Compulsory Rest MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 9
2020-08-13 - Number 10
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block. Enchanted creature has ", Sacrifice this creature: You gain 2 life."
The pain of death is nothing compared to the pain of failure.
Cards like Compulsory Rest
Compulsory Rest is a unique piece in a deck’s arsenal for controlling opponent’s creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It draws a neat parallel with Pacifism, a card well-known for its creature-neutralizing prowess without outright destruction. Compulsory Rest edges out with its added ability, allowing the enchanted creature’s controller to sacrifice it in exchange for life points, giving it a slight advantage in terms of flexibility.
Another card that shares this control aspect is Arrest. It ensures the creature it enchants cannot attack, block, or use its abilities, which can be more restrictive than Compulsory Rest. However, it lacks the sacrificial option that the latter offers, potentially making Compulsory Rest a more strategic choice in certain scenarios. Claustrophobia further expands this group by incapacitating the tapped creature and holding it hostage without release. Although this can be a powerful effect, it doesn’t provide the player with the alternative to gain life as Compulsory Rest does.
The subtle differences among these cards demonstrate that while they fit the same thematic niche, the finer points of their abilities can significantly affect gameplay strategies. Compulsory Rest’s multifaceted nature makes it a formidable option when considering creature control in a Magic: The Gathering deck.
Cards similar to Compulsory Rest by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Compulsory Rest itself does not draw cards, it neutralizes a threat without the need to use multiple resources, effectively providing an indirect card advantage. By taking care of large threats with a single card, you can save other removal spells in your hand, thus maintaining your card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Though Compulsory Rest isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, it can support a faster gameplay by handling opposing creatures. This lets you focus your mana and other resources on progressing your board state rather than responding to threats.
Instant Speed: Compulsory Rest is an enchantment but its low casting cost means it can be played almost at the speed of an instant. This ensures you have the flexibility to respond to dynamic game states by temporarily locking down an attacker or blocker, which can effectively streamline your strategy during crucial turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Compulsory Rest forces players to sacrifice an already established board presence if they wish to retrieve their creature. This requirement can often be a significant setback, especially for strategies that lean on maintaining a superior creature count.
Specific Mana Cost: Compulsory Rest demands a precise two white mana for its casting cost, which can be restrictive for multi-colored mana bases. This limitation can make it challenging to consistently play on curve, particularly in decks featuring three or more colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana may not seem exorbitant, in a fast-paced game where efficiency is key, Compulsory Rest competes with a myriad of removal options. Consequently, deck builders might favor more versatile and lower-cost removal spells that can address multiple threats over a card that solely targets creatures without dispatching them.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Compulsory Rest lends itself well to a variety of deck archetypes. For control players, it serves as a reliable form of creature lockdown, and for tempo decks, it can clear the way for victory by neutralizing big threats temporarily.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks that make use of enchantment recursion or benefit from having enchantments enter the battlefield. It can become a reusable resource with the right setup.
Meta-Relevance: In environments heavy with creature-based strategies, Compulsory Rest can play a pivotal role. It efficiently handles problematic creatures without committing to a high mana cost, keeping your deck agile and responsive.
How to beat
Compulsory Rest represents a unique twist within the realm of enchantment-based removal in Magic: The Gathering. Much like its counterparts Pacifism or Arrest, it effectively neutralizes a threatening creature by preventing it from attacking or blocking. However, where Compulsory Rest adds intrigue is in its optional two-mana activation allowance, which lets the creature’s controller sacrifice the creature to gain some life in return.
Overcoming the restraint of Compulsory Rest demands flexibility. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant are key tactical responses, as they can remove the enchantment directly, freeing your creature to return to the fray. Alternately, utilizing cards with activated abilities like sacrifice or tapping for effect can still exploit a creature’s uses despite it being under Compulsory Rest’s effect. It’s also important to assess the situation before deploying creatures that are valuable and likely targets for such removal, perhaps baiting out removal spells with less crucial creatures first.
Ultimately, acknowledging the nature of Compulsory Rest and preparing to counter it with removal of your own or by adjusting your strategy accordingly can minimize disruption and keep your essential creatures in the battle.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Compulsory Rest MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Compulsory Rest 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
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Printings
The Compulsory Rest Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 10 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Deschamps |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Compulsory Rest has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Compulsory Rest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | Compulsory Rest grants the activated ability to the enchanted creature. That creature’s controller (not the controller of Compulsory Rest) may activate the ability and gain 2 life. |