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Smart mulligan decisions for the blue Devoid flyer
Modern Horizons 3 gave us a delightfully odd creature that presses a unique tempo line: Hope-Ender Coatl. With a modest 2/2 body, it isn’t here to crush the ground, but its ecosystem-friendly trick—Devoid, Flash, and a built-in spell-counter tax—creates pressure that can tilt the pace of a game. If you’re brewing or piloting a blue-leaning tempo shell or a colorless Eldrazi-adjacent deck, mulligan decisions around this card become a dance of risk and reward 🧙♂️🔥. Let’s unpack when to keep and when to ship back seven to the top of the library.
What the card does, in practical terms
Hope-Ender Coatl is a colorless-flavored blue creature with Devoid, meaning its color is technically zero, even though its mana cost is {2}{U}. It has Flash and Flying, so it can forgive a somewhat awkward body by slipping onto the battlefield in combat-ready shape. The key line reads: “When you cast this spell, counter target spell an opponent controls unless they pay {1}.” In other words, you teleport in a tricky little tempo plan: you threaten to counter a rival spell unless they spend a mana to pay the tax, effectively adding a soft lock on your opponent’s early turns. That is not nothing in a format where every spell matters and early momentum can define the game. And since it’s Devoid, you can slot it into colorless or Eldrazi-heavy builds without pulling a color requirement from your mana base ⚔️💎.
When to keep a hand that features this mite of a flyer
- Early mana stability: You want at least two blue sources by turn 2 or 3 and a backup plan to cast it when you need to. If your opening hand is basically a cantrip-to-curve, the Coatl can be the perfect finisher, but if you’re relying on slower fixers, you may want to mulligan for a smoother start 🧙♂️.
- Tempo and protection: Hands that include cheap counterspells, bounce effects, or incidental permission help you protect the Coatl while it taxes the opponent’s early spells. If your deck has a plan to chain flash plays, you’ll feel the Coatl rewarding you for keeping tempo from the very first turns 🔥.
- Threat density: If you have multiple threats (or a plan to ramp into a follow-up blitzer) after the Coatl lands, you’ll maximize its impact. A single 2/2 flier that taxes can be challenging to answer, but you don’t want a silver bullet of a keep if your other threats aren’t pressuring your opponent.
- Colorless or blue synergy: In a colorless-centric build, Coatl’s Devoid nature slots neatly with other colorless matters cards, amplifying your overall plan. In a pure blue tempo shell, the Flash ability remains valuable even if your hand initially looks light on early pressure 🎨.
- Opponent’s play style: If your opponent leans into heavy hand disruption or fast threats, the Coatl gives you a way to flip the tempo in your favor by forcing a pay-1 to hold a key spell at bay, potentially turning a losing race into a negotiated tempo duel 🧙♂️.
Turn-by-turn timing: how to deploy for maximum effect
On turn 2 or 3, if you have the {U} mana and a second mana source, you can cast Coatl to begin pressuring the opponent while setting up your countermagic curve. Cast it on a turn where your opponent would love to resolve a critical spell—think a cheap removal spell or a threatening ramp play—and force them to decide: pay 1 or lose the counter. This can shuffle the battlefield in your favor, swing tempo, and open doors to follow-up threats. If you delay and cast it later, the tax effect can still swing a midgame exchange, especially when you’re ahead on board or you’ve drawn into a trio of cheap cantrips that keep your options open 🎲.
“A little price tag on their disruption goes a long way when you’re trying to bend the game to your will.”
Deck-building notes and why this card finds a home in MH3 environments
Modern Horizons 3 casts a spotlight on drafting innovation and colorless matters, so a card like Hope-Ender Coatl thrives in both tempo blue shells and Eldrazi-colorless configurations. Its mana cost of {2}{U} sits nicely in decks that want to push pressure without overcommitting to colored mana, while Devoid makes it a natural fit for colorless synergy engines. The rarity is Uncommon, so it’s accessible enough to justify splashing into a broader strategy, yet it carries enough impact to demand attention when your plan lines up with your draw. If you’re chasing collector vibes, this MH3 piece sits in the lane where design and playability intersect, with art by Filip Burburan evoking a crisp, cosmic feel 🧙♂️🎨.
In terms of legality and appeal, this card is Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Commander-legal in the appropriate formats, with Modern Horizons 3 leaning into modern-competitive and draft-friendly play. Its price point tends to be approachable (foil versions command a slight premium, but the non-foil is a budget-friendly entry into colorless/Eldrazi synergy), making it a nice target for both new players exploring mulligan strategy and seasoned players testing tempo frameworks 🔎🔥.
Practical tips for mulliganing with this card in mind
- If you’re starting with a hand that lacks blue mana or a reliable way to fetch it, consider a lower-risk mulligan to improve your early consistency.
- Prefer hands that offer a quick line into a turn-2 or turn-3 Coatl with protection or follow-up threats to capitalize on the tax effect.
- Pair Coatl with cheap interaction to maximize your tempo window; the goal is to keep up pressure while denying the opponent the spells they rely on in the early game.
- In long-term play, remember that the small tax on their spells compounds: a couple of turns of tax can swing the game’s direction decisively as your board state evolves 🎲.
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