Equipoise MTG Card

Equipoise manipulates permanents asymmetrically, phasing out excess to control the board state every turn. Its instant-speed-like effect on upkeeps ensures subtle influence without spending mana, maintaining gameplay flexibility. Strategic deck construction is key to maximize Equipoise’s impact while mitigating potential disadvantages.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Visions
Set code	VIS
Number	3
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Text of card

During your upkeep, for each land target player controls in excess of the number of lands you control, target land he or she controls phases out. Repeat this process for artifacts and then for creatures.

Cards like Equipoise

Equipoise, a unique enchantment from the Visions expansion, brings an interesting twist to Magic: The Gathering. It shares thematic elements with spells such as Balance, which is known for evening out the number of lands and creatures between players. Equipoise, distinct in its function, selectively phases out creatures, artifacts, and lands as long as an opponent controls more than the active player, adjusting the board state once each turn. Unlike Balance, Equipoise does not lead to discarding or sacrificing, offering a more delicate and temporary means of balancing.

Another card that echoes this balancing act is Pendrell Mists. Functioning as a creature control tool, it imposes a taxing effect on the board, compelling opponents to pay upkeep for each of their creatures. While Pendrell Mists focuses solely on creatures and imposes a continuous tax, Equipoise temporarily removes an excess of opponents’ permanents but without the upkeep cost. This serves as an advantage to Equipoise, as it can affect multiple permanent types, not just creatures.

Reviewing the mechanics and board impact, Equipoise presents itself as a strategic card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a nuanced approach to control. It stands out among similar balance-based cards, providing players with a tool to subtly shift the tide of the game.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Equipoise stands out by disruptively controlling the board state each upkeep, which can result in card advantage by limiting the utility of the opponent’s resources. This unique effect causes a shift in the balance of permanents, ensuring you’re not overwhelmed by an opponent’s more numerous forces.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Equipoise can effectively accelerate your resources by phasing out opponent’s lands. With fewer lands available to them during their turn, you gain a relative increase in the resources you can utilize, allowing for more impactful plays and better positioning.

Instant Speed: As a card that affects the game at the beginning of each player’s upkeep, Equipoise operates indirectly at instant speed. The ongoing effect ensures that each turn feels as though you’ve acted without needing to spend mana, keeping your options flexible while subtly tilting the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Equipoise necessitates careful deck construction to ensure you have surplus permanents to balance against opponents, potentially leading to disadvantageous sacrifices.

Specific Mana Cost: Equipoise requires a particular blend of mana, including white, which means it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks without the proper mana support.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, Equipoise can be a burden in faster-paced games where tempo is crucial, and lower-cost alternatives may provide similar or better board control benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Equipoise offers creative flexibility in deck building due to its unique phasing interaction. This card serves as a tool to temporarily control the board, aligning well with various strategies from control to tempo decks.

Combo Potential: The card’s distinct ability to phase out creatures, artifacts, or lands until your next turn opens opportunities for combination plays with other phasing cards or ways to exploit the temporary absence of certain permanents.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players tend to amass significant numbers of permanents, Equipoise can become a crucial sideboard or even mainboard answer to such strategies, helping to level the playing field.

How to beat

Equipoise, though not widely known, poses a unique challenge when it lands on the battlefield in MTG. Understanding its nuances is crucial. Essentially, the card temporarily phases out certain creatures, artifacts, and lands you control during your opponent’s turn, based on what they control when it triggers. To outmaneuver Equipoise, one can employ several strategies.

Firstly, focus on building asymmetry in your board state. Since Equipoise affects the type of permanents in the most quantity, varying your threats’ types can reduce its impact. Another tactic is to prioritize instant-speed spells and abilities. Since Equipoise operates during the upkeep, being able to respond in real-time allows greater flexibility and can render the phasing out less detrimental. Lastly, removal spells for enchantments are indispensable. Drawing and casting efficient removal when Equipoise surfaces can nullify its threatening effect on your game strategy immediately.

It’s vital for MTG players to have adaptive tactics against control cards like Equipoise. By maintaining diversity in your permanents and having the right spells at hand, you can overcome its disruptive power and maintain your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Equipoise MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Equipoise and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Equipoise has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	In multiplayer games, you can choose a different target player each turn. You can even choose yourself.
2009-10-01	You perform the selection and phasing out on lands first, then on artifacts, then on creatures. This means that if you choose an artifact creature during the second pass, your opponent will control one fewer creature when it comes time to perform the third pass.