Hold for Questioning MTG Card


Draws cards and generates Clue tokens to maintain player advantage during the game. Demands discarding and specific mana, potentially limiting its deck inclusion. Detains nonland permanents, fitting well in control strategies for versatility.
Hold for Questioning - Jumpstart 2022
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant,Investigate
Released2022-12-02
Set symbol
Set nameJumpstart 2022
Set codeJ22
Number11
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySamuel Perin

Text of card

Enchant creature or planeswalker When Hold for Questioning enters the battlefield, tap enchanted permanent and investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") Enchanted permanent doesn't untap during its controller's untap step and its activated abilities can't be activated.


Cards like Hold for Questioning

Hold for Questioning brings a unique twist to the detain mechanic pool in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that lets you detain a nonland permanent, it draws parallels to spells like Lyev Decree, with both offering the ability to neutralize potential threats temporarily. Hold for Questioning, however, distinguishes itself with the bonus of card draw adding a layer of strategic depth while setting back your opponent.

This card can be compared to other detain effects such as New Prahv Guildmage’s ability, which similarly restricts the utility of a target creature. However, Hold for Questioning extends its effect beyond creatures, and with an additional cost, it also provides an invaluable card. There’s also Azorius Arrester, but this creature can only affect targets as it enters the battlefield, whereas Hold for Questioning offers more flexibility in timing.

With its versatile applicability and the card advantage it provides, Hold for Questioning reveals its potential to shift the tempo of a match, acting as both a disruption and a draw engine. The card presents a well-rounded option for those looking to bolster their control strategies in the game.

Lyev Decree - MTG Card versions
New Prahv Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Azorius Arrester - MTG Card versions
Lyev Decree - MTG Card versions
New Prahv Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Azorius Arrester - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hold for Questioning by color, type and mana cost

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Psychic Possession - MTG Card versions
Steal Artifact - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Animate Artifact - MTG Card versions
Merseine - MTG Card versions
Zur's Weirding - MTG Card versions
Abduction - MTG Card versions
Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Treasure Trove - MTG Card versions
Mystic Restraints - MTG Card versions
Ambiguity - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Leyline of Singularity - MTG Card versions
Psychic Possession - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When navigating the complex battles of MTG, utilizing Hold for Questioning offers a significant edge by extracting vital information from both your deck and your adversary’s strategy—this translates into drawing additional cards to ensure you stay ahead in critical moments.

Resource Acceleration: Elevate the pace of your mana pool expansion with Hold for Questioning’s capability to expedite your resource growth. The swift generation of Clue tokens gives you the ammo to propel your game plan at a quicker tempo, presenting more opportunities to destabilize your opponent’s scheme.

Instant Speed: The sheer adaptability of Hold for Questioning, with its instant speed execution, empowers you to seamlessly orchestrate your moves on demand. Intervene precisely when the tableau demands, intercepting threats or fortifying your position while preserving the element of surprise to outmaneuver opponents at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hold for Questioning necessitates that you discard another card to leverage its abilities. This stipulation can often backfire, especially in situations where your hand is depleted and every card counts. It is particularly detrimental when you’re unable to maintain card advantage, leaving you at a potential setback against opponents with fuller hands.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a precise blend of mana, including blue, to cast. This cost can constrain its inclusion to decks that run heavily on blue mana or multicolored decks tailored to accommodate such requirements. Players running decks with a less focused mana base may find it challenging to consistently meet Hold for Questioning’s casting conditions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its somewhat elevated mana requirement, Hold for Questioning may compete for a spot in your curve with other more cost-effective spells. In the vast landscape of MTG, where card efficiency is key, its mana cost puts it at risk of being overshadowed by lower-cost alternatives that provide similar, if not superior, control over the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hold for Questioning fits well into control and midrange decks. Its ability to detain a target creature adds a layer of defense without relying on permanent removal, keeping crucial threats at bay while you build your board presence.

Combo Potential: This card’s detain mechanic synergizes with strategies that capitalize on opponents having tapped creatures, such as those involving convoke or inspired abilities. It can also be an unexpected enabler for cards that count the number of creatures an opponent controls.

Meta-Relevance: With the agility to slow down aggressive decks and the tactical edge against creature-centric combos, Hold for Questioning proves its value in various metagames. This adaptability makes it a staple for players looking to keep their opponents’ strategies on a tight leash while setting the stage for their victory.


How to beat

Hold for Questioning is a unique kind of control spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, requiring nuanced strategies to effectively counter. Players familiar with effects like Pacifism or Arrest will recognize the reminiscent attempt to neutralize creatures without removing them from the battlefield. Unlike these more static forms of control, Hold for Questioning has the added flexibility of the detain mechanic, which is temporarily rendering a specific creature inactive while also drawing a card.

To overcome Hold for Questioning, players should look towards enchantment removal spells, which can directly target and dispatch the control aspect. Naturalize and Disenchant are prime examples of quick and efficient tools to break free from such constraints, and they contribute to conserving the board’s momentum. Additionally, cards like Blink of an Eye not only offer the removal of the enchantment but can also serve as a means to preserve one’s own creatures from detain effects, while simultaneously providing card draw to maintain hand advantage.

Focused on maintaining pressure and fortifying board presence, successfully outmaneuvering Hold for Questioning can pivot on simple yet effective enchantment disruption, preserving creature utility and continuing to apply offensive pressure.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hold for Questioning MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart 2022, 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 Hold for Questioning and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hold for Questioning has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal