Grip of Amnesia MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2002-05-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Judgment |
| Set code | JUD |
| Number | 41 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bradley Williams |
Text of card
Counter target spell unless its controller removes his or her graveyard from the game. Draw a card.
"Would you abandon your past to save your future?" —Ambassador Laquatus
Cards like Grip of Amnesia
Grip of Amnesia is an intriguing counter card in Magic: The Gathering, inviting a comparison with other memory-depleting spells. A notable relative is Psychic Strike, which counters a spell and causes the opponent to put the top two cards of their library into their graveyard. Grip of Amnesia not only counters but also provides the alternative for an opponent to exile their graveyard in order to nullify the effect, forcing a strategic decision.
Analogously, Countersquall can be compared due to its counter ability followed by a loss of 2 life, although, unlike Grip of Amnesia, it does not offer a choice to the opponent. This condition of choice with Grip of Amnesia could influence the entire game, especially when potent graveyard strategies are in play. Dissipate is another similar spell that exiles the countered card, preventing any graveyard recursion – a steady and straightforward approach compared to Grip of Amnesia’s psychological gameplay twist.
Ultimately, while examining the various counterspells available, Grip of Amnesia presents a unique challenge to the opponent, making it a formidable tool for players who value psychological edge and strategic depth in their MTG arsenal.
Cards similar to Grip of Amnesia by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grip of Amnesia offers a unique card disruption mechanic by allowing a player to potentially remove a spell from an opponent’s hand and replace it with a less impactful card. This potential exchange can tilt the card advantage in your favor, challenging opponents to either lose their spell or grant you a card refresh.
Resource Acceleration: In certain scenarios, Grip of Amnesia can serve as a form of indirect resource acceleration. When opponents opt to counter its effect by discarding a card, they diminish their own resources, possibly leading to an acceleration of your relative board position and strategy without directly affecting the mana pool.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Grip of Amnesia at instant speed gives players tactical flexibility. It allows for reactive play during an opponent’s turn or after they’ve cast an important spell, adding a layer of surprise and strategic depth to your game. Ensuring that it matches the pace of faster decks and plays, it fits seamlessly into a control strategy or a tempo play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grip of Amnesia forces opponents to either discard a card or allow a graveyard to be exiled. In a scenario where you’re ahead, this card can lose impact, especially if your opponent’s hand is empty and the graveyard isn’t a resource they rely on.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and generic mana, Grip of Amnesia may not fit seamlessly into multi-colored decks. This mana specificity demands a solid blue mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion to blue-centric or two-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of one blue and two generic mana, Grip of Amnesia’s effect can be costly given it’s a situational counter spell. For the same or less mana, other counter spells could provide a more consistent and direct solution to threats on the board.
Reasons to Include Grip of Amnesia in Your Collection
Versatility: Grip of Amnesia offers a unique interaction by not only countering an opponent’s spell but also by potentially depriving them of graveyard resources. It’s a handy inclusion in blue-based control or mill decks where managing the opponents’ options is key.
Combo Potential: Beyond its reactive use, this card works well with strategies that rely on graveyard depletion. Paired with cards that benefit from depleted graveyards or that exile cards from graveyards, Grip of Amnesia can be a cornerstone in a tactically rich combo.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that heavily features graveyard strategies, such as reanimator or dredge decks, Grip of Amnesia shines. Its ability to disrupt these strategies while acting as a counter makes it a relevant choice for anyone looking to gain an edge against such decks.
How to beat
Grip of Amnesia is a clever card in Magic: The Gathering that can put an opponent in a tricky situation. It’s essentially a counterspell that goes a step further by forcing your adversary to choose between allowing the spell to be countered or exiling their graveyard to prevent it. The strength of this card inherently relies on the size and importance of the graveyard to your opponent’s strategy.
To effectively counteract Grip of Amnesia, you can approach it from different angles. Firstly, decks that have minimal interaction with the graveyard are less affected by its choice clause. A proactive approach is to maintain pressure with a lean, aggressive strategy, reducing the reliance on significant graveyard resources. Secondly, utilizing cards that benefit from graveyard exile, such as those with the Escape mechanic or leveraging cards that can immediately replenish your graveyard, can turn Grip of Amnesia’s downside into a strategic advantage for you.
In essence, adapting strategies that are less hindered by the graveyard or flipping the script to benefit from an exiled graveyard limits the effectiveness of Grip of Amnesia in a game of Magic: The Gathering. It’s about predicting your opponent’s plays and staying one step ahead.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grip of Amnesia MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Grip of Amnesia and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grip of Amnesia has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grip of Amnesia 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 | You can choose to exile all cards from your graveyard even if it has no cards in it. |