Draft verdict: Mirage is a promise to your next turn. In v0.111, the base card is a one-use promise; the upgrade turns it back into a repeatable one. Take it when the deck has something specific to do with that future Energy.
The v0.111 change in plain English
The official v0.111 beta notes make Mirage Exhaust at base. Its upgrade no longer reduces the cost from 1 to 0; it removes Exhaust instead. The change shifts the card away from automatic, repeated tempo and toward a deliberate burst setup at base.
That distinction matters far more than a generic rating. A one-time Energy boost can be excellent before an elite, a boss phase, or a turn where several held cards finally align. It is much less exciting when the deck has no draw, no payoff, and no safe turn to invest.
Plan the turn after Mirage
Do not judge Mirage by the cards in your hand when you play it. Judge it by the next hand.
| Next-turn situation | Mirage read |
|---|---|
| Several playable cards are likely to line up | Strong: the Energy becomes tempo immediately |
| A large intent is coming and Block is thin | Usually wait; setup can be too expensive |
| A combo needs one more Energy to fit together | Strong, especially before an elite or boss |
| The deck often has unspent Energy already | Weak: more Energy does not fix card quality |
| The deck can retain or shape a hand | Better: the future turn is less of a guess |
The common mistake is firing it on a quiet turn, then drawing a hand that cannot use the payment. The card has still done what it says, but the run has not converted that value into anything useful.
Base Mirage: spend it where the window matters
With Exhaust on the base card, treat it like a consumable resource. Its best home is a deck with a recognizable pressure point: the turn that needs both defense and a payoff, or the turn that ends a dangerous fight before it repeats.
That makes it a sensible draft when the deck is already close to working but is constrained by one Energy on its best turn. It is less attractive as an early attempt to solve every future Energy problem. A deck that is short on draw or defensive stability may need those fundamentals first.
Mirage+ is an engine only when the deck supports it
Removing Exhaust gives the card a much higher ceiling. The important question is whether you can keep arranging good turns after the first one.
Well-Laid Plans can preserve a future burst hand, while Tools of the Trade can help clear pieces that should not be carried forward. Neither card makes Mirage automatically correct, but both make the delayed Energy easier to cash in.
Upgrade Mirage when you expect multiple turns where the extra Energy changes the line. Do not upgrade it solely because permanent effects sound better. If an upgrade to Block, draw, or a key damage card wins the imminent boss fight, take the immediate result.
A practical sequencing rule
Before playing Mirage, answer these in order:
- Can I survive this turn after spending the card and its Energy?
- What does the next turn spend the gained Energy on?
- If the draw misses, does the deck still have a safe fallback?
If question two has no answer, hold it. If question three is frightening, the card may need more hand shaping before it becomes a reliable pick.
FAQ
Does Mirage still fit a Poison deck?
It can, but it no longer earns a slot merely because the deck has Poison. The deciding factor is whether a future Energy-rich turn advances a real Poison, defense, or setup line.
Is the base card bad because it Exhausts?
No. It simply has a narrower job. A one-off burst can be exactly what an elite fight requires; it is just not a permanent Energy solution without the upgrade.
Should I hold Mirage for the boss?
Hold it when the boss has a known burst window and the deck can spend the next turn well. Do not preserve it at the cost of losing a dangerous ordinary fight.
Source note
Mirage's v0.111 behavior comes from the official beta patch notes. The database may show main-branch values until the beta is promoted.
