Equilibrium MTG Card


Equilibrium enables card advantage through strategic bouncing of creatures at instant speed. It aids in mana efficiency by recasting creatures for their abilities multiple times. The card’s instant speed usage provides dynamic responses to ever-changing board states.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Whenever you successfully cast a creature spell, you may pay o1 to return target creature to owner's hand.

In Rath, there are only so many souls to go around.


Cards like Equilibrium

Equilibrium is a unique enchantment in MTG that provides players with the ability to bounce creatures back to their hand. When examining cards with a similar impact, Capsize comes to mind; it offers repeatability in returning not just creatures, but any permanent to its owner’s hand. Despite its flexibility, Capsize lacks the synergy Equilibrium has with creatures entering the battlefield.

Another comparable card is Crystal Shard which, like Equilibrium, can return creatures to their owner’s hand. However, Crystal Shard requires three mana for each activation, compared to Equilibrium’s single blue mana. Crystal Shard can target any creature, but it’s dependent on the available mana, contrasting with Equilibrium’s consistent trigger upon casting a creature spell.

Lastly, Erratic Portal also allows the return of creatures, yet it offers an additional layer of strategy by potentially affecting opponents’ creatures. This is something Equilibrium cannot do, as it only targets the creatures controlled by its owner. Despite these differences, Equilibrium stands out for its low-cost trigger and capacity to consistently manipulate creature-based strategies.

Capsize - MTG Card versions
Crystal Shard - MTG Card versions
Erratic Portal - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Crystal Shard - MTG Card versions
Erratic Portal - MTG Card versions

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Energy Flux - MTG Card versions
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Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
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Veiled Crocodile - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Equilibrium. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Blue ControlMono-Blue Control Legacy1 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - Liga Paulista Legacy

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Equilibrium offers a steady stream of card selection by enabling you to bounce creatures back to hand, which can be replayed for their enter-the-battlefield effects, leading to valuable card interactions and potential advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment aids in resource acceleration as it provides a cost-effective way to reuse mana-intensive creatures, effectively reducing the overall mana cost of utilizing creatures’ abilities multiple times.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Equilibrium at instant speed ensures that you can respond dynamically to the board state, create surprising blocking or attacking scenarios, or save key creatures from removal while disrupting your opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Necessitates the sacrifice of a creature to trigger its ability, forcing a choice between retaining board presence or seeking a favorable exchange.

Specific Mana Cost: Equilibrium comes with a blue mana cost, which could potentially restrict deck-building options, especially in multi-colored decks not focused on blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three-mana investment for the enchantment itself, Equilibrium carries a substantial initial cost, which may not be as mana-efficient compared to other control or combo pieces available in the MTG universe.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Equilibrium offers flexibility as an enchantment that can turn creature spells into control tools. Its ability to bounce creatures adapts to a variety of situations, neutralizing threats or reusing your own creatures for value.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Equilibrium becomes a key piece in combo decks. It can work with creatures that have enter the battlefield effects, allowing players to create recurring value or even infinite loops under the right conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies dominate, Equilibrium can serve as a tactical advantage, disrupting opponents’ plans while constantly building your board presence. Its presence in your collection could be the edge you need given the constantly shifting MTG meta.


How to beat

Equilibrium is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that offers a repetitive bounce mechanism. As an enchantment, it sits on the battlefield, potentially creating a locking loop that can frustrate an opponent’s strategy by returning creatures to their hand whenever you cast a creature spell. Despite its control potential, there are effective ways to overcome its influence.

To circumvent the control that Equilibrium gives your opponent, consider including spells that remove or disable enchantments. Cards like Disenchant and Naturalize are powerful tools that can destroy Equilibrium, mitigating its recurring abilities. Another tactic is to deploy hexproof or shroud creatures, such as Gladecover Scout or Invisible Stalker, making them impervious to Equilibrium’s targeted effect.

In matchups against Equilibrium, maintaining a pace that pressures your opponent can also be key. If you can quickly populate the battlefield and force your opponent to use their mana on casting creatures to activate Equilibrium, they may falter on developing their own board, giving you a window of opportunity to outmaneuver the control and ultimately secure victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the strategic depth of MTG, Equilibrium emerges as a versatile enchantment capable of turning the tides of gameplay. Whether it’s harnessing its bounce mechanism for card advantage or seamlessly integrating it into combo decks, it’s a card that beckons for exploration. Determining how to best adapt Equilibrium to your style or countering its influence in play faces us with a delightful challenge. Keen to maximize its potential or develop effective strategies against it? Dive deeper with us into the realm of MTG tactics and ensure your deck is not just a collection, but a finely-tuned arsenal. Discover more insights and elevate your game with every shuffle and draw!


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Equilibrium MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Seventh 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 Equilibrium and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Equilibrium Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 321997NormalBlackJeff Miracola
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 711997NormalWhiteDon Hazeltine
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 71★1997NormalBlackDon Hazeltine
42020-09-26The ListPLST EXO-321997NormalBlackJeff Miracola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Equilibrium has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-04-01 A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells.
2008-08-01 The ability is put on the stack immediately after you cast a creature spell, which means the creature that spell will become won’t be a legal target.
2008-08-01 The ability will still resolve even if the spell that triggered it gets countered.