Crippling Chill MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 46
2014-09-26 - Number 35
2017-03-17 - Number 34
2022-12-02 - Number 284
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step. Draw a card.
One breath of the geist turns veins to rivers of ice and freezes hearts midbeat.
Cards like Crippling Chill
Crippling Chill stands out in the field of control cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card’s ability to freeze an opponent’s creature and draw a card provides a tactical advantage, similar to that of Frost Breath. Both cards incapacitate target creatures to swing the game tempo in your favor, but Crippling Chill edges out with its card-draw feature.
Encounter with Ice also shares this frigid functionality, yet it only targets tapped creatures and offers a scrying benefit instead of card draw. This makes Crippling Chill more versatile as it can target any creature and immediately replenishes your hand. For a more enduring effect, there’s Claustrophobia. This enchantment locks down a creature for a longer duration but lacks the immediate card-drawing benefit, differing from the short-term but resourceful nature of Crippling Chill.
Ultimately, for players valuing instant speed interaction and efficient cycling of their deck, Crippling Chill provides an effective blend of creature control and card advantage, setting it apart from its counterparts in the chilly realms of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Crippling Chill by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crippling Chill has the benefit of allowing you to draw a card upon resolution. This can help sustain your hand size, keeping your options open while disrupting your opponent’s plans.
Resource Acceleration: Though Crippling Chill doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the advantage gained by tapping a significant threat can buy you crucial turns. These turns can be used to deploy your own threats or gather needed resources without the pressure from an attacker.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Crippling Chill provides a key strategic advantage, giving you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This allows you to tap an attacker or blocker at the most opportune moment, either during the declare attackers or blockers phase, effectively removing it from combat and drawing you a card at a pivotal time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Crippling Chill does not inherently demand a discard, casting it may deplete your hand, leaving you vulnerable to needing to discard for other spells or abilities later.
Specific Mana Cost: Crippling Chill’s mana cost includes a specific color requirement of one blue mana, which may not be as easily accommodated outside of blue-centered or two-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, including one blue, some players argue that Crippling Chill could be cost-prohibitive given its temporary effect of tapping a creature and only drawing a card.
Reasons to Include Crippling Chill in Your Collection
Versatility: Crippling Chill is a utility card that can be included in blue-focused decks that aim to control the pace of the game. Its ability to tap a target creature and draw a card adds both disruption and cycle to your hand, making it flexible in various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping mechanics. It could be a component in combos that exploit “tap target creature” effects for repeated benefit or used to disrupt opponent’s plans while digging through your deck for other combo pieces.
Meta-Relevance: Against fast and aggressive decks, Crippling Chill can be a temporary answer to threats by keeping offensive creatures at bay, buying crucial time. During slower, more control-oriented metas, the extra card drawn helps maintain card advantage, which can be pivotal in winning long, drawn-out matches.
How to Beat
Crippling Chill is a card that can disrupt the tempo of your match in MTG. It functions as a tool for delaying opponent creatures, and it even draws you a card, making it a minor setback for your opponent while cycling through your deck. Nevertheless, several strategies can mitigate its impact and keep your board presence strong.
Firstly, consider cards that grant your creatures hexproof or indestructible, as they can shield them from being targeted and tapped by effects like Crippling Chill. Incremental growth is key; developing a wide board presence dilutes the effect one tapped creature can have on your game plan. Moreover, instant-speed spells that untap creatures or grant vigilance allow you to react to Crippling Chill, retaining your ability to attack or block despite the chill.
Keep in mind the advantage of versatility. Being quick on your feet with responses or proactive protection steers the game in your favor. Crippling Chill might slow you down, but by incorporating resilience into your deck strategy, you turn a momentary frost into a fleeting chill, quickly forgotten as you march towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crippling Chill MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Crippling Chill 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 Crippling Chill Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 46 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 35 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Torstein Nordstrand | |
| 3 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 284 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Torstein Nordstrand |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crippling Chill 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 Crippling Chill card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-03-14 | Crippling Chill can target a creature that’s already tapped. It still won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step. |