Drown in Shapelessness MTG Card
2016-11-16 - Number 70837
2018-06-22 - Number 15
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand.
"From the swallows, I learned how to ride the winds to anywhere, and from my tears, I mastered how to harness the water."
Cards like Drown in Shapelessness
Drown in Shapelessness is an intriguing utility card within Magic: The Gathering. It shares characteristics with various bounce spells, yet stands out due to its capability to target nonland permanents of any type. While spells like Unsummon focus exclusively on creatures, Drown in Shapelessness extends its reach, offering a broader array of potential targets. However, Unsummon comes with a lower mana cost — just one blue mana — which could be pivotal for tempo plays in the early game.
Considering Into the Roil, another comparable card, we observe that it, too, can return nonland permanents to hand but requires an additional two mana to draw a card with its kicker cost. Drown in Shapelessness does not provide card draw, but its flexibility is its main advantage. Echoing Truth is a similar spell as well, capable of bouncing multiple copies of the same nonland permanent, whereas Drown in Shapelessness targets a single nonland permanent irrespective of duplicates.
Ultimately, Drown in Shapelessness offers a versatile solution in games, allowing players to address a wide range of threats swiftly and effectively. While there are other spells in Magic: The Gathering with faster casting or added benefits, the broad target range of Drown in Shapelessness may just give it the edge in the right deck construction.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drown in Shapelessness provides a unique form of card advantage. It has the capability to reset an opponent’s key creature, delaying their strategy and effectively making them replay that card, costing them another turn of progression.
Resource Acceleration: While this card isn’t directly linked to resource acceleration, it does indirectly influence the game’s tempo in your favor. By bouncing a creature to its owner’s hand, you can ensure that you’re not falling behind on the board, giving you time to develop your own resources.
Instant Speed: Drown in Shapelessness can be cast at instant speed, allowing for reactive play during your opponent’s turn. This flexibility means you can adapt to threats as they arise and utilize mana efficiently, keeping it open for counterspells or other instant speed interactions should the need not arise to use this card.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Drown in Shapelessness comes with the condition that you discard a card as part of its casting cost. This can be a strategic setback when your hand is already depleted or when you wish to maintain a particular card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana required to cast Drown in Shapelessness is not just any mana—it demands a blue mana specifically. This necessity means that the card is predominantly beneficial in blue or multicolored decks, potentially narrowing its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the mana investment, Drown in Shapelessness may not always present the best value. It requires three mana, including one blue, to activate its effect. In the context of gameplay, other options could provide a similar benefit for a lesser mana commitment, potentially streamlining your deck’s efficiency.
Reasons to Include Drown in Shapelessness in Your Collection
Versatility: Drown in Shapelessness is a flexible addition to your collection as it is capable of slotting into blue-centered decks with ease. Its ability to return target creature to its owner’s hand makes it a powerful option for tempo play, further bolstering its utility in various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card’s functionality goes beyond simple removal; it can also be a linchpin in combo setups that rely on casting spells or triggering enter-the-battlefield effects multiple times. The instant speed enables swift and unforeseen plays that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy or amplify your own.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with crucial creature-based strategies, Drown in Shapelessness earns its place by countering key plays and depriving opponents of their momentum. As meta shifts, its importance may fluctuate; however, the significance of quick and efficient creature management can scarcely be overestimated.
How to Beat Drown in Shapelessness
Drown in Shapelessness presents itself as a versatile tool in a Magic: The Gathering player’s arsenal, offering the ability to bounce an attacking or blocking creature to its owner’s hand. Its application in disrupting opponent strategies cannot be overstated. However, it can be mitigated or even turned to your advantage with the right tactics.
To effectively counter this spell, consider leveraging cards that benefit from being returned to your hand or those that can be cast at instant speed to reestablish board presence before the turn concludes. Additionally, playing creatures with enter-the-battlefield abilities can offer repeated value when faced with such temporary setbacks.
Another angle is to employ spells and abilities that protect your creatures from being targeted, such as hexproof or shroud. Additionally, having counterspells ready can intercept Drown in Shapelessness before it takes effect. A strategic approach, combining foresight and deck-building that anticipates such disruptive spells, is the key to staying one step ahead.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drown in Shapelessness MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling, 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 Drown in Shapelessness 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 Drown in Shapelessness Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2018-06-22. Illustrated by Pon Lee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 70837 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pon Lee | |
| 2 | 2018-06-22 | Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling | GS1 | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pon Lee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drown in Shapelessness has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |