Mages' Contest

Mages' Contest is a Instant card from the Magic: The Gathering trading card game.

Its ability reads: "You and target spell's controller bid life. You start the bidding with a bid of 1. In turn order, each player may top the high bid. The bidding ends if the high bid stands. The high bidder loses life equal to the high bid. If you win the bidding, counter that spell."

Mages' Contest has a mana cost of {1}{R}{R}, which equals 3.0 total mana (converted mana cost/mana value).

It requires R mana to cast.

Mana cost is the amount and type of mana required to cast a spell in Magic: The Gathering.

Mages' Contest's mana cost of {1}{R}{R} means you need to pay that much mana from your lands or other sources.

Colored symbols (W=White, U=Blue, B=Black, R=Red, G=Green) must be paid with that specific color, while numbers can be paid with any color.

Converted mana cost (now officially called "mana value") is the total amount of mana in a card's mana cost, regardless of color.

Mages' Contest has a mana value of 3.0. This is important for effects that care about a spell's total cost, like cascade or cards that say "mana value 3 or less."

Oracle text is the official, current rules text for a Magic card as maintained by Wizards of the Coast. It supersedes any printed text on older cards.

Mages' Contest's current oracle text is: "You and target spell's controller bid life. You start the bidding with a bid of 1. In turn order, each player may top the high bid. The bidding ends if the high bid stands. The high bidder loses life equal to the high bid. If you win the bidding, counter that spell."

The current market price for Mages' Contest is approximately $17.09 USD on TCGPlayer.

A foil copy costs approximately $102.07 USD.

On Cardmarket (Europe), it's approximately €6.8 EUR.

You can purchase Mages' Contest from major MTG retailers including:

• TCGPlayer (USA)
• Card Kingdom (USA)
• Cardmarket (Europe)

Prices vary by condition and printing. Check multiple sellers to find the best price.

Foil cards have a shiny, holographic finish that makes them more collectible. They are functionally identical to normal cards but typically cost more due to their rarity and visual appeal.

Mages' Contest normal: $17.09 | foil: $102.07

Format legality information for Mages' Contest in Standard is not available.

Standard is a rotating format that only allows cards from the most recent sets.

Format legality information for Mages' Contest in Modern is not available.

Modern includes all cards printed in a standard-legal set from 8th Edition forward.

Mages' Contest is Legal in Commander (EDH) format.

Commander is a casual multiplayer format where you build a 100-card singleton deck around a legendary creature.

Format legality information for Mages' Contest in Pioneer is not available.

Pioneer is a non-rotating format that includes all standard-legal sets from Return to Ravnica forward.

Mages' Contest is Legal in Legacy format.

Legacy allows almost all cards ever printed, with a substantial ban list for balance.

Mages' Contest is Legal in Vintage format.

Vintage is the most permissive format, allowing almost all cards with only a minimal ban list. Some powerful cards are "Restricted" (limited to 1 copy).

Format legality information for Mages' Contest in Pauper is not available.

Pauper only allows cards that have been printed at common rarity in a paper or online set.

Format legality indicates which official MTG formats allow a card to be played:

• Legal: Card is allowed in the format
• Banned: Card is prohibited from play
• Restricted: Limited to 1 copy (Vintage only)
• Not Legal: Card was never part of that format's card pool

Different formats have different banned lists based on power level and game balance.

This printing of Mages' Contest is from INV (INV), with collector number 154.

Mages' Contest may also appear in other MTG sets with different art or special treatments.

Mages' Contest is a rare card in INV.

Card rarity affects both availability and price. From rarest to most common: Mythic Rare → Rare → Uncommon → Common.

Mages' Contest was illustrated by Bradley Williams.

Magic: The Gathering features artwork from hundreds of talented artists, and many cards have been reprinted with new art over the years.