Cage of Hands MTG Card

Cage of Hands offers card advantage through its reusable control mechanism on the battlefield. Its mana cost and specific color requirement may limit its utility in some decks. Wise inclusion in an MTG collection due to its adaptability and combo potential.

Cage of Hands - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
2004-10-01 - Number 3

Planechase 2012 (PC2)
2012-06-01 - Number 4

Commander 2015 (C15)
2015-11-13 - Number 62

Cage of Hands - Planechase Anthology (PCA)

Planechase Anthology (PCA)
2016-11-25 - Number 4

Commander Legends (CMR)
2020-11-20 - Number 14

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 162

Card sets	Released in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

Enchanted creature can't attack or block. : Return Cage of Hands to its owner's hand.

"Our own actions built the prisons that now hold us. Our hands reached too far and tried to hold too much." —Dosan the Falling Leaf

Cards like Cage of Hands

Cage of Hands stands out as a unique enchantment within MTG, offering a flexible and reusable way to control creatures on the battlefield. Its primary function resembles that of Pacifism, an aura that also prevents the enchanted creature from attacking or blocking. What sets Cage of Hands apart is the ability to return it to its owner’s hand for further tactical advantage, a feature Pacifism lacks.

Another similar spell is Arrest, which not only stops the creature from attacking and blocking but also prevents its activated abilities from being activated. While Arrest locks down a creature more comprehensively, it doesn’t have the versatility of Cage of Hands’ retrieval ability. Bonds of Faith is also comparable, serving a dual function depending on the creature it targets. It can either buff a Human creature or debilitate a non-Human creature, yet it still does not grant the reusability found in Cage of Hands.

In comparison with its counterparts, Cage of Hands offers a rare combination of control and flexibility, making it a highly versatile choice for players wanting to manage threats on the board while maintaining card advantage.

Cards similar to Cage of Hands by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cage of Hands provides a form of card advantage in enchantment-heavy decks or in games where board control is pivotal. One of its notable features is the ability to return it to the owner’s hand, allowing repeated use to manage different threats on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources like land or mana, Cage of Hands can effectively slow an opponent down, which indirectly benefits your resource management. By neutralizing a threat without expending additional cards, you maintain your pace while potentially disrupting theirs.

Instant Speed: Although Cage of Hands itself is an enchantment and not cast at instant speed, its return ability can be used at instant speed. This flexibility lets you adapt to changing board states, freeing up mana for different strategies or responding to an opponent’s actions on their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cage of Hands offers an enchantment that can be retrieved from the graveyard, that potential comes at a cost. Having to discard it as part of the cycling process can be disadvantageous in situations where every card in hand is crucial for your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Cage of Hands requires a mix of generic and white mana to play. This specificity necessitates a solid white mana base, making it a potentially awkward fit in multi-color or colorless decks that cannot reliably provide the necessary white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at three, including one white mana, Cage of Hands can be considered expensive for its ability to only pacify a single creature. Some players may find that other cards provide more comprehensive control or more impact for the same, or even a lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Cage of Hands in Your Collection

Versatility: Cage of Hands stands out for its ability to adapt to various gameplay scenarios. Not only can it pacify potent threats on the battlefield, but its return-to-hand capability allows you to reuse the enchantment multiple times. This makes it an asset in managing multiple foe creatures across the game.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in setups that profit from casting spells repeatedly. Each time Cage of Hands is played or returned, it can trigger abilities tied to spell casts or enchantments, magnifying the synergy in enchantment-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies dominate, the control offered by Cage of Hands can tip the scales. It’s particularly effective in formats where creatures are the core of winning strategies, keeping opposing forces subdued while you advance your board presence.

How to beat

Cage of Hands is an enchantment card that offers players a method of crowd control by restricting an opponent’s creature in Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out because it can be returned to its owner’s hand and replayed, giving a level of flexibility not often found in pacifism effects. To effectively tackle this card, one needs to deploy strategic plays that minimize its impact.

One of the key strategies is to use cards that can remove enchantments. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are classic examples that can be played to directly destroy Cage of Hands, freeing your creature from its constraints. Another approach is to utilize hexproof or shroud abilities, such as those granted by cards like Swiftfoot Boots or Asceticism, which prevent Cage of Hands from being attached to your creature in the first place.

It is also worth considering the use of creature sacrifice effects. Cards that require you to sacrifice a creature as part of the cost, such as Village Rites, can help by allowing you to benefit from the creature before Cage of Hands can lock it down. By employing these methods, players can negate the card’s advantage, maintaining momentum and control on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cage of Hands MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Planechase 2012, 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 Cage of Hands and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cage of Hands Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2004-10-01	Champions of Kamigawa	CHK	3	2003	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
2	2012-06-01	Planechase 2012	PC2	4	2003	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
3	2015-11-13	Commander 2015	C15	62	2015	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
4	2016-11-25	Planechase Anthology	PCA	4	2015	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
5	2020-11-20	Commander Legends	CMR	14	2015	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
6	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	162	2015	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cage of Hands has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cage of Hands card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2020-11-10	The ability to return Cage of Hands to its owner's hand can only be activated if Cage of Hands is on the battlefield. If Cage of Hands is no longer on the battlefield when the ability resolves, Cage of Hands remains in its new zone and isn't returned to its owner's hand.