Complicate MTG Card


Complicate offers strategic depth through cycling, balancing card advantage with timely countering of spells. Its instant speed allows precise responsiveness, a valuable trait in the fast-paced MTG environment. While powerful, it presents limitations, such as specific mana demands and potential hand disadvantage.
Complicate - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Cycling
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Number76
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byScott M. Fischer

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller pays o3. Cycling o U (o U, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.) When you cycle Complicate, you may counter target spell unless its controller pays o1.


Cards like Complicate

Complicate holds a unique position in the collection of counter spells available in MTG. Its closest relative might be the classic Counter spell, which unabashedly denies any single spell for the same cost of three mana. What sets Complicate apart is its cycling ability, allowing players to draw a card for an additional cost, adding versatility when the counter is not needed.

Another relative is the slightly cheaper Mana Leak, necessitating the opponent to pay three mana or have their spell countered. Mana Leak doesn’t offer the utility of drawing a card but can be a more cost-effective disruption early on in the game. Conversely, Delay is a fascinating comparison – while not outright countering a spell, it suspends it for three turns, a subtle twist in control strategies with a simpler two mana cost. Complicate, with its dual utility, creates opportunities to pivot plans mid-game.

Evaluating counter-play strategies, Complicate indeed deserves a potential slot in decks that value flexibility. It edges over some spells with its ability to adapt to the state of the game, giving players a response to threats or a path to smoother draws.

Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Delay - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Delay - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Complicate by color, type and mana cost

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Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tapping into the strategic depth of MTG, Complicate offers the ability to cycle, drawing a new card while potentially countering an opponent’s spell, thus maintaining an upper hand in your library’s breadth against your adversary’s plans.

Resource Acceleration: With the cycle capability, this card not only maintains smooth gameplay but with the added bonus of disrupting an opponent’s strategy, this card inadvertently accelerates your own resources by hampering theirs, maintaining pressure and momentum on your side of the battlefield.

Instant Speed: One of the essential elements that elevate a player’s game in MTG is timing, and Complicate, being at instant speed, offers responsiveness. This agility empowers you to interject your tactics at the most opportune moments without foregoing the progression of your own strategy during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to the Complicate card in MTG is that to utilize its cycling ability, you are required to discard the card. This may lead to a loss of hand advantage, particularly in situations where maintaining a variety of options in hand is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Complicate’s mana cost is not just steep but also requires two blue mana. This can be restrictive, especially in multi-colored decks that could struggle to produce the necessary blue mana consistently, ultimately limiting its inclusion only to those decks that can reliably meet this color requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Complicate offers a counter spell ability, its three mana cost is substantial when compared to other counter spells in the game. This can be problematic, as players might have to pass on developing their board or playing other spells earlier in the game in order to keep mana open for Complicate, potentially hampering their overall strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A Complicate card has a place in any collection, thanks to its ability to operate well in various situations. With its cycle ability, it can offer card draw when needed or serve as a counterspell in crucial moments.

Combo Potential: Serving multiple functions, Complicate can be an essential piece in numerous combos. Its utility to counter or draw means it can adapt to different phases of the game, supporting complex and layered strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where adaptability is key, Complicate remains relevant, particularly in formats where control decks shine. Its flexible use ensures that it can be a silver bullet against an array of popular deck archetypes.


How to beat

Overcoming Complicate in a MTG game requires strategic planning and well-timed maneuvers. Players versed in the art of the game understand that this card’s ability to counter target spells unless its controller pays {3} can be a real game changer. A straightforward strategy to negate Complicate’s impact is ensuring you have enough mana available when casting spells that are critical to your game plan. This reduces the chances of your opponent effectively using the card’s cycling ability to throw a wrench in your plans.

Maintaining a diverse hand with low-cost spells can also dilute the effectiveness of Complicate. Cycling, while a versatile tool, costs resources and time. By pressuring your opponent with a series of less impactful spells, you force them to make a decision on whether to use Complicate prematurely or hold it for a more crucial moment. Furthermore, incorporating cards that provide uncounterable spells or abilities that grant your spells protection from being countered can offer a more permanent solution to facing off against such control measures.

To sum up, while Complicate poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, adept players can leverage meticulous resource management and deck composition to mitigate its control and swing the momentum in their favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG cards like Complicate opens up a whole new realm of strategic play. It acts as both a defensive measure and a way to gain new resources, depending on what the situation demands. Skilled players can leverage this to outmaneuver the competition. If your deck thrives on keeping ahead of the competition and you revel in the mind games that come with countering spells, adding Complicate to your arsenal may give you that tactical edge. For more insights on how to weave Complicate into your gameplay seamlessly or to find alternative cards that fit your unique strategy, let us guide you through. Enhance your MTG experience with us—dive deeper into strategy, expand your collection, and conquer the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Complicate MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Complicate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Complicate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not.
2008-10-01 The cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. If the triggered ability doesn't resolve (due to being countered with Stifle, for example, or if all its targets have become illegal), the cycling ability will still resolve and you'll draw a card.
2008-10-01 When you cycle this card, first the cycling ability goes on the stack, then the triggered ability goes on the stack on top of it. The triggered ability will resolve before you draw a card from the cycling ability.
2008-10-01 You can cycle this card even if there are no targets for the triggered ability. That's because the cycling ability itself has no targets.