Icy Manipulator MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 28 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides game control by selectively freezing opponent’s assets at crucial moments.
  2. Its activation cost demands careful mana allocation, impacting deck tempo.
  3. Remains a flexible tool across various deck types and strategies.

Text of card

o1: You may tap any land, creature, or artifact in play on either side.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Icy Manipulator enables you to dictate the pace of the game, effectively providing card advantage by hampering your opponent’s resources. This can lead to a significant lead, as controlling the board often translates into controlling the flow of the game.

Resource Acceleration: By untapping your lands or other mana-generating artifacts during your opponent’s end step, the Icy Manipulator can be used to accelerate your resources. This strategic move can surprise your adversaries and give you the upper hand in mana availability.

Instant Speed: The Icy Manipulator’s ability to disrupt at instant speed makes it a versatile tool in many strategies. Whether you’re fending off attackers, freezing a tapping ability, or simply keeping mana open for a timely response, its instant speed utility aligns perfectly with a variety of tactical needs.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Icy Manipulator doesn’t require you to discard a card as part of its activation, having to manage it alongside your other cards can sometimes result in an undesirable hand reduction. In the late game, this can make it harder to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The Icy Manipulator comes with an activation cost that is colorless, which might seem advantageous at first glance. However, it means that it does not specifically benefit from mana reducers of a particular color or effects that would make colored spells cheaper or more versatile within a specific color-based strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its ability to tap any target artifact, creature, or land can be quite versatile, the Icy Manipulator itself carries a four-mana cost for its deployment. In a game where tempo is critical, allocating four mana to set up future control can be potentially slow, especially when there are other lower-cost options that could provide immediate benefits or fits better with the overall deck synergy.


Reasons to Include Icy Manipulator in Your Collection

Versatility: Icy Manipulator’s capacity to tap any target artifact, creature, or land makes it a flexible addition to numerous deck types. Its ability to interfere with an opponent’s strategy transcends the boundaries of specific archetypes, offering utility in various circumstances.

Combo Potential: As an artifact with a pivotal tap ability, Icy Manipulator pairs well with cards that capitalize on tapping or untapping mechanics. Its interaction with cards that monitor the state of permanents can be the cornerstone of inventive and powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: The evolving gameplay dynamics often showcase creatures and strategies that hinge on timing. Icy Manipulator can be a critical tool in manipulating the pace of the game, therefore remaining a relevant choice against decks that are susceptible to being locked down or strategically delayed.


How to beat Icy Manipulator

The Icy Manipulator is an artifact with a storied history in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Renowned for its versatility, the Manipulator provides players the ability to tap any target artifact, creature, or land, effectively hampering an opponent’s strategy. Its power lies in its ability to disrupt the timing and resources of your adversary during critical phases of the game.

However, the Manipulator is not without its weaknesses. One of the most straightforward methods to overcome the challenges it presents is by employing artifact removal spells such as Naturalize, which can destroy the Manipulator outright. Alternatively, one can mitigate its impact by diversifying threats, making it difficult for the opponent to determine the most advantageous target for the Manipulator’s ability. Additionally, instant-speed creatures or abilities can help navigate around the Icy Manipulator’s interference, allowing for more resilient play.

Remember, preparing for disruption is key when facing the Icy Manipulator. Intelligent deck building and being mindful of the opponent’s potential strategies will serve you well. This classic Magic card demands respect on the battlefield, but with careful planning and execution, you can neutralize its icy grip on the game.


Cards like Icy Manipulator

Icy Manipulator has carved its niche in MTG as a versatile and tactical artifact. This manipulative tool stands shoulder to shoulder with its contemporaries like Winter Orb, known for locking down lands and stifling opponent’s resources. Compared to Icy Manipulator’s specific target approach, Winter Orb applies a broad freezing effect but lacks the pinpoint precision of choosing which resource to immobilize. On another icy front, Frost Titan also exerts its cold influence but at a heftier mana cost and tied to a creature body, offering a different layer of utility and threat.

Delving further, Lux Cannon emerges as another artifact with a slow buildup to a powerful impact. While less immediate than Icy Manipulator’s icy grip on the board, Lux Cannon provides the ultimate destruction at no mana cost once fully charged. The dichotomy between these two artifacts creates a balance for players who weigh immediate control against potential game-ending plays.

In essence, while several artifacts and cards in MTG offer control over the battlefield, Icy Manipulator’s immediate and repeatable freezing effect without requiring a setup stands as a testament to its enduring utility and influence in MTG decks that prioritize board control.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Lux Cannon - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Frost Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)
Lux Cannon - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Icy Manipulator by color, type and mana cost

Conservator - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Nevinyrral's Disk - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Paruns - MTG Card versions
Grappling Hook - MTG Card versions
Conservator - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Coercive Portal - Conspiracy (CNS)
Aetherworks Marvel - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Nevinyrral's Disk - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Sword of the Paruns - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Grappling Hook - Commander 2017 (C17)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Icy Manipulator MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Icy Manipulator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Icy Manipulator Magic the Gathering card was released in 19 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 2481993normalblackDouglas Shuler
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 2491993normalblackDouglas Shuler
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 2491993normalwhiteDouglas Shuler
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 2491993normalblackDouglas Shuler
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 2491993normalblackDouglas Shuler
61995-06-03Ice AgeICE 3221993normalblackAmy Weber
71996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ml3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
81996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC bl3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
91996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
101996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC pp3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
111996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC shr3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
121996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC et3221993normalgoldAmy Weber
132001-12-01DeckmastersDKM 361997normalwhiteAmy Weber
142001-12-01DeckmastersDKM 36★1997normalblackAmy Weber
152002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 350422003normalblackDouglas Shuler
162003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1862003normalblackMark Zug
172005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 299★2003normalblackMatt Cavotta
182005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2992003normalwhiteMatt Cavotta
192007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3262003normalblackMatt Cavotta
202011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 2071997normalblackDouglas Shuler
212011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 642003normalblackMatt Cavotta
222018-04-27DominariaDOM 2192015normalblackTitus Lunter
232019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15962015normalblackTitus Lunter
242020-09-26The ListPLST DOM-2192015normalblackTitus Lunter
252022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 2452015normalblackDouglas Shuler
262022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 5421997normalblackDouglas Shuler
272023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2252015normalblackMatt Cavotta
282023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3801997normalblackMatt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Icy Manipulator has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Icy Manipulator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2022-12-08 Once a player announces that they’re casting a spell or activating an ability, no player may take other actions until the spell or ability has been paid for. Notably, other players can’t try to tap that player’s permanents to stop them from paying or to stop them from producing enough mana.

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