Frostveil Ambush MTG Card

Frostveil Ambush - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Cycling
Released	2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set name	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set code	IKO
Number	52
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johan Grenier

Key Takeaways

Frostveil Ambush boosts card economy through cycling, providing deck search efficiency and strategic flexibility.
Its demand for blue mana emphasizes deck suitability, potentially limiting its inclusivity in some builds.
Vital for controlling combat phases, Frostveil Ambush can be pivotal when fighting for board dominance.

Text of card

Tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Hunters' methods vary from simple and brutal to elaborate and brutal.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Frostveil Ambush can be cycled away for another card, helping you dig through your deck for more options or key cards to progress your strategy at hand. By opting to cycle it, you maintain a healthy flow of resources in your card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While Frostveil Ambush itself does not provide direct mana acceleration, its low cycling cost can indirectly speed up your resource accessibility. This can lead to quicker plays and smoother turns by finding the lands or ramp spells you need swiftly.

Instant Speed: With the versatility of being an instant, Frostveil Ambush allows you to adapt to the battlefield on the fly. You can tap all creatures your opponents control at the most opportune moment, be it during the declare attackers step to prevent incoming damage or end of turn to pave the way for a clear attack on your next turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite not having an inherent discard requirement, Frostveil Ambush can put players in a tough spot when deciding whether to cycle it for a new card or to keep it for the best tactical moment. The act of cycling itself effectively reduces your hand, which can be a strategic disadvantage if you’re already pressed for card choices.

Specific Mana Cost: Frostveil Ambush demands a precise mana combination that includes blue, making it less flexible for decks that aren’t tailored to incorporate blue mana sources efficiently. This cost can be restrictive, especially in multicolored decks that need to manage resources carefully.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and double blue mana, Frostveil Ambush is a card that you might find sits in your hand longer than you’d like, especially when there are numerous other cards with lower and more versatile mana costs that could provide similar or better control over the game state.

Reasons to Include Frostveil Ambush in Your Collection

Versatility: Frostveil Ambush offers the flexibility of being a multifaceted card. It can be cycled for another card if you need to draw into your deck, or it can be played to strategically tap your opponent’s creatures, paving the way for an unobstructed attack.

Combo Potential: This card can synchronize well with decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping mechanics or with those that reward cycling. The ability to work within different deck archetypes makes it a strategic component for creating surprising combos.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where combat is key, being able to control the battlefield is vital. Frostveil Ambush can be that unexpected play that turns the tide of battle in your favor by disrupting your opponent’s setup and giving you the edge in crucial moments.

How to beat

Frostveil Ambush is a versatile card in the world of MTG, allowing players to tap all creatures their opponents control. This action can swing a game, especially if you’re on the brink of being overwhelmed by your adversary’s board presence. Though useful, its power is not absolute, and there are several strategic measures one can take to mitigate its impact in gameplay.

To effectively neutralize this card, maintaining instant-speed removal or counter spells in hand is key. This proactive approach allows you to disrupt the casting of Frostveil Ambush before it can take effect. Additionally, utilizing cards that can untap your creatures provides a direct solution to counteract the temporary setback and keep your defenses up. Lastly, incorporating hexproof or shroud abilities for your creatures ensures that they remain unaffected by such tactics, maintaining your board’s integrity against control strategies.

Harnessing these countermeasures can ensure your creatures stay battle-ready, dampening the disruptive force of Frostveil Ambush. Thus, preparing for such instances and having a reaction plan can keep you one step ahead of the game, preserving your momentum and increasing your chances for victory.

Cards like Frostveil Ambush

Frostveil Ambush is a card that resonates with the strategic player who savors the potential for a game-altering play. It sits alongside cards like Sleep, which temporarily undermines an opponent’s creature forces without dealing damage. Frostveil Ambush also causes creatures to become tapped, but its inclusion in the cycling mechanic makes it uniquely versatile. Sleep lacks this, being a straightforward spell with no secondary use.

Another card worth mentioning is Blinding Flare, which shares the concept of incapacitating opposing creatures by preventing them from blocking. However, Blinding Flare achieves this with the Strive mechanic, allowing you to pay more to affect additional creatures. It comes at a lower cost but does not offer the flexibility of cycling for a new card like Frostveil Ambush does.

Peering at the broader scope of control strategies, Frostveil Ambush provides a nuanced tool for players looking to gain tempo over opponents. Its capacity to hamper enemy forces while enabling card draw and deck thinning demonstrates a subtle power level. Assessing the utility among these similar cards, Frostveil Ambush stands out for its dual purpose and strategic depth in certain MTG decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frostveil Ambush MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Frostveil Ambush and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frostveil Ambush has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-04-17	Frostveil Ambush can target a creature that’s already tapped. That creature won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.