---
name: "Deceive the Messenger"
mana_cost: "{U}"
cmc: 1
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Amass"]
set: "LTR"
set_name: "The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth"
collector_number: "498"
rarity: "common"
artist: "Tomas Duchek"
oracle_id: "a9720545-37f4-42f1-932f-13ef88c9ea72"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/deceive-the-messenger-ltr"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Deceive the Messenger
- **Mana Cost:** `{U}` (CMC: 1)
- **Type:** Instant
- **Keywords:** Amass

## Oracle Text
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.)

> *"Tell Gandalf that he must seek my aid at once."
—Saruman*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Saruman's Trickery](/printing/sarumans-trickery-ltr.md) — Instant
2. [Foray of Orcs](/printing/foray-of-orcs-ltr.md) — Sorcery
3. [Warg Rider](/printing/warg-rider-ltr.md) — Creature — Orc Warrior
4. [Mordor Muster](/printing/mordor-muster-ltr.md) — Sorcery
5. [Surrounded by Orcs](/printing/surrounded-by-orcs-ltr.md) — Sorcery
6. [Orcish Medicine](/printing/orcish-medicine-ltr.md) — Instant

## Printing Details
- **Set:** The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (LTR) #498
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Artist:** Tomas Duchek
- **Total Printings:** 9 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `legal` | Penny: `not_legal`