Candy Grapple MTG Card

Candy Grapple provides card advantage and board disruption via the clue token mechanic, enhancing overall strategy. Its instant speed allows for flexible play, responding reactively to opponents for favorable board states. However, downsides include a discard requirement and a specific, slightly high mana cost that may limit use.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Bargain
Released	2023-09-08
Set symbol
Set name	Wilds of Eldraine
Set code	WOE
Number	83
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Konstantin Porubov

Text of card

Bargain (You may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell.) Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn. If this spell was bargained, that creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn instead.

"Don't you mean 'poisonous'? There's no such thing as a venomous—AGGHHH!"

Cards like Candy Grapple

Candy Grapple is an intriguing entrant in the realm of creature enhancement spells within MTG. It stands shoulder to shoulder with cards like Giant Growth, bestowing a significant power and toughness boost to creatures. What differentiates Candy Grapple is the sweet twist of granting lifelink to the creature until the end of the turn, not unlike Unholy Strength, which also gives a permanent boost but not the lifelink benefit.

Then there’s the card Built to Last, providing a smaller buff, but with the added protection of indestructibility if the creature is an artifact. Though it doesn’t offer the same power spike or lifelink as Candy Grapple, it assures survivability in combat. Compared to these, Seedling Charm might appear overlooked—it offers multiple options including a temporary buff, but lacks the lasting impact or the life-gaining advantage of Candy Grapple.

Considering the aspects of durability and additional lifelink, Candy Grapple shines as a versatile enhancement, striking a balance between raw strength and life augmentation. In the field of buffing spells in MTG, it embraces a unique position with its dual-purpose capabilities.

Cards similar to Candy Grapple by color, type and mana cost

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Candy Grapple. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Mono-Black Midrange	Standard	Mono-Black Midrange	After Showdown: Murders at Karlov Manor
Rakdos Scam	Free form		Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024
Esper Control	Free form		Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024
Rakdos Aggro	Pioneer		Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
WBRG	Pauper		Pauper Challenge 64 2024-02-18
Golgari Midrange	Standard	Mono-Black Midrange	Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor
Golgari Aggro	Standard	Golgari Artifact Aggro	Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor
Jund Gardens	Pauper	Golgari Gardens	Pauper Challenge 32 2024-01-21
Orzhov Death & Taxes	Gladiator		Gladiator Games: We're Back
Decklist	Free form		79#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you play Candy Grapple, you not only handle a threat on the board but also potentially net extra cards due to the clue token mechanic. This two-for-one scenario ensures you stay ahead in the vital resource game, keeping your hand replenished while disrupting your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Candy Grapple contributes to resource acceleration by providing a clue token upon a successful hit. This token can later be converted into a card, essentially reducing the cost of future plays and smoothing out your mana curve over the course of a match.

Instant Speed: The real icing on the cake comes from Candy Grapple’s instant speed, granting you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s actions. You can strategically save mana and make decisions based on your opponent’s moves, casting it at an opportune moment to maximize its impact on the game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Candy Grapple is its requirement for players to discard a card. In game situations when hand resources are stretched thin, discarding could be more of a liability than an asset, especially if a player is dependent on each card they hold.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity to have green mana to cast Candy Grapple could potentially restrict its integration into decks. Decks that aren’t centered around green or those that struggle with color fixing may find it challenging to utilize this card efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the mana cost involved to utilize Candy Grapple’s abilities, it becomes apparent that the investment is substantial compared to other options in the game. Players may find that investing four mana for the card’s effects may not always be the most cost-effective play, prompting them to explore alternative cards with lower mana demands for similar or enhanced outcomes.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Candy Grapple is a dynamic addition to various MTG decks as it not only manages creatures on the board but also offers a life gain that can be crucial at any stage of the game.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks centered around life-gain and those that utilize +1/+1 counters, opening up possibilities for powerful interactions and board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to both disrupt opponents and bolster your own position, Candy Grapple is particularly useful in a meta with aggressive creatures, potentially swinging the game in your favor.

How to beat

Candy Grapple, while being an alluring inclusion in many MTG decks due to its ability to counteract creatures’ capabilities, can be navigated with the right strategies. One effective method is employing instant speed removals to dispose of the creature it targets before the Grapple’s effect materializes. This denies the opponent both the enchantment benefits and the creature investment they committed to the board. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can serve as sharp tools to dismantle this strategy.

Additionally, employing counter spells can nip the issue in the bud before it even begins. Countering Candy Grapple as it hits the stack ensures you won’t have to deal with its troublesome effect at all. Spells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto are prime candidates for this preemptive approach.

If a creature has already been grappled, flickering it—making it leave and re-enter the battlefield—negates the enchantment, as the creature becomes a new entity upon its re-entrance. Eerie Interlude or Essence Flux can orchestrate such a disappearing act. By implementing these tactics, the grip of Candy Grapple’s otherwise potent effect can be effectively loosened, keeping gameplay in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Candy Grapple MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Candy Grapple and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Candy Grapple has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2023-09-01	Bargain means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token.”
2023-09-01	Bargain represents an optional additional cost. A spell cast with that additional cost paid is “bargained.”
2023-09-01	If you copy a bargained spell, the copy is also bargained. If a card or token enters the battlefield as a copy of a permanent that’s already on the battlefield, the new permanent isn’t bargained, even if the original was.
2023-09-01	Some instant and sorcery spells require additional targets if they’re bargained. You ignore those targeting requirements if those spells aren’t bargained, and you can’t bargain those spells unless you can choose the appropriate targets. On the other hand, you can bargain a permanent spell even if you won’t be able to choose targets for an enters-the-battlefield ability of that permanent once the spell resolves.
2023-09-01	You may sacrifice only one artifact, enchantment, or token to pay a spell’s bargain cost.