Coercion MTG Card
1997-02-03 - Number 54
1997-10-14 - Number 113
1998-06-24 - Number 66
1999-04-21 - Number 119
1999-05-01 - Number 70
1999-07-01 - Number 69
2000-10-01 - Number 20
2003-07-28 - Number 122★
2003-07-28 - Number 122
2005-07-29 - Number 118★
2005-07-29 - Number 118
2015-05-06 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at target opponent's hand. Choose a card from that player's hand. That player discards that card.
A rhino's bargain —Femeref expression meaning "a situation with no choices"
Cards like Coercion
Coercion takes its place in Magic: The Gathering as a classic piece of black control magic. It has peers in cards like Thoughtseize, which similarly peeks into an opponent’s hand to pluck out a threat before it’s played. While Thoughtseize targets only nonland cards and comes in at a lower mana cost with two life paid, Coercion allows you to choose from any card without the life penalty, albeit at a higher mana cost.
Distress is another kin to Coercion, with the same mana cost but requiring both mana to be black. Distress has an advantage in nonbasic metagames, as it exclusively targets noncreature, nonland cards, often hitting vital combo pieces. Conversely, Coercion offers a broader selection, tackling creatures as well. Mind Rot steps into the ring too as a similar disruptive strategy, not looking into an opponent’s hand but forcing them to discard two cards at random, potentially hitting two valuable targets at once.
All things considered, Coercion provides MTG players with the power to directly disrupt an opponent’s strategy. It stands as a solid choice for players looking to remove specific threats from an opponent’s hand.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Coercion gives you a peek into your opponent’s hand, enabling you to strip them of their key cards. By targeting their best threats or answers, this disruption can lead to a significant advantage on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While Coercion itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly contribute to resource asymmetry. By discarding your opponent’s ramp or resource-producing spells, you can hinder their mana curve and slow down their game plan to your benefit.
Instant Speed: The power of Coercion lies in its sorcery speed, necessitating strategic play. Although not castable at instant speed, this timing allows you to plan your turn to maximize the impact of the information gained and the card removed from your opponent’s hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Coercion forces your opponent to discard a card of your choice, which can be impactful. However, this comes at the cost of having to already hold the card in your hand, making it less flexible when your hand is empty or if you’re preserving key pieces for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes one black mana, Coercion can be challenging to incorporate into multi-colored decks. This necessity may constrict deck building options, especially for players looking to maintain a stable mana base across various colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Coercion’s three mana investment is quite significant for a one-time use effect that targets only a single card. In a game where tempo and efficiency are crucial, there may be alternatives available that offer either repeatable discard effects or more immediate board presence for the same cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Coercion is a black spell that can easily fit into various deck archetypes. As a spell that forces a discard, it can slide into control decks seeking to disrupt opponents’ hands and into attrition strategies that aim to deplete opponents’ resources.
Combo Potential: The power to target and remove key cards from an opponent’s hand makes Coercion a useful component in combos aimed at neutralizing threats before they hit the board. It can be particularly effective in combination with cards that grant you a glimpse into the opponent’s hand, ensuring that you hit the most critical target.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where players often depend on specific cards to execute their strategies, Coercion can play a pivotal role. By preemptively stripping away components critical to an opponent’s game plan, it maintains relevance, especially in environments where control tactics prevail.
How to Overcome Coercion
Coercion, a notable spell in Magic: The Gathering, can disrupt strategies by forcing opponents to discard a vital card from their hand. Tackling this black spell requires precise tactics. Players can anticipate Coercion by holding onto less important cards, effectively minimizing impact. Alternatively, using cards with “flashback” or similar abilities allows for strategic use of the graveyard, turning a forced discard into a future advantage.
Maintaining a varied hand also lessens Coercion’s sting. If your hand can sustain a hit without losing momentum, Coercion’s effect is mitigated. Proactive measures include using “hexproof” to shield your hand from targeted spells or playing cards quickly, reducing the chance for your opponent to capitalize on their Coercion.
Deck resilience plays a key role in recovering from Coercion’s effect. If the deck has inherent recovery mechanisms or redundancy, losing a single card becomes less devastating. Prioritizing the draw of additional cards will also keep your hand full, diluting the impact of targeted discard effects. By understanding Coercion and preparing for its disruption, players can effectively weaken the blow and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Coercion MTG card by a specific set like Visions and Tempest, 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 Coercion 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Coercion Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-02-03 | Visions | VIS | 54 | 1997 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi | |
| 2 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 113 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 3 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 66 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeffrey R. Busch | |
| 4 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 119 | 1997 | Normal | White | DiTerlizzi | |
| 5 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 70 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kang Yu | |
| 6 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 69 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jeffrey R. Busch | |
| 7 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 20 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
| 8 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 122★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi | |
| 9 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 122 | 2003 | Normal | White | DiTerlizzi | |
| 10 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 118★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi | |
| 11 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 118 | 2003 | Normal | White | DiTerlizzi | |
| 12 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Coercion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |