️

When you’re deciding whether to keep or ship a seven-card hand, start with mana density. You’re blue through-and-through, so the presence of at least two blue mana sources by turn two (or a reliable path to blue by turn two) is a strong signal to keep. If your hand is rich in island cards, toggling, and cheap cantrips, you’re building toward a turn four or five cast of Beguiler, assuming you’re also accelerating your growth in creatures. If your opening grip is heavy on non-blue colors or lands that don’t produce mana quickly, you’ll want to mulligan more aggressively to avoid missing your window. Blue decks live and die by tempo; Beguiler amplifies that arc when you’ve got the mana you need and a plan to deploy bodies. 🧭💎

What to look for in a keepable opening hand

• Blue mana density: at least two blue sources (islands or blue-producing lands) to reliably cast Beguiler by turn four or five.
• Early board presence: one or more creatures on turn one or two helps define the “number of creatures you control” when Beguiler lands. Tokens, Intruder tokens, or low-cost critters all count toward your power ceiling.
• Card draw or filtering: cantrips, Ponders, Preordains, or other ways to find Beguiler and the mana you need. You’re building a plan; you’re not fumbling into it from the topdeck shuffle.
• Protection or disruption: a counterspell or a removal spell tucked in the hand helps you protect Beguiler as you develop your board. A targeted counter perfectly times your opponent’s attempt to answer your plan.
• Optional ramp or token generators: a cheap spell or artifact that creates bonus creatures helps you maximize the number of creatures you control, expanding your potential steals in the early turns.

On the other hand, if your opening hand relies on delayed ramp, slow lands, or requires you to draw into a second color, Beguiler’s promise becomes a question mark. Mulligans are not just about getting to your card; they’re about turning a fragile plan into a robust one. The moment your first two turns look like you’ll be stuck casting this on turn six or seven, the mulligan critique leans toward sending it back and trying again with a cleaner, faster blueprint. 🧙‍♂️🎲

Turn-by-turn feel for typical starts

Assuming you’re playing in a casual two-player or multiplayer environment with a healthy number of creatures in your deck, a common path might look like this: you drop an Island on turn one, another Island on turn two, and you hold sway with a draw spell or a cheap cantrip. By turns three and four you’re looking to have the firewall of blue mana to cast Beguiler of Wills on or around turn four or five. If you can deploy a couple of early bodies, Beguiler can begin siphoning off a threatening creature of your opponent’s, provided its power fits under your current creature count. The gameplay becomes a dance of tempo and theft, punctuated by the occasional flavor-laden moment where you blurt out the flavor text: “Come, let me free you of the tyranny of thought.” It’s a moment of misdirection and masterful control. ⚔️

In Commander, Beguiler often shines as a political linchpin. You’re not just stealing random creatures; you’re negotiating for dangerous threats to move to your side, whose power now sits under your growing creature count. Your opening hand should lean toward a clean curve, with enough blue sources to reach five mana comfortably and at least one piece of interaction to protect your investment. If your hand demands you to spend too many turns digging for mana or answers, you’ll risk a missed window and a less effective payoff.🔥🎨

Cross-promotional note and a touch of whimsy

While you plan your path to that first big steal, you might appreciate a little personal flair for your deck tech. Consider a stylish neon card holder to keep Beguiler’s name front and center on your display—and yes, you can show off the art while you mulligan in glorious fashion. For fans of practical gear, there’s a handsomely styled neon card holder in the shop that complements casual play and tournament chatter alike. And yes, the inclusion is as smooth as Beguiler’s flavor text promises: “Come, let me free you of the tyranny of thought.” 🧙‍♂️💡

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