Tricks of the Trade: MTG Memes, Puns, and Card Lore

In TCG ·

Tricks of the Trade MTG card art, an enchanting blue aura with stylized spellcraft

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Tricks, Trades, and Tiny Blue Pranks: A Memorably Playful Moment in MTG Memedom

If you’ve ever opened a Welcome Deck and felt the warm glow of discovery wash over you, you know that Magic: The Gathering isn’t just about four-color scrambles and thunderous big-mana plays. It’s also about the little moments—the card names that spark a grin, the flavor texts that whisper with a wink, and the mechanics that invite us to test a joke’s punchline on the battlefield. Tricks of the Trade, a modest common aura from Welcome Deck 2017, has become one of those living memes in the community. Its clever name is part sabre-rattling, part wink-wink, and all blue—a color system that loves to outthink and outmaneuver. And yes, the card itself is as practical as it is punny: enchant a creature, grant it +2/+0, and ensure it cannot be blocked. That’s a little trick, a little tease, and a whole lot of tempo rolled into a single enchantment. 🧙‍♂️🔥

How a Humble Aura Becomes a Meme Machine on the Table

  • Mana cost and efficiency: For 3 blue mana, Tricks of the Trade becomes a reliable tempo play. In blue decks, tempo is currency, and this aura pays dividends by turning a creature into a near-forgotten roadblock for your opponent’s plan—until you decide to swing smartly. The +2/+0 boost is modest, but in a game where every point matters, it can be the difference between a clean attack and a choked block. ⚔️
  • Unblockable offense: The core joke lands hard when you tack a little extra onto a blue creature and watch your opponent realize their blockers are suddenly irrelevant. It’s the kind of moment that invites a playful taunt: “Nice board, but watch me sneak past your defenses.” The flavor text hints at misdirection—the card’s lore nods to deception as a form of “trade.” 🧭
  • Enchant creature, but be mindful of timing: Auras are notorious for requiring a good setup. Tricks of the Trade rewards careful protection and a coordinated plan. Cast it onto a creature that can already push pressure, or hold it back to keep a fragile blocker or a fragile finisher alive long enough to land a surprise hit. The meme here isn’t just the artwork or the name; it’s the shared memory of a well-timed aura swing. 🧠
  • Common rarity, starter deck vibes: As a common in a starter-centric set, the card is approachable for new players and nostalgia-hungry vets alike. It nudges players toward the idea that even a small enchantment has big personality—and in MTG, personality matters as much as power. The universal appeal helps it become a running gag across casual and budget-minded formats. 💎
  • Blue’s flavor and lore moments: The enchantment’s precise language—“Enchant creature. Enchanted creature gets +2/+0 and can't be blocked.”—is pure blue through and through: control, clever timing, and a dash of misdirection all rolled into one line. The lore surrounding a character who props up tricks and trades in a world of swords and sorceries resonates with players who love the mischievous side of magic. 🎨
“Pathetic. You might as well have protected your treasures with a paper box and some string.”

That flavor text isn’t just flavor; it’s a wink to the chicanery of old-school jewel thieves and the modern MTG player who loves to test the limits of a card’s promise. Tricks of the Trade stands as a reminder that not all triumphs are about raw power—some triumphs are about the stories we tell while the board evolves. 🧙‍♂️

Strategies, Deckbuilding, and the Meme Factory

In actual gameplay, Tricks of the Trade shines best when you lean into the blue idea of advantage through clever planning rather than brute force. Use it on a creature that’s already primed to push, and you’ll profit from a swing that ignores blockers while you assemble your next move. The card’s placement in a Welcome Deck emphasizes accessibility: it’s a teachable moment about timing, aura-based protection, and the subtle shifts that can swing a game’s tempo in your favor. For players who enjoy “value through less”—where one well-placed aura outplays a larger, more complicated spell—the meme writes itself: a small enchantment that makes a big impression. 🧙‍♂️🎲

From a design perspective, Tricks of the Trade captures a classic blue archetype: a well-timed tempo play that leverages card advantage and strategic planning. While the card’s power level is calibrated for casual play, the enthusiasm it inspires—of pulling off a surprising unblockable attack on turn four or five—feeds the culture of MTG humor. The art by Steven Belledin, paired with the aura’s crisp text, reinforces that blue can be playful as well as precise. The card’s presence in Scryfall’s database and its long-standing ties to the broader MTG community only deepen the sense that we’re watching a tiny, delightful corner of a vast universe come to life. 💎

Where Sportsmanship Meets Style: The Product Tie-In

Speaking of small, stylish upgrades—the product promotion tucked into this feature is a nod to how MTG fans blend daily life with their favorite hobby. The featured phone case with card-holder is a sleek, MagSafe-compatible polycarbonate accessory that mirrors the precision and flair of blue magic. It’s a tangible way to celebrate your play style off the battlefield while keeping your kit safe and organized. If you’re the kind of player who loves a well-timed pun, you’ll appreciate the synergy between a compact enchantment and a compact case that keeps cards and gear within easy reach. The link to the product sits naturally at the bottom, inviting curious readers to explore a tasteful intersection of MTG culture and everyday practicality. 🧙‍♂️🔥

As you draft your next casual night or standard-leaning weekend, remember Tricks of the Trade isn’t just about the attack; it’s about the moment when a single line of enchantment becomes a shared joke at the table. It’s the kind of card that helps communities bond—over memes, over misplays, and over the triumphs that come from discovering a tiny trick that changes the game. And when you pair that energy with a well-made accessory or a clever bit of deck-building, you’re carrying a piece of the MTG spirit with you wherever you go. 🧙‍♂️🎨

phone case with card holder magsafe polycarbonate 1

More from our network

← Back to All Posts