Deceive the Messenger
LTRThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth/#498/2023CommonReprint
Colour IDMV 1
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$0.35
TCGplayer$0.27
ManaPool$0.26
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$0.01
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.03 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $0.35High $0.69Low $0.35▼ 40.7%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$0.27TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▲ 0.0%30d▲ 0.0%90d▲ 0.0%
90d high
$0.28
90d low
$0.26
Paper printings priced
2
Currently 2nd
Cheapest paper printing
$0.15
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
- Up 0.0% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 4% below its 90 day high of $0.28.
- This is the most expensive paper printing currently priced (2 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 52% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
Collect
Play
Compare printings (2 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Instant
Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.
Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
Keywords
Amass
Card capabilities
Creature removalInstant
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Rulings (7)
wotc16 Jun 2023
Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs.
wotc16 Jun 2023
If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.
wotc16 Jun 2023
Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.
wotc16 Jun 2023
To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.
wotc16 Jun 2023
Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
wotc16 Jun 2023
Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.
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About this card
Deceive the Messenger
Deceive the Messenger is an Instant, with mana cost {U} (mana value 1). Printed 2 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: not_legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $0.27 (up 0.0% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Deceive the Messenger FAQ
How much is Deceive the Messenger worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Deceive the Messenger is $0.27. It is up 0.0% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $0.26 to $0.28.
What is the cheapest printing of Deceive the Messenger?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth at $0.15 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Deceive the Messenger?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth at $0.27 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Deceive the Messenger are there?
Deceive the Messenger has been printed 2 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Deceive the Messenger first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from LTR #47, released 2023-06-23.
What is the newest printing of Deceive the Messenger?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from LTR #498, released 2023-11-03.
Is there a foil version of Deceive the Messenger?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $0.41 versus $0.27 for nonfoil, which is 52% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Deceive the Messenger legal in Commander?
Yes, Deceive the Messenger is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.