Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Balancing MTG Competition with Spectacular Entertainment
Magic: The Gathering has always lived at the intersection of tight, competitive play and dazzling, memorable moments. Some cards lean into technical nuance, others lean into narrative flair, and a rare few manage to tilt the balance with a wink and a prod. Battlegate Mimic—the Planechase common from the 2009 cycle—exists exactly at that intersection 🧙♂️🔥💎. A two-color creature that’s as much about tempo as it is about showmanship, this shapeshifter embodies the playful unpredictability that keeps tournaments lively without sacrificing the joy of a well-timed bluff or a clever swing.
A quick look at the card
- Name: Battlegate Mimic
- Set: Planechase (Hop)
- Rarity: Common
- Mana cost: {1}{R/W}
- Type: Creature — Shapeshifter
- Power/Toughness: 2/1
- Colors: Red and White
- Text: Whenever you cast a spell that's both red and white, this creature has base power and toughness 4/2 until end of turn and gains first strike until end of turn.
- Flavor text: “Mimics don't need perfect disguises. They need only the perfect victims: the naive, the young, or the poor of sight.”
The card’s multicolor framework is a playful nudge to players: if you can weave red and white into the same spell, you unlock a burst of offensive potential in a surprising, tempo-forward package. The 2/1 body is respectable on the ground, but the real spice comes from a sudden 4/2 with first strike for a turn, just when you need to punch through blockers or threaten a lethal alpha strike. In Planechase's whimsical cosmos, where big events can ripple across the battlefield, this little shapeshifter reminds us that big swings can arrive from humble origins ✨🥁.
How the ability plays in practice
In practice, Battlegate Mimic asks you to plan around spells that wear both red and white colors. In many environments, you’ll be nudged toward a deck that leans into bold, aggressive multicolor payoffs—or at least a few splashy red-and-white options that reward precise timing. When you cast such a spell, the Mimic doesn’t just chug along as a passive body; it roars into a temporary combat engine, turning a modest 2/1 into a late-game threat that can pressure life totals in short order. That punishing tempo can entrench control elements: you push damage while your opponent has to respect the sudden power spike and the threat of first strike against their forced trades 🧙♂️⚔️.
“Mimics don’t need perfect disguises. They need only the perfect victims: the naive, the young, or the poor of sight.”
The flavor text captures the card’s ethos: misdirection and timing matter more than ostentation. In a crowded hatch of plans and synergies, Battlegate Mimic rewards the observer who reads the board, anticipates a red/white spell, and capitalizes at the exact moment manipulation becomes momentum. It’s a card built for big moments in small packages—perfect for players who love to mix flashy plays with disciplined timing 💎🎲.
Entertainment value and strategy in decks
From an entertainment standpoint, this card shines in casual and un-orthodox formats where multicolor triggers are more prevalent or easier to assemble. It’s a crowd-pleaser when a red/white spell surprise arrives at just the right moment, turning a routine turn into a memorable swing. For players who cherish “gasp and grin” moments, Battlegate Mimic provides that spark without demanding a high-powered investment. Budget-conscious builds can appreciate a card that punches above its weight when the stars align, offering a memorable payoff with a modest mana investment 🧙♂️💥.
From a deckbuilding perspective, think about pairing this shapeshifter with acceleration and cards that encourage or enable color-pairing tricks. It’s not about throwing every red and white spell you own at the table; it’s about weaving a plan that makes those red/white moments feel earned. In a meta where fast starts and clever removals often decide the table, a sudden 4/2 with first strike can close the door on a stalled board, or at least force your opponent to re-evaluate their approach mid-combat. It’s the kind of card that rewards patience, timing, and a little flair 🧙♂️🔥.
Artwork, lore, and the Planechase vibe
Franz Vohwinkel’s illustration is a study in shape-shifting menace—stylized, a touch theatrical, and very much in keeping with Planechase’s storybook chaos. The plane-chambered flavor of the set encourages players to imagine the battlefield as a dynamic stage, where creatures and spells bend to the whims of the game’s grander, more chaotic themes. The mix of red and white in Battlegate Mimic mirrors Planechase’s own tendency to blend dramatic color identities with over-the-top encounters. The art and flavor text together make the card a favorite for players who enjoy the storytelling side of MTG as much as the mechanics themselves 🎨⚔️.
Economic note and collector’s perspective
As a common from Planechase, Battlegate Mimic sits in a budget-friendly zone with a price around 0.20 USD in its non-foil form, and modest eur values to reflect its casual-leaning status. Its reprint status in a multi-set era makes it a reliable pull for players who enjoy building around red/white triggers without chasing rare-powerhouses. For collectors, the card serves as a snapshot of a specific era in MTG history—one that celebrated cross-color combos and playful design without sacrificing accessibility. It’s easy to overlook, but the card remains a solid study in how a low-cost creature can create high-impact moments when the timing is right 🧩💎.
Tips for putting it to work
- Stack your fetches and mana sources to ensure you can cast a red/white spell on the same turn you want to trigger the Mimic’s punchy payoff.
- Pair with a few resilient, low-cost red/white spells that are easy to cast and offer immediate value—combat tricks, removal, or pump spells can all facilitate the moment you need.
- Keep a careful eye on combat math—the 4/2 with first strike can flip the tempo even when your board is otherwise thin, so plan your attacks to maximize damage and pressure.
- In Commander and other multi-color formats, consider commanders or partners that help unlock red/white synergy without overcommitting to a single color pair.
- As a common, it’s a great “budget entry” for players exploring color-pair triggers and tempo-driven design strategies.
Curious to see more artifacts of MTG’s playful spirit? While you’re plotting your next red/white spectacle, here’s a little something to carry your treasures and keep your game day vibe on-point: