Castaway's Despair MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 281
2019-11-07 - Number 310
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-281
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature When Castaway's Despair enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature. Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
Cards like Castaway's Despair
Castaway’s Despair is a compelling option for control strategies in Magic: The Gathering, akin to Claustrophobia. What makes Castaway’s Despair stand out is its inclusion in adventure-themed sets, providing synergy with cards that interact with exile. Claustrophobia serves a similar purpose by locking down creatures without the exile mechanic.
When considering enchantments with detain effects, you might look at Gideon’s Reproach. Though this card doesn’t remain on the battlefield, it shares the immediate impact on a tapped creature, typically removing it from combat. Malfunction is another comparison point, offering the ability to tap any artifact or creature and keep it locked down, adding versatility compared to the specific creature focus that Castaway’s Despair has.
Each option brings a unique flavor to the table, yet they all find their home in decks that aim to neutralize the opponent’s threats. Castaway’s Despair fits particularly well in environments where recurring or casting spells from exile is beneficial, marking its niche within this subset of Magic: The Gathering control cards.
Cards similar to Castaway's Despair by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Castaway’s Despair taps into the potential of controlling your opponent’s moves by locking down a threatening creature. This form of disruption can be pivotal in tilting the scales in your favor, preserving your resources while potentially depleting your opponent’s.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to mana acceleration, Castaway’s Despair aids in resource allocation by stalling opponents. By hindering their board development, you indirectly maintain tempo, keeping mana open for further strategic plays, or to deploy more threats yourself.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Castaway’s Despair at instant speed gives players a tactical edge, allowing for surprise plays and strategic depth. You can wait until your opponent commits to a critical spell or attacks, then thwart their plans, all on their turn. This flexibility in timing can be a game-changer in close matchups where every decision counts.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in the use of Castaway’s Despair comes with the downside of having to discard a card. This can pose a significant setback especially when your hand is already dwindling, and you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for this card contains blue mana symbols which necessitates a commitment to that color within your deck. This may restrict deck-building flexibility, making it less appealing for those who prefer a multicolor deck with minimal blue spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that could be considered steep for its effect, players might ponder its efficiency against other options. Within the same mana range, there could be alternatives offering a more immediate or powerful impact on the game state, leading some to bypass Castaway’s Despair for a card that provides a better mana-to-effect ratio.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Castaway’s Despair is a flexible enchantment that can adapt to various gameplay situations. Its ability to lock down any nonland permanent ensures it can find a place in control and tempo decks alike.
Combo Potential: Pairing Castaway’s Despair with permanents that bounce or flicker can reset its enchantment target, allowing you to neutralize multiple threats over the course of a game.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where powerful creatures and planeswalkers dominate, Castaway’s Despair acts as an efficient tool to mitigate such threats and potentially swing games in your favor.
How to beat
Castaway’s Despair is a card that can sway the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering by locking down an opponent’s key creature. Its ability to enchant a creature and keep it from untapping during its controller’s untap step can be a powerful form of control. However, like all enchantments, it has its vulnerabilities.
To overcome the hindrance of Castaway’s Despair, consider using removal spells that specifically target enchantments, such as Naturalize or Disenchant. These can immediately free your creature from the Despair’s grasp. Alternatively, cards like Blink of an Eye offer a temporary solution by returning the enchanted creature to your hand, thereby removing the enchantment and allowing you to redeploy the creature later on.
Moreover, if you anticipate enchantment-based control strategies, including hexproof creatures in your deck might serve as a preventive measure. Hexproof protects creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control, making Castaway’s Despair ineffective against them. In summary, by incorporating enchantment removal, bounce effects, or preemptive hexproof creatures, you can navigate around the obstacle of Castaway’s Despair and maintain a strong position in your matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Castaway's Despair MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Castaway's Despair 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 Castaway's Despair Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 310 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | XLN-281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Castaway's Despair has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Castaway's Despair card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-09-29 | Castaway’s Despair can target a creature that’s already tapped. |