Cabal Therapy MTG Card
2002-05-27 - Number 62
2003-08-07 - Number pk62sb
2003-08-07 - Number we62sb
2003-08-07 - Number pk62
2011-11-18 - Number 12
2016-06-10 - Number 83
2019-11-07 - Number 587
2002-06-24 - Number 31473
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-83
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Flashback |
Text of card
Name a nonland card. Target player reveals his or her hand and discards from it all cards with that name. Flashback— Sacrifice a creature. (You may play this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then remove it from the game.)
Cards like Cabal Therapy
Cabal Therapy is a unique fixture in the realm of targeted discard spells for the MTG player’s arsenal. It draws a parallel with Thoughtseize, a potent staple in discarding opponents’ resources. Both cards allow players to look at an opponent’s hand, but Cabal Therapy does this without an upfront mana cost, instead offering the flexibility of naming a card in the dark or being flashbacked from the graveyard.
Another comparable card is Duress, which also targets noncreature spells at a low mana cost. However, it lacks Cabal Therapy’s potential to hit multiple cards of the same name all at once or to be reused from the graveyard. Then there’s Inquisition of Kozilek, with its restriction to cards of cost three or less, whereas Cabal Therapy’s scope remains unrestricted.
Diligent evaluation of similar cards places Cabal Therapy in a favorable position due to its versatility. Players can disrupt opponents’ plans not just once, but potentially twice, which makes it a card that can swing the momentum in a match significantly. It’s this recurrence and the strategic depth that places Cabal Therapy in a league of its own among discard spells in MTG.
Cards similar to Cabal Therapy by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Cabal Therapy. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dredge | Vintage | Dredge | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-05-05 |
 | The EPIC Storm | Legacy | The EPIC Storm | Legacy League 2024-05-10 |
 | Beseech Storm | Legacy | Beseech Storm | Legacy Preliminary 2024-05-06 (1) |
 | Oops! All Spells | Legacy | Oops! All Spells | Legacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
 | Reanimator | Legacy | Reanimator | Legacy League 2024-05-07 |
 | Cephalid Breakfast | Legacy | Cephalid Breakfast | Legacy League 2024-05-06 |
| WUBG | Legacy | Legacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05 | |
 | Hogaak | Legacy | Hogaak | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-05-05 |
| UBG | Legacy | Legacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cabal Therapy exemplifies card advantage by giving you insight into an opponent’s hand composition while selectively discarding a threat, essentially disrupting their strategy. This can lead to a gain in card parity, especially when correctly naming a non-land card that your opponent holds multiples of.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping up your mana resources, Cabal Therapy accelerates your game plan by efficiently using your graveyard. With its flashback ability, you can sacrifice a creature to cast it again, using this resource to potentially disrupt the opponent’s hand twice, hence accelerating your own strategy while they recover.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant, Cabal Therapy offers strategic depth because it can be cast at sorcery speed, allowing you to set the pace of the game. Proper timing of its use, especially when combined with knowledge of the opponent’s hand or upcoming plays, can be as pivotal as instant-speed interaction, setting it apart in terms of strategy and foresight.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Cabal Therapy is its need for a sacrifice to activate its secondary ability. This can put you at a strategic disadvantage by reducing your board presence, which may be particularly detrimental if you’re already trailing behind in the game or if sacrificing that creature could have been more useful for another purpose.
Specific Mana Cost: Given Cabal Therapy’s specific mana cost, it demands a black mana source, which can constrain its integration exclusively to decks that run black or at least have a splash of black. This requirement can pose a challenge when building a mana base, especially in formats with a vast array of multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Cabal Therapy’s casting cost itself is rather low, the real cost comes into play when considering its full potential which often requires additional sacrifices for flashback. In a game where tempo is key, having to allocate mana and resources for repeat uses can be a hindrance compared to other lower-cost or free disruption options available.
Reasons to Include Cabal Therapy in Your Collection
Versatility: Cabal Therapy stands out due to its flexibility in various strategies. As a disruptive element in your hand or graveyard, it can be wielded in control, combo, or aggro decks, allowing you to effectively target key cards in your opponent’s hand no matter your play style.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with creatures you can sacrifice for extra value or graveyard synergies. Its ability to be flashed back by sacrificing a creature makes it a formidable tool in decks that benefit from creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Given its prowess in stripping critical cards from the opponent’s grasp, Cabal Therapy is quintessential in a meta where knowing and dismantling your opponent’s game plan is paramount. It adapts well to shifts in common deck builds, maintaining its importance in a competitive environment.
How to beat
Cabal Therapy is a unique card that allows players to disrupt their opponent’s hand in MTG. Unlike other hand disruption spells, Cabal Therapy requires knowledge or a good guess of what the opponent has to be effective. It grants you the potential to not just take a peek but to remove key cards from the opposing player’s grasp.
To counteract this, consider diversifying your hand so it’s less susceptible to a single name called out. Cards with Flashback also lessen the blow, since they can be used from the graveyard, making them resilient against Cabal Therapy’s discard effect. Plus, timing is crucial; if you suspect Cabal Therapy is incoming, play your vital spells sooner rather than later to avoid disruption.
Moreover, employing instant-speed draw or shuffle effects after Cabal Therapy’s first naming can reshuffle your hand, leaving your opponent guessing on the second go if they aim to Flashback. Finally, leveraging cards that benefit from being discarded, such as creatures with Unearth or cards with Madness, can turn a seeming disadvantage into an opportunity, effectively blunting the sting of Cabal Therapy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cabal Therapy MTG card by a specific set like Judgment and Magic Online Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cabal Therapy and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Cabal Therapy Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2002-05-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-05-27 | Judgment | JUD | 62 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 31473 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | ||
| 3 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | pk62sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Ron Spencer | |
| 4 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | we62sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Ron Spencer | |
| 5 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | pk62 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Ron Spencer | |
| 6 | 2011-11-18 | Premium Deck Series: Graveborn | PD3 | 12 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 7 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 83 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 8 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 587 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 9 | The List | PLST | EMA-83 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cabal Therapy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cabal Therapy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | You name the card as Cabal Therapy resolves, not as you cast it. Then the targeted player reveals their hand and discards if appropriate. No player may choose to take actions between you naming the card and the targeted player revealing and discarding. |
| 2021-03-19 | A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way. |
| 2021-03-19 | If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it’s legal to do so before any other player can take any actions. |
| 2021-03-19 | To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was. |
| 2021-03-19 | You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast. |
| 2021-03-19 | You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card’s type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery. |
| 2021-03-19 | “Flashback -ost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying -ost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.” |