Deserter's Quarters MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2014-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Journey into Nyx |
| Set code | JOU |
| Number | 160 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daniel Ljunggren |
Text of card
You may choose not to untap Deserter's Quarters during your untap step. , : Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as Deserter's Quarters remains tapped.
In Akros, the penalty for running from battle is one night's stay in the Deserter's Quarters.
Cards like Deserter's Quarters
Deserter’s Quarters is an intriguing artifact in the vast arsenal of MTG. When considering its unique ability to detain opponent’s creatures for a recurring mana investment, it shows a resemblance to cards like Icy Manipulator. Both provide a method to control creatures without outright destroying them. However, Deserter’s Quarters requires a consistent mana payment to maintain the lock, whereas Icy Manipulator’s freeze effect, once activated, lasts until the opponent’s next untap phase without additional costs.
Another comparable card is Prison Term, which similarly latches onto an opponent’s creature, restricting its abilities. But Prison Term has an added adaptability, allowing it to move to another creature upon entry of a new, powerful creature on the battlefield. Deserter’s Quarters doesn’t provide this flexibility but offers a repeatable use against the same creature.
In evaluation, Deserter’s Quarters holds its ground within the control artifact category due to its potential to repeatedly subdue key creatures. However, the ongoing mana investment is a strategic consideration that players must manage when integrating it into their decks.
Cards similar to Deserter's Quarters by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Deserter’s Quarters may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it effectively neutralizes an opponent’s creature without spending multiple cards to do so. Over time, this can lead to a card advantage as your opponent may need to use additional resources to free their creature or counter your strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While Deserter’s Quarters itself does not provide resource acceleration, it can indirectly affect the pace of the game. By locking down a potential threat, you can slow down your opponent’s resource development or attack strategy, giving you time to accelerate your own resources safely.
Instant Speed: Deserter’s Quarters operates at instant speed, meaning you can wait to activate it until the last possible moment. This keeps your opponent guessing and forces them to commit to moves without knowing whether their creature will be usable. Instant speed activation also allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions, potentially disrupting their plans at a critical time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Deserter’s Quarters requiring a card to be discarded can be a considerable setback, especially if your hand is already dwindling and each card counts towards your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: It demands a specific mana allocation of one colorless and one red, which might not align smoothly with multicolored or color-intensive decks, limiting its inclusion to only those that can comfortably meet the mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of two to cast and a further two to activate, Deserter’s Quarters could be seen as a costly investment for the control over an opponent’s creature it offers, when there might be alternatives that provide similar effects or greater versatility for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Deserter’s Quarters in Your Collection
Versatility: Deserter’s Quarters offers a flexible control option that can be easily slotted into numerous decks. As an artifact, it doesn’t require specific colors to play, making it a universal tool for handling creatures that might pose a threat.
Combo Potential: This card provides synergy with tap and untap mechanics. Pairing it with cards that untap artifacts can create an effective lockdown combo to neutralize the most dangerous creatures your opponents control turn after turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where large, singular creatures dominate or when facing commanders in EDH, Deserter’s Quarters can be an essential card. It’s a practical response that has relevance in various scenarios, especially in formats where creature-based strategies are prevalent.
How to beat
Deserter’s Quarters brings a unique control aspect to Magic the Gathering gameplay, allowing players to restrain opposing creatures as long as they can pay the activation cost. Despite its potential to lock down key creatures, experienced players know that there are strategies to dismantle its grip. Artifacts removal spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant can swiftly respond to and eliminate Deserter’s Quarters from the game, releasing their creature’s full potential back onto the battlefield.
To combat this artifact, players may also employ creatures with abilities to untap themselves, like Kiora’s Follower, or simply run a hefty number of creatures, overwhelming the card’s capacity to contain them all. Another effective strategy is to use hexproof creatures, which cannot be targeted by Deserter’s Quarters in the first place. If all else fails, switching to a strategy that doesn’t rely heavily on creatures can also negate the effectiveness of Deserter’s Quarters. After all, a card that’s intended to control creatures won’t have much use in a creature-light match.
Understanding how to undermine Deserter’s Quarters ensures players can stay ahead in matches where this artifact might otherwise present a frustrating roadblock. With the right card choices and tactical shifts, you can ensure that Deserter’s Quarters never becomes an inescapable prison for your creatures.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Deserter's Quarters MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Deserter's Quarters 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 Deserter's Quarters has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Deserter's Quarters card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-04-26 | As long as Deserter's Quarters remains tapped, the effect stopping the creature from untapping during its controller's untap step remains even if that creature untaps some other way (for example, with Colossal Heroics). |
| 2014-04-26 | The activated ability can target any creature, not just one that's untapped. |