Inaction Injunction MTG Card

Inaction Injunction generates card draw and delays threats, optimizing resource management and tempo. Its instant speed provides a strategic edge, allowing for reactive plays and unexpected disruption. Despite required blue mana and non-permanent detain, its utility in specific MTG strategies is undeniable.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Detain
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Number	41
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Text of card

Detain target creature an opponent controls. (Until your next turn, that creature can't attack or block and its activated abilities can't be activated.) Draw a card.

"To prevent action is to prevent transgression." —Azorius Arrester motto

Cards like Inaction Injunction

Inaction Injunction is an intriguing card within the realm of control spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card is reminiscent of other detain mechanics like Lyev Decree. While both cards prevent a target creature from attacking or blocking for a duration, Inaction Injunction has the added advantage of drawing a card. This subtle but vital extra can swing card advantage in your favor.

Examining closer alternatives such as Encrust, we notice the shared theme of neutralizing threats. Encrust can lock down both creatures and artifacts and also prevents their activated abilities. Although it does not provide the card draw that Inaction Injunction offers, its broader target range can be significant depending on the matchup.

Another card that shares some similarities is Cloak of Mists. While it doesn’t prevent the creature from attacking like Inaction Injunction does, it renders the creature unable to be blocked. Nonetheless, this lack of versatility and the absence of the draw effect make Inaction Injunction a preferable option in most situations where tempo and card economy are pivotal.

In essence, Inaction Injunction stands out in its ability to disrupt the opponent’s plans while simultaneously providing card advantage, a combination that is highly esteemed among control strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Inaction Injunction by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Inaction Injunction not only pauses an opponent’s threat with its detain mechanic but it also allows you to draw a card, effectively replacing itself in your hand. This can be crucial in keeping up with your opponent in terms of available resources.

Resource Acceleration: Though Inaction Injunction doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of providing additional mana, detaining a potential blocker can clear the way for your creatures to attack more safely. This indirect resource manipulation can accelerate your game plan by keeping the opponent on the back foot.

Instant Speed: The fact that Inaction Injunction operates at instant speed is a significant benefit. It enables reactive gameplay, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment to neutralize an opposing threat, disrupt a combat phase, or simply draw a card at the end of your opponent’s turn if no threats need to be addressed immediately.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside to playing Inaction Injunction is that it doesn’t facilitate card advantage. While it does allow a draw, it does not have an inherent mechanism to force your opponent to discard, missing opportunities to disrupt their hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both blue mana and generic mana, which makes it somewhat restrictive when it comes to deck building. You’ll need a mana base that can reliably produce blue mana to cast Inaction Injunction, potentially limiting its inclusion to blue-centric or two-color decks that can support blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Inaction Injunction is a situational card that may compete for a spot with lower-cost removal or counterspells. In a game where tempo is crucial, spending two mana to temporarily sideline a threat without permanently dealing with it can be a disadvantage, especially if your deck aims for maximum efficiency in the early turns of the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Inaction Injunction offers flexibility in controlling the battlefield, being able to delay an opponent’s threat while simultaneously drawing a card. This makes it a practical inclusion in decks that aim to maintain tempo and card advantage.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on casting spells. It can enable a prowess-like mechanic, or work with cards that benefit from spells being cast each turn, thereby fueling more intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive creature decks, Inaction Injunction serves as a cost-effective way to disrupt the opponent’s pace. Its ability to temporarily remove a blocker or attacker can be crucial for swinging the game in your favor.

How to beat

Inaction Injunction is a blue card known for its capacity to tempo plays by simultaneously detaining a target creature and allowing its controller to draw a card. Facing this card in gameplay means anticipating the temporary loss of your creature’s capabilities. To conquer this card, focus on versatile removal spells or counterspells that can preemptively address it. Also, keep an eye on instant-speed abilities that can be activated in response to the detention, ensuring your creature makes an impact before it’s rendered inactive.

Cards with hexproof are particularly resilient to Inaction Injunction’s effect, as they cannot be targeted by spells your opponents control. This includes the blue mechanic itself and offers a strategic shield against such disruptions. Additionally, consider backup plans that rely less on single creatures and more on a diverse board presence. Cards such as Negate or Dispel could also be particularly effective as they can counter non-creature spells at a low mana cost, thereby protecting your significant threats and maintain the flow of your gameplay.

Given these tactics, Inaction Injunction, while it can surprise unprepared opponents, can be mitigated with thoughtful deck-building and keen awareness during a match. By including the right mix of protective and reactive cards, you can ensure that this temporary injunction does not derail your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inaction Injunction MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Inaction Injunction and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inaction Injunction has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form “ -ost: -ffect].” No one can activate any activated abilities, including mana abilities, of a detained permanent.
2013-04-15	If a creature is already attacking or blocking when it’s detained, it won’t be removed from combat. It will continue to attack or block.
2013-04-15	If a noncreature permanent is detained and later turns into a creature, it won’t be able to attack or block.
2013-04-15	If a permanent’s activated ability is on the stack when that permanent is detained, the ability will be unaffected.
2013-04-15	The static abilities of a detained permanent still apply. The triggered abilities of a detained permanent can still trigger.
2013-04-15	When a player leaves a multiplayer game, any continuous effects with durations that last until that player’s next turn or until a specific point in that turn will last until that turn would have begun. They neither expire immediately nor last indefinitely.