Duress MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 39 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Look at target opponent's hand and choose a noncreature, nonland card there. That player discards that card.
"We decide who is worthy of our works." —Gix, Yawgmoth praetor
Cards like Duress
Duress stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as an efficient way to disrupt opponents early in the game. Its voiding grip on the noncreature, nonland cards in an opponent’s hand mirrors that of Thoughtseize, although with less versatility since Thoughtseize can pluck any card at the price of 2 life points. Duress, conversely, offers this selective disruption without a health cost, representing a safer choice for players preserving their life total.
Comparably, Inquisition of Kozilek is a robust alternative, capable of excavating cards with converted mana costs of 3 or less with no life penalty. It presents a balance between Duress’s targeted approach and Thoughtseize’s broader sweep but within a specific mana threshold. Alongside these, Despise provides a different angle, targeting creature or planeswalker cards, and suggesting a complementary strategy to Duress’s noncreature focus.
Assessing these counterparts, Duress secures a vital role within disruption tactics in Magic: The Gathering. Although it does not extend its influence to creatures or higher valued spells, its early game potential and cost efficiency make it a staple in control decks and sideboards where strategic hand disruption can pave the way to victory.
Cards similar to Duress by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Duress. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Golgari Midrange | Standard | Golgari Midrange | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Dimir Control | Standard | Dimir Control | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Esper Midrange | Standard | Esper Midrange | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Sultai Midrange | Standard | Sultai Control | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer | Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-24 | |
Rakdos Vampires | Pioneer | Rakdos Vampires | Pioneer League 2024-04-24 | |
Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer | Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-25 | |
Rakdos Transmogrify | Pioneer | Rakdos Transmogrify | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-24 | |
Beseech Storm | Legacy | Beseech Storm | Legacy League 2024-04-25 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Despite not directly drawing cards, Duress disrupts your opponent’s hand by selectively removing their noncreature threats, thereby tilting the balance of resources in your favor. This selective discard can lead to a strategic advantage that functions similarly to card advantage by negating the cards your opponent has yet to play.
Resource Acceleration: While Duress itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, it effectively slows down your opponent’s game plan. By targeting key spells in their hand, you can prevent them from deploying their strategy on time, potentially accelerating your position in the game relative to theirs.
Instant Speed: Duress is a sorcery, which means it can’t be cast at instant speed. However, its strategic use can still set the pace of the game. Casting Duress during your first turns can impede an opponent’s setup, akin to the tempo gain usually associated with instant speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Duress necessitates your opponent to discard a noncreature, nonland card from their hand, which can be less impactful late in the game when those cards have already been played.
Specific Mana Cost: While Duress has a low cost, it requires black mana, making it exclusive to decks that run black and potentially unsuitable for multi-colored decks not including black.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Duress itself has a low mana cost, in the context of disruption spells, there are alternatives like Thoughtseize that, despite a higher cost and life loss, can target any nonland card, offering broader utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Duress is a powerful spell that finds its place in various decks across multiple formats. It’s particularly useful for preemptively disrupting your opponent’s plans, stripping away key noncreature spells before they can be cast.
Combo Potential: This card is an asset when setting up or protecting combos, allowing players to remove threats like counterspells or removals from the opponent’s hand, smoothing the way for your strategy to unfold unhindered.
Meta-Relevance: Duress is consistently relevant in the meta, especially in environments heavy with control or combo decks. Given its low cost and targeted discard effect, it is a staple in sideboards and often sees main deck play in various archetypes.
How to beat
Duress is a mainstay in the world of MTG, known for its ability to disrupt opponents by targeting their noncreature, nonland cards and snatching them straight from their hand. For players on the receiving end, it requires a clever strategy to mitigate its effects. To successfully navigate around Duress, consider holding back key spells until you’re ready to use them, making them less vulnerable to preemptive strikes. Another effective tactic is to include cards in your deck that can retrieve spells from your graveyard, thus countering Duress’ initial disruption. Additionally, employing a diverse array of threats can reduce the impact of losing a single card, ensuring that your deck’s performance is not critically hampered. Lastly, anticipate your opponent playing Duress early on, especially if you’re playing against a black deck, and plan your plays to minimize the value they can extract from it.
Ultimately, while Duress can be a formidable card, its power is not absolute. By diversifying your strategies and understanding its timing and potential impact, you can continue to play confidently, even when facing this classic form of hand disruption.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the intricacies of Duress in MTG can be a game-changer for players looking to gain an edge over the competition. Its ability to disrupt strategies by selectively discarding noncreature spells early in the game makes it a valuable card for any black deck. Whether you’re aiming to protect your own combo or dismantle your opponent’s plans, Duress serves as a strategic linchpin in many matchups. If you’re interested in refining your deck-building skills, exploring meta strategies, or just seeking to deepen your knowledge about strategic discard effects, we extend an invitation to further your MTG expertise with us. Let’s transform your gaming experience and ensure your next match delivers a carefully orchestrated victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Duress MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Urza's Saga, 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 Duress 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Duress Magic the Gathering card was released in 34 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by 11 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Media Inserts | PMEI | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lawrence Snelly | ||
2 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 132 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Lawrence Snelly | |
3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | js132 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Lawrence Snelly | |
4 | 2000-01-01 | Arena League 2000 | PAL00 | 2 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Lawrence Snelly | |
5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 131 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
6 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 131★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
7 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ar131sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Pete Venters | |
8 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | tvdl131 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Pete Venters | |
9 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ar131 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Pete Venters | |
10 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35078 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lawrence Snelly | ||
11 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | cr131sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Pete Venters | |
12 | 2009-04-10 | Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic | DDC | 46 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
13 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 96 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
14 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 96 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
15 | 2011-11-18 | Premium Deck Series: Graveborn | PD3 | 13 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
16 | 2012-01-01 | IDW Comics Inserts | PIDW | 17 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Komarck | |
17 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 90 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
18 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 97 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
19 | 2014-05-30 | Modern Event Deck 2014 | MD1 | 23 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
20 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic | DVD | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
21 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville | |
22 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
23 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 105 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lucas Graciano | |
24 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 88 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
25 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 94 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
26 | 2018-07-14 | MTG Arena Promos | PANA | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lawrence Snelly | |
27 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 97 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
28 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 642 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
29 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 479 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Riot Games | ||
30 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 96 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
31 | The List | PLST | EMA-86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | ||
32 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven Mystical Archive | STA | 92 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Romiy | |
33 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven Mystical Archive | STA | 29 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Kristina Collantes | |
34 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 784 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
35 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Scott Canavan | |
36 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Scott Canavan | |
37 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 303 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
38 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 81 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
39 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 92 | 2015 | Normal | Black | PINDURSKI |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Duress has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |