Moonhold MTG Card
2008-07-25 - Number 143
2020-09-26 - Number EVE-143
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Moonhold can lead to indirect card advantage by disrupting opponent’s spell casting capabilities.
- Its instant speed allows for flexible disruption during the opponent’s turn.
- The card’s specific mana cost and discard requirement shape its strategic inclusion.
Text of card
Target player can't play land cards this turn if was spent to play Moonhold and can't play creature cards this turn if was spent to play it. (Do both if was spent.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Moonhold has the potential to restrict your opponent’s ability to play spells, which could indirectly lead to card advantage by stranding cards in their hand while you deploy your own threats or set up defenses.
Resource Acceleration: While Moonhold doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, controlling the pace of the game can contribute to more efficient use of your existing resources. This can be nearly as advantageous as traditional acceleration because it hinders your opponent’s ability to use their resources effectively.
Instant Speed: Being an instant, Moonhold offers the flexibility to be used at the most strategically beneficial moment during your opponent’s turn. This can disrupt their plans and leave them on the back foot, all while keeping the initiative firmly in your hands.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Moonhold demands that players discard another card when they play it. This compulsory discard can be particularly taxing in scenarios where hand size is already compromised, and card advantage is crucial for maintaining control of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a distinct mana requirement of both red and white. Such specificity can often restrict its inclusion to decks that confidently generate both types of mana, potentially excluding it from a broader range of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands three mana, including one white and one red, Moonhold can be seen as quite steep for the effect it delivers. In many games, players may find more mana-efficient options available, especially considering the fast-paced nature of many MTG formats where every mana point counts.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Moonhold offers a level of control that adapts to various game situations, making it a unique addition to decks that aim to restrict opponents’ plays. Its ability to limit both land play and spell casting in one card is a game-changer.
Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate the number of lands an opponent controls or the spells they can cast, Moonhold synergizes exceptionally well. It can also fit into strategies focused on resource denial to put opponents at a disadvantage.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, control decks remain a staple in many formats. Moonhold’s dual-restriction capability keeps it relevant, especially in environments where managing an opponent’s tempo is crucial to victory.
How to beat
Moonhold is a unique interactive card from the world of Magic the Gathering that creates a challenging roadblock for opponents. Its ability to prevent players from either playing land cards or casting spells if they have less than two cards in hand can drastically alter the pace of the game, and carefully crafted strategies. It shines in locking down opponents who operate on thin margins, managing their resources to execute precise plays.
To effectively counter Moonhold, players need to adapt their tactics to ensure resource availability. Prioritize keeping more than two cards in your hand to maintain the flexibility of casting spells or playing lands as needed. Employ strategies that replenish your hand, such as incorporating draw mechanics or using cards with ‘flash’ capability to play spells at opportune times. Assessing the play environment and recognizing when to hold back resources versus advancing your board position becomes vital against the stifling nature of Moonhold.
By understanding how Moonhold influences game dynamics, incorporating cards that counteract its limitations, and carefully managing hand size, players can navigate around this controlling spell and maintain momentum in their quest for victory on the battlefield.
Cards like Moonhold
Moonhold is an intriguing card for players looking to amplify their control over the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. In the same family of lockdown cards, we have Gideon’s Lawkeeper. While Moonhold restricts land and noncreature spell plays temporarily, Gideon’s Lawkeeper allows players to tap a creature each turn, provided they can afford its ability’s mana cost. Moonhold, with its unique property of acting on two fronts, stands out in terms of versatility.
Turning to Temporal Isolation, another similar card, it displays the capacity to neutralize creatures—but unlike Moonhold, Temporal Isolation focuses solely on creatures, not lands. Then you have Arrester’s Admonition, which can bounce a creature and also comes with the added benefit of card draw. However, it lacks the land-affecting ability that makes Moonhold a comprehensive tempo card.
In sum, Moonhold’s ability to restrict multiple facets of an opponent’s game plan solidifies its position in Magic: The Gathering as a multifaceted control card. Its dual nature can effectively delay opponents, carving out a space for it amongst the game’s notable tactical plays.
Cards similar to Moonhold by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Moonhold MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and The List, 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 Moonhold and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Moonhold Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2008-07-25. Illustrated by Mike Dringenberg.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Moonhold has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Moonhold card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | If the spell is copied, the copy will never have had mana of the stated color paid for it, no matter what colors were spent on the original spell. |
| 2008-08-01 | Moonhold doesn’t stop effects that “put a card onto the battlefield.” |
| 2008-08-01 | Moonhold is not a counterspell. It will have no effect on creature spells the targeted player cast before Moonhold resolved. |
| 2008-08-01 | The spell cares about what mana was spent to pay its total cost, not just what mana was spent to pay the hybrid part of its cost. |
| 2008-08-01 | The spell checks on resolution to see if any mana of the stated colors was spent to pay its cost. If so, it doesn’t matter how much mana of that color was spent. |
| 2008-08-01 | When you cast the spell, you choose its targets before you pay for it. |
