Claustrophobia MTG Card

Provides card advantage by restricting opponents’ actions without extra card investment. Enhances strategic depth with lasting effect, despite the sorcery speed limitation. Requires careful deck construction considering mana specificity and late-game impact.

Innistrad (ISD)
2011-09-30 - Number 48

Magic 2014 (M14)
2013-07-19 - Number 46

Claustrophobia - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)

Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
2014-03-14 - Number 27

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 50

Claustrophobia - Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins (DDT)

Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins (DDT)
2017-10-24 - Number 3

Iconic Masters (IMA)
2017-11-17 - Number 45

Battlebond (BBD)
2018-06-08 - Number 115

Game Night (GNT)
2018-11-16 - Number 20

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 319

Game Night 2019 (GN2)
2019-11-15 - Number 17

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DDT-3

Card sets	Released in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature When Claustrophobia enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature. Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

Six feet of earth muffled his cries.

Cards like Claustrophobia

The intriguing dynamics of Claustrophobia in Magic: The Gathering spotlight it as an impactful form of creature control. Notable parallels can be drawn with cards like Ice Over or Encrust, which both also tap a creature and prevent it from untapping during its controller’s untap step. Yet, what sets Claustrophobia apart is its unconditional nature—neither the creature’s type nor its ability to activate abilities is a limiting factor for it to become ensnared by this spell.

Delving deeper into alternatives, we discover Sleep Paralysis, serving a similar purpose by not just tapping a creature but locking it down to hinder any further use. Even though Sleep Paralysis and Claustrophobia share a mana cost, Claustrophobia’s immediate tap effect upon entering the battlefield gives it a swifter impact. There is also Bonds of Quicksilver, following the same thematic path but with Flash, allowing for surprise plays not possible with the predictable nature of sorcery speed enchantments.

Thus, while evaluating the various options for keeping opponent’s creatures at bay, Claustrophobia emerges as an efficient tool, particularly due to its certainty and immediate board influence, a crucial advantage in fast-paced games of Magic: The Gathering.

Bonds of Quicksilver - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Claustrophobia by color, type and mana cost

Threads of Disloyalty - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Claustrophobia nails its role by keeping a creature locked down, effectively neutralizing the threat without requiring additional cards. This serves as a one-for-one at minimum, often skewing towards card advantage as opponents spend resources attempting to free their creature or overcome the enforced handicap.

Resource Acceleration: Although Claustrophobia doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it plays a vital role in resource management by stalling opposing creatures. This delay can give you the breathing room needed to develop your board and tap into your deck’s full potential without the pressure of a clock set by your opponent’s creature base.

Instant Speed: While Claustrophobia operates at sorcery speed, its lasting effect persists through the turns, mimicking the strategic advantage of instant speed spells. It offers persistent board control by effectively removing a threat as soon as it hits the board, allowing you to plan your turns more effectively, knowing that a key adversary is out of the equation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When deploying Claustrophobia on the battlefield, there’s an immediate cost beyond mana – discarding a card. This trade-off can be particularly taxing during late-game scenarios where every card in hand counts, limiting your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The need for two blue mana to cast Claustrophobia attaches it firmly to blue-aligned decks or those that can reliably produce blue mana. This requirement can restrict its inclusion in multi-colored decks that might not always have the necessary mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to cast with double blue can feel steep, especially since Claustrophobia is a control card aimed at containing threats rather than advancing your own board state. In an environment where mana efficiency is key, players might lean towards alternatives that offer similar control for a reduced mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Claustrophobia is a powerful blue enchantment that can shut down virtually any creature, regardless of its size or abilities. Its ability to lock down a key creature can be a game-changer in many matchups, making it a worthy addition to diverse blue control decks or tempo strategies.

Combo Potential: Not only can Claustrophobia neutralize threats on its own, but it can also work in tandem with cards that capitalize on tapped creatures, such as those that untap your permanents for benefit or cards that deal damage to tapped creatures. This interplay can lead to devastating effects on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where large, single threats can decide the pace and outcome of the game, Claustrophobia serves as a beneficial tool. It’s a simple and cost-effective solution to some of the format’s most formidable creatures, making it a particularly relevant choice for decks that need to reliably deal with opponents’ threats.

How to beat Claustrophobia

Overcoming Claustrophobia in your MTG games requires a strategic angle. This blue enchantment locks a creature down effectively, rendering it unable to attack or block, much like an Arrest with a more thematic flair. But it’s not without its weaknesses. Naturalize stands as a simple and efficient solution. This green staple can swiftly destroy Claustrophobia, liberating your creature and turning the tides of battle in your favor.

Similarly, green offers a variety of enchantment removal options such as Krosan Grip, which with its split second ability, prevents opponents from responding. Note that blue decks containing Claustrophobia may also run countermagic, making timing critical. Choosing to play your removal at the end of your opponent’s turn can sometimes work to your advantage, circumventing their untapped mana for potential counterspells.

Intelligent deck building and situational awareness are key. Including versatile removal spells or abilities that can address Claustrophobia among other threats can enhance your game plan. It’s essential to always be prepared for such hindrances, ensuring your deck remains consistent and resilient against control strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Claustrophobia MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Magic 2014, 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 Claustrophobia and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Claustrophobia Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2019-11-15. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-09-30	Innistrad	ISD	48	2003	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
2	2013-07-19	Magic 2014	M14	46	2003	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
3	2014-03-14	Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska	DDM	27	2003	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
4	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	50	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
5	2017-10-24	Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins	DDT	3	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
6	2017-11-17	Iconic Masters	IMA	45	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
7	2018-06-08	Battlebond	BBD	115	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
8	2018-11-16	Game Night	GNT	20	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
9	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	319	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
10	2019-11-15	Game Night 2019	GN2	17	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast
11	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DDT-3	2015	Normal	Black	Ryan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Claustrophobia has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	Claustrophobia can target and enchant a tapped or untapped creature.
2015-06-22	The enchanted creature can still be untapped in other ways. Claustrophobia will remain attached, and the creature will continue to not untap during its controller’s untap step.