Chain Stasis MTG Card

It offers card advantage and strategic disruption by untapping creatures at instant speed. Chain Stasis requires discarding a card, making resource management crucial for players. While niche, its potential for resource acceleration and versatile combos is significant.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1995-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Homelands
Set code	HML
Number	23
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pat Lewis

Text of card

Tap or untap target creature. Whenever any player uses Chain Stasis to tap or untap a creature, that creature's controller may pay o U to use Chain Stasis to tap or untap any target creature.

"Here we go again." —Kakra, Sea Troll

Cards like Chain Stasis

Chain Stasis is a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, one that stands out in the blue color pie for its ability to untap creatures. When considering its place alongside other untapping spells, it’s interesting to note its specific requirement of a blue creature. A similar spell in function is the infamous Twiddle, which allows you to untap any target permanent, not just creatures and without the color limitation. However, the flexibility of Twiddle comes without the potential chain effect that Chain Stasis offers.

Another comparable card is Unwind, which not only untaps lands but does so at a rate of three lands, essentially making it free if there are enough targets. This can be more advantageous in a mana-intensive deck. Conversely, Chain Stasis, while limited to creatures and more specifically blue ones, can be used strategically in response to an opponent’s actions or to facilitate combos within your own play.

In analyzing these parallels, while Chain Stasis might appear niche, its ability to potentially untap multiple blue creatures provides a distinctive edge in creature-focused blue decks. This card could serve as a pivot point in control or combo strategies in the game of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Chain Stasis by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chain Stasis is a unique card that excels in disrupting opponents’ creatures while potentially drawing you into more options. This can lead to a significant card advantage over your adversary.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to untap a blue creature, Chain Stasis can be integral in a resource acceleration strategy, allowing you to reuse mana abilities or other tap effects more than once per turn.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Chain Stasis’ instant speed provides incredible versatility. This trait allows you to wait until the most opportune moment within your opponent’s turn to execute an unanticipated play, making it a potent tool for maintaining control.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chain Stasis comes with a stipulation that a player must discard a card as part of the casting cost. This can potentially set back a player’s hand, especially if their strategy relies on maintaining a full grip of options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires blue mana, making it exclusive to blue-centered or multicolored decks. Players running decks without blue mana sources will find Chain Stasis incompatible with their game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its ability, Chain Stasis has a mana cost that some players might consider steep. There are alternatives that could untap a creature or provide more utility for a lower investment, making it a less favorable choice in a competitive setting.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chain Stasis can be a unique tool in decks that aim to untap creatures for repeated ability usage or to circumvent summoning sickness for a surprise block or attack.

Combo Potential: Offering both offensive and defensive combo opportunities, Chain Stasis works well with cards that have tap abilities, potentially leading to infinite loops or game-winning interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where tapping and untapping creatures can dictate the course of play, Chain Stasis adds a layer of control and unpredictability that can disrupt opponent strategies.

How to beat

Chain Stasis is a unique entry in the world of blue control cards within Magic: The Gathering. It allows a player to untap a creature for a single blue mana, with the additional cost of discarding a card for each activation. At first glance, this might seem to offer an infinite loop potential with cards capable of generating more than one blue mana when untapped. However, to strategically outmaneuver Chain Stasis, consider interrupting the combo using cards that can either remove the creature from play or counter the activation of abilities.

For an effective defense, cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile are capable of promptly exiling the targeted creature, breaking the loop. Alternatively, instants such as Stifle or Trickbind can counter the activation of Chain Stasis itself, leaving your opponent’s strategy in shambles. It’s essential to keep options in hand that can instantly respond to the threat Chain Stasis poses. By understanding its mechanics and keeping the right counters in play, this potentially formidable card can be reduced to a minor nuisance.

Being vigilant and anticipating the potential for a Chain Stasis setup allows players to remain one step ahead. With careful planning and a well-timed response, this card can be effectively neutralized, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt the flow of your game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chain Stasis MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Chain Stasis and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chain Stasis 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 Chain Stasis card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Paying to make Chain Stasis continue is done as part of the resolution of the spell.
2004-10-04	The copy is a spell, so it can be targeted by other spells and abilities that target a spell.
2004-10-04	The decision to tap or untap is made on resolution of the spell (and of each copy).
2004-10-04	The player putting the copy spell on the stack controls that spell.
2004-10-04	The spell copy has all the text and can result in itself being copied.