Snow Mercy MTG Card


Snow Mercy - Happy Holidays
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSnow Enchantment
Released2006-12-31
Set symbol
Set nameHappy Holidays
Set codeHHO
Number10
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byrk post

Key Takeaways

  1. Snow Mercy offers card draw and mana ramp through its snow synergy, bolstering your strategic options.
  2. Instant speed activation of Snow Mercy adds a layer of surprise and adaptability to your gameplay.
  3. The card’s discard requirement and color-specific mana cost can constrain its integration into decks.

Text of card

Whenever a creature deals damage to you, put a globe counter on it. , {Q}, , {Q}, : Tap all creatures with globe counters on them.

WARNING: Shake gently. Contents may cause choking, hypothermia, and/or planar invasion.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Snow Mercy enables you to draw extra cards when certain conditions are met, fueling your hand and options on the battlefield. This can lead to a significant advantage over your opponent by having more resources at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: Through its synergies with snow permanents, Snow Mercy may allow you to ramp up your mana, smoothing out your curve and allowing you to cast more spells or more expensive spells sooner than you would be able to otherwise.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Snow Mercy at instant speed grants flexibility, allowing players to respond to opponents’ actions during their turn which can catch them off-guard and disrupt their strategies effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Snow Mercy card necessitates discarding another card, potentially depleting your hand when holding crucial spells or assets that you’re not ready to part with.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring at least one specific color of mana within its casting cost, the Snow Mercy card may be restrictive and harder to cast in a multicolored or colorless deck that doesn’t prioritize snow permanents or the required mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Needing a substantial amount of mana to play, Snow Mercy can be a costly addition to your strategy, especially when considering other cards that can be more impactful and with lower mana requirements available to players within the same cost range.


Reasons to Include Snow Mercy in Your Collection

Versatility: Snow Mercy is a card that offers flexibility across various deck builds. Whether you’re playing a control or a thematic Snow deck, its ability to tap creatures can be a game-changer. Integrating seamlessly with decks that focus on snow lands, it acts as a reliable and repeatable source of crowd control.

Combo Potential: The card shines when paired with strategies that capitalize on keeping opponents’ creatures locked down. With the right setup, Snow Mercy can form powerful combos, creating a lock on the battlefield that can be tough for your opponents to break.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having Snow Mercy in your arsenal can provide a significant edge. Its control capabilities align well with the pace of such games, giving you the upper hand in managing the board and maintaining tempo.


How to Navigate the Frosty Grip of Snow Mercy

Contending with Snow Mercy in the dynamic world of MTG requires an understanding of its immobilizing mechanics. This card, akin to the chilling spells of the frozen tundra, can lock down an opponent’s creature every time you roll a snow symbol on a six-sided die. Much like clasping shackles that resist conventional force, Snow Mercy demands a strategic approach to overcome.

To circumvent the hindrances imposed by Snow Mercy, remember that enchantments like these rely heavily on the snow-covered lands they are associated with. Therefore, one effective strategy is to disrupt the opponent’s mana base. Cards that allow you to transform or destroy snow-covered lands mitigate the grip of Snow Mercy. Furthermore, engaging means of enchantment removal, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, swiftly uproot the problem at its core, liberating your creatures from its icy clutches. Lastly, maintaining a diversified collection of creature abilities – such as hexproof or indestructible – can render Snow Mercy’s freezing effect obsolete, ensuring the flow of your offensive and defensive game remains uninterrupted.

With the right tactical maneuvers, Snow Mercy can be deftly outmaneuvered, positioning you advantageously on the battlefield where the cold grasp loses its potency.


Cards like Snow Mercy

Snow Mercy joins the arsenal of chilly punishers in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Drawing parallels with cards like Winter Orb, which similarly restricts untapping of lands, Snow Mercy nudges the concept further by incentivizing players to invest in snow lands. Unlike Winter Orb, Snow Mercy allows variable control over opponents’ boards based on the availability of snow mana.

Icebind Pillar is another related tool, allowing players to use snow mana to decide which specific creature gets frozen each turn. While Icebind Pillar is more target-specific, Snow Mercy can affect multiple permanents but requires broader board control and deck dedication to snow synergies. Meekstone could also be seen as a counterpart. Though it does not demand snow mana, it limits creatures based on power, providing a constant board control mechanism without additional costs each turn.

Throughout this comparison, it’s evident that Snow Mercy introduces a strategic layer to control decks that capitalize on the snow mechanic. It stands out in its ability to scale its influence with snow lands, offering MTG players a unique way to keep opponents in a frosty grip.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Icebind Pillar - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Icebind Pillar - Kaldheim (KHM)
Meekstone - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Snow Mercy MTG card by a specific set like Happy Holidays, 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 Snow Mercy and other MTG cards:

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