Cornered Market MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Number | 14 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Edward P. Beard, Jr. |
Text of card
Players can't play spells or nonbasic lands with the same name as a card in play.
Don't step on the livelihood of other vendors, or they may step on you. —Mercadian saying
Cards like Cornered Market
Cornered Market occupies a unique position in the realm of control cards within Magic: The Gathering. When examining its potential in a strategic setup, we see some parallels to cards such as Stony Silence and Null Rod, which affect abilities of artifacts. However, Cornered Market steps further by preventing players from casting spells that share a name with any other card in the play zone, severely limiting opponents’ options.
A close relative in terms of concept is Damping Sphere. Although not as sweeping in its restrictions, Damping Sphere is effective at hindering strategies focused on casting multiple spells in one turn or utilizing lands that produce substantial amounts of mana. Then comes Iona, Shield of Emeria, imposing a more specific yet powerful clampdown that completely bars opponents from casting spells of a certain color. While Iona’s ability is more narrowly focused, Cornered Market’s broader preventative measure affects all players and encompasses all spell types, making it a versatile disruption tool.
In the landscape of MTG where controlling opponents’ resources is key, Cornered Market offers a distinctive edge. Its widespread restriction on players ramps up the complexity of their strategic planning, carving out its own niche in the echelon of control magic.
Cards similar to Cornered Market by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cornered Market comes with a unique ability that limits players from casting spells or landing permanents with the same name as something already on the battlefield. This effect can potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy, locking them out of playing key cards and securing you a superiority in card functionality, which is crucial for dominating the game.
Resource Acceleration: Although Cornered Market itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it creates a strategic advantage by potentially denying your opponents’ ability to cast their mana accelerants. This indirect resource denial can set the pace of the game, giving you a steady lead while others might struggle with their development.
Instant Speed: While Cornered Market is an enchantment that requires it to be played at sorcery speed, it pairs exceedingly well with instant-speed removal and counterspells. By controlling the board and removing duplicates your opponents might play, you maintain the initiative. Strategically using this card in tandem with instants can corner the market in your favor, right when your adversaries least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Cornered Market is that it involves a discard mechanic. This means that in order to gain its benefits, players are often compelled to sacrifice another card from their hand. This can be particularly problematic when you’re stretched thin on available cards or when you need to maintain a full hand to combat your opponent’s strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Cornered Market requires a specific blend of mana colors to be cast. Its demanding mana cost, which includes both white and blue mana, can restrict this card to only certain types of decks or require a deck to be tailored around its mana needs. Players not running both colors may find it difficult to justify including it in their deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one of each white and blue, Cornered Market’s effect may not always justify its place in a deck considering the opportunity cost. The mana investment is sizable in the early game, and in competitive play, there are other cards that might provide more immediate impact or value for the same, or less, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cornered Market fits seamlessly into decks that revolve around controlling your opponent’s ability to play creatures. This can be particularly effective in formats where creature-based strategies are dominant.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Cornered Market can create lock-out scenarios when combined with cards that allow you to play additional creatures, essentially stifling opponents while you build your board unimpeded.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where player decks often rely on creature strategies, having Cornered Market in your arsenal means you have a card that directly counters these prevalent tactics, keeping you one step ahead in the evolving meta.
How to beat
Cornered Market from Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, restricting both players from playing two cards with the same name. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to include versatile removal spells in your deck. These can dismantle enchantments directly, allowing your game to proceed unhindered. Think of options like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can handle a broad array of threats at a low cost.
Another tactic is to diversify your deck with a wide range of singletons if you’re in a singleton format like Commander. This way, you naturally circumvent the restriction imposed by Cornered Market. Alternatively, focus on ramping up mana to play more substantial threats—ones that can win the game on their own. This strategy reduces your reliance on playing multiple instances of any single card, thus lessening Cornered Market’s impact on your strategy.
Moreover, utilizing instant-speed tricks can catch the enchantment on the stack, nullifying it before it ever gets a chance to hamper you. With careful planning and a diversified deck, Cornered Market can be overcome, turning a potential stumbling block into a mere hiccup in your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cornered Market MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Cornered Market 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cornered Market has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cornered Market card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Cornered Market does not prevent effects which put a card onto the battlefield. It only stops people from casting. |
| 2004-10-04 | This card only looks at permanents, not spells on the stack. So it is possible to cast two instances of a spell onto the stack. |