---
name: "Illusionary Mask"
mana_cost: "{2}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Artifact"
colors: []
color_identity: []
keywords: []
set: "ME3"
set_name: "Masters Edition III"
collector_number: "197"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Amy Weber"
oracle_id: "05ac866d-0405-4d25-986a-c10fcfc097e6"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/illusionary-mask-me3"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Illusionary Mask
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Artifact

## Oracle Text
{X}: You may choose a creature card in your hand whose mana cost could be paid by some amount of, or all of, the mana you spent on {X}. If you do, you may cast that card face down as a 2/2 creature spell without paying its mana cost. If the creature that spell becomes as it resolves has not been turned face up and would assign or deal damage, be dealt damage, or become tapped, instead it's turned face up and assigns or deals damage, is dealt damage, or becomes tapped. Activate only as a sorcery.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Obscuring Aether](/printing/obscuring-aether-mkc.md) — Enchantment
2. [Dream Chisel](/printing/dream-chisel-ons.md) — Artifact
3. [Vengeful Creeper](/printing/vengeful-creeper-mkm.md) — Creature — Plant Elemental
4. [Qarsi Deceiver](/printing/qarsi-deceiver-dtk.md) — Creature — Snake Wizard
5. [Veiled Sentry](/printing/veiled-sentry-usg.md) — Enchantment
6. [Ixidron](/printing/ixidron-c19.md) — Creature — Illusion

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Masters Edition III (ME3) #197
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Amy Weber

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

## Official Rulings
- *(2004-10-04)* The creature's "enters" abilities (and any other abilities relating to the creature entering) do not trigger when it turns face up.
- *(2004-10-04)* Only the controller of the face down creature can look at it.
- *(2004-10-04)* The creature enters face down, so none of its "enters" abilities will trigger or have any effect. Also none of its "As this enters" abilities apply.
- *(2009-10-01)* The effect that turns it face-up is a replacement effect. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
- *(2009-10-01)* Both the amount and types of mana you spend on {X} are taken into account while you're choosing a creature card from your hand. For example, if you spent {U}{U} on {X}, you can choose a creature card with mana cost {U}{U}, {1}{U}, {2}, or {W/U}{W/U}, among other possibilities, but not one that costs {2}{U} or one that costs {G}.
- *(2009-10-01)* If you use the ability to cast a creature card face down, you must keep track of the amount and types of mana you spent on {X}. If that creature spell is moved from the stack to anywhere other than the battlefield, the resulting creature leaves the battlefield, or the game ends, the face-down card is revealed. If its mana cost couldn't be paid by some amount of, or all of, the mana you spent on {X}, all applicable penalties for casting a card illegally are assessed.