Dehydration MTG Card


It provides valuable control by endlessly tapping targeted creatures, which can disrupt opponent strategies. Despite not being instant speed, Dehydration’s effect can decisively influence the board when timed correctly. Cost-effective for its ability, Dehydration is a useful addition to decks that benefit from tempo control.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

"You say Saprazzo is a city built on water? I hope they have enough to wash the dust from my throat." —Sisay


Cards like Dehydration

Dehydration is a control card in Magic: The Gathering that sees some play in blue decks geared towards disabling opponents’ creatures. It’s often compared to other blue control enchantments like Claustrophobia or Ice Over. When we examine Dehydration, its ability to tap a creature without the potential for untapping is a straightforward way to neutralize threats. Oppositely, Claustrophobia does the same but with a different flavor, as it automatically taps a creature upon entering the battlefield, remaining consistent with blue’s theme of interfering with your opponent’s plans.

Ice Over shares similarities with Dehydration, effectively making a creature unable to untap. Although Ice Over also reaches out to Artifacts, giving it slight versatility, Dehydration has the advantage with its all-encompassing ability that affects any untapped creature. Encasing a threat in ice or in a state of perpetual exhaustion, these cards represent the quintessential blue-strategy: stall and control.

Evaluating these options, Dehydration hangs on as a solid choice for players looking to maintain momentum in their control strategy. The flexibility of responding to creatures of any size means that even in the sea of alternative blue enchantments, Dehydration stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness in the right deck composition.

Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dehydration by color, type and mana cost

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Steal Artifact - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Animate Artifact - MTG Card versions
Merseine - MTG Card versions
Zur's Weirding - MTG Card versions
Psychic Vortex - MTG Card versions
Abduction - MTG Card versions
Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Browse - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Treasure Trove - MTG Card versions
Mystic Restraints - MTG Card versions
Ambiguity - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dehydration is a singular enchantment that can shut down an opponent’s creature, potentially turning the tide by negating their built-up board presence without expending multiple resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Dehydration doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows for efficient mana usage, keeping your pool open for further plays that can accelerate your resources or develop your board.

Instant Speed: Although Dehydration is not an instant, its effect on the battlefield can be likened to one. It can be deployed during your turn, immediately negating a recently summoned creature’s potential, or during the end of your opponent’s turn to set up for strategic plays without alerting them prematurely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dehydration’s mechanics do not explicitly require a discard. However, maintaining card advantage is crucial in MTG, and the lack of immediate impact upon casting Dehydration may mimic a temporary discard situation, as the card takes up a slot without affecting the board state instantly.

Specific Mana Cost: Dehydration requires a specific blue mana commitment. This can make it less flexible compared to more color-fluid control options, potentially restricting it to strictly blue or blue-heavy decks that can consistently meet the blue mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost involving three generic and one blue mana, Dehydration may seem inefficient when compared to other control spells. In a game where tempo is vital, the investment of four mana to tap a single creature without destroying it can put a player at a disadvantage against decks with lower-cost removal options.


Reasons to Include Dehydration in Your Collection

Versatility: Dehydration is a flexible control card that can neutralize a wide range of threats by tapping down creatures indefinitely. It’s a strong addition to decks that seek to stall the board and set up their own win conditions.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping mechanics, Dehydration can be used to consistent effect, ensuring key creatures on the opposing side remain out of action while you execute your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Against creature-heavy decks or formats where creature strategies dominate, Dehydration serves as a cost-effective tool to control the tempo of the game, making it a practical sideboard card or even a main deck consideration depending on the current meta.


How to beat

Dehydration is a control card in Magic: The Gathering which can immobilize your opponent’s creatures by tapping them down indefinitely and preventing them from untapping during their controller’s untap step. Overcoming this blue enchantment requires strategic planning and clever play. Similar to enchantment removal spells across various colors like Disenchant or Naturalize, which directly remove the Dehydration from play, cards like Krosan Grip with split second give even less room for your opponent to react.

In the realm of blue spells, cards such as Negate or Counterspell act preemptively to deny Dehydration from ever hitting the battlefield. Red offers direct solutions with spells like Chaos Warp to turn the tide by shuffling Dehydration back into its owner’s deck. Green’s natural enchantment hate is also invaluable; cards like Back to Nature can clear Dehydration and any other pesky enchantments in one swoop.

Assessment of MTG strategies shows that while Dehydration can be a formidable obstacle, a deck equipped with the right removal or countermeasures can render it a mere hiccup in the flow of the game, maintaining the tempo and pressure on the opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dehydration MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Eighth Edition, 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 Dehydration and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dehydration Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 731997NormalBlackVal Mayerik
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 752003NormalWhiteArnie Swekel
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 75★2003NormalBlackArnie Swekel
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 732003NormalWhiteArnie Swekel
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 73★2003NormalBlackArnie Swekel
62005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H422003NormalWhiteArnie Swekel
72005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL H412003NormalWhiteArnie Swekel
82007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 782003NormalBlackArnie Swekel
92007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 78★2003NormalBlackArnie Swekel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dehydration has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal