Compulsion MTG Card
2002-02-04 - Number 34
2003-08-07 - Number dz34
2023-09-08 - Number 15
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
o1o U, Discard a card from your hand: Draw a card. o1o U, Sacrifice Compulsion: Draw a card.
Cards like Compulsion
Compulsion, a blue enchantment card in Magic The Gathering, stands as an interesting piece within the repertoire of filtering cards available to players. This card allows a player to pay a small cost, discard a card, and then draw a card, offering a consistent way to sift through the deck in search of key components for their strategy. A well-known parallel to Compulsion is Thirst for Knowledge. While Thirst for Knowledge provides an immediate advantage, drawing three cards at once, it comes as a single-use instant and requires discarding two cards unless an artifact is discarded.
Another analogous card to consider is Frantic Search which, like Compulsion, allows you to draw cards and then discard, but also untaps lands, potentially accelerating your game plan without losing mana tempo. Frantic Search is quick but is a one-time-use instant. Conversely, Compulsion provides sustained card selection over several turns, though at the cost of potentially more mana investment in the long run.
Assessing these options, Compulsion can be a wise choice for decks that benefit from consistent card filtering and can afford the repeated mana costs. Its utility in enabling card quality over quantity differentiates it notably from its counterparts, making it a distinctive pick among MTG filtering cards.
Cards similar to Compulsion by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Compulsion offers a consistent mechanism to convert any card in your hand into a new one from your library, thus tailoring your hand to better suit your current game strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Though it doesn’t create mana or tokens directly, cycling through your deck more efficiently can lead to quicker access to your necessary resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Compulsion at instant speed gives you the flexibility to adapt to an evolving game state, responding aptly to your opponents’ actions without losing momentum.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Inherent to Compulsion’s ability is the mandate to discard a card to harness its effect. This can potentially deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage if you’re not able to maintain a healthy card count.
Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Compulsion to the battlefield requires a precise mana arrangement, including blue mana. This can constrain the card’s utility primarily to blue-centric or blue-inclusive decks, potentially excluding it from a wide array of strategies that don’t operate with blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of two mana to cast and an additional cost every time its ability is activated, Compulsion’s value proposition becomes less attractive when pitted against other cards in the MTG universe that offer similar or better card filtering capabilities at a lower overall mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Compulsion offers a unique blend of flexibility for many deck types. Being able to cycle through cards efficiently makes it a solid choice for decks that thrive on card synergy and consistency.
Combo Potential: As a card that allows for drawing and discarding, it has the potential to be a cog in various combo engines, enabling strategies that capitalize on graveyard interactions or card draw triggers.
Meta-Relevance: With decks in the current meta often relying on carefully curated hand contents, Compulsion can be a game-changer by helping you dig for answers or set up crucial plays.
How to beat
Overcoming the unique mechanics of Compulsion in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic depth and an understanding of its dual nature. As a card that provides steady card filtering, players need to anticipate the extended value it gives over several turns. The ability to convert unwanted cards in hand to potential new solutions is its key strength, and disrupting this flow can tilt the scales in your favor.
Addressing Compulsion effectively means either speeding up your gameplay to outpace the card advantage it provides or employing targeted removal to eliminate it from the battlefield. Artifact or enchantment destruction spells are direct answers. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can remove Compulsion from the game before its value stacks up. Alternatively, applying pressure with a fast-paced, aggressive strategy can also leave Compulsion’s controller behind as they may be forced to choose between utilizing Compulsion’s ability and responding to threats on the board.
Ultimately, recognizing the tempo that Compulsion sets is vital. Players must choose whether to race against it or interrupt it with precise card removal. Deciding on the right approach during deck building or in the heat of the match will be key to turning the tides against a Compulsion-based strategy in a game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Compulsion MTG card by a specific set like Torment and World Championship Decks 2003, 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 Compulsion 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 Compulsion Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-02-04 | Torment | TOR | 34 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 2 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | dz34 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Christopher Moeller | |
| 3 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales | WOT | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Aeron Ng |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Compulsion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |