Chamber of Manipulation MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Number | 76 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Wayne England |
Key Takeaways
- Gains tactical advantage by converting lands into creature control, disrupting opponent plans.
- Allows for instant speed creature grabs, adding surprise elements to gameplay tactics.
- Demands card discard, and specific mana for casting, posing a strategic resource challenge.
Text of card
Enchanted land has "oc T, Discard a card from your hand: Gain control of target creature until end of turn."
Politics is just a subtle form of mind control—and cephalids are master politicians.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Chamber of Manipulation provides a strategic edge by potentially converting any of your untapped lands into a means to control opponents’ creatures. This can disrupt your opponent’s strategies and give you extra options on each turn, essentially multiplying your available resources on the field.
Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly ramp your mana, the ability it grants can accelerate game tempo by allowing you to make more impactful plays using your opponent’s creatures, thus leveraging the board state to your favor much quicker than you could with just your own cards.
Instant Speed: The enchantment offers you the power to take control of a creature at instant speed, which means you can respond to your opponent’s actions on their turn or right before they declare attackers. This not only surprises your adversary but can also turn their offensive strategies back on them at a moment’s notice. Being an enchantment also means that once it is on the field, the activation ability is always threatening to be used, forcing opponents to play around it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Chamber of Manipulation necessitates the discard of a card to activate its control-stealing ability. This can be a setback if your hand is already depleted or if every card is crucial to your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires a specific combination of mana to cast – one blue and three of any other color. For players not running a deck with a steady blue mana base, consistently meeting this requirement could be challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that includes both mana and card discard, Chamber of Manipulation’s total investment is quite high compared to other control options available. Players may find that other cards can achieve similar effects without sacrificing hand advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Chamber of Manipulation offers a unique form of control that can seamlessly be incorporated into various blue-based decks. Its ability to turn excess lands into control effects allows for flexibility in game play, adapting to multiple situations with ease.
Combo Potential: This enchantment synergizes with cards that benefit from gaining control of opponents’ creatures, opening up numerous combo routes. Whether you’re utilizing stolen creatures as sacrifice fodder or for their powerful abilities, the potential is significant.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prizes creature-based strategies, Chamber of Manipulation becomes highly relevant. Its capacity to disrupt opponents by taking their threats or blockers can swing the momentum in your favor, making it a savvy addition for those seeking an edge.
How to beat
Chamber of Manipulation is a unique enchantment card that slides into Magic the Gathering decks keen on controlling the board. Once on the field, it can turn the tides by effectively commandeering an opponent’s creature each turn. To successfully navigate against this card, it is vital to limit its impact.
One effective strategy is to maintain a low creature count on your board, thereby reducing the targets for Chamber of Manipulation. Cards that grant hexproof or shroud to your creatures are also invaluable, as they can prevent the Chamber from selecting them. Additionally, consider using instant-speed removal spells. These allow you to eliminate your own creature in response to the Chamber’s activation, which can be a painful but strategic choice to avoid letting your opponent gain control of a key piece on your board.
Lastly, enchantment removal spells like Disenchant can directly address the Chamber of Manipulation itself. By keeping pressure and responding swiftly to threats, you can diminish the advantage this card gives to your opponents, and keep the manipulated machinations at bay.
Cards like Chamber of Manipulation
Chamber of Manipulation is an intriguing option for control players in Magic: The Gathering, standing in a unique niche of enchantment cards that take control of opponents’ creatures. When examining cards with a similar effect, one can’t help but think of Control Magic, a classic that simply takes possession of a target creature. While Control Magic lacks the repeatable nature of Chamber of Manipulation, it does not require the discard of a card to maintain control, making it a more straightforward choice.
Another relative in this category is Mind Control, which mirrors the ability of Control Magic with a slightly higher mana cost. However, it doesn’t offer the flexibility of repeated use found in Chamber of Manipulation. On the other hand, the enchantment Treachery provides a one-time usage with the added advantage of untapping five lands, essentially making it free of cost under the right circumstances.
Each card in this comparison offers different strengths and limitations, with Chamber of Manipulation providing a strategic advantage through its repeatability, despite the card discard condition. Its place in Magic: The Gathering’s array of control spells is solidified by this dynamic and the tactical depth it offers to the late-game scenarios.
Cards similar to Chamber of Manipulation by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Chamber of Manipulation MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Chamber of Manipulation and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Chamber of Manipulation 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 Chamber of Manipulation 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 | Remember that the creature does not gain Haste, so you can’t attack with that creature or use any ability with in the activation cost during the turn you take control of it. |
| 2004-10-04 | The creature does not untap if it is tapped. |