Intercessor's Arrest MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Number | 20 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Prescott |
Text of card
Enchant permanent Enchanted permanent can't attack, block, or crew Vehicles. Its activated abilities can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
Cards like Intercessor's Arrest
Intercessor’s Arrest makes an intriguing entry into Magic: The Gathering’s array of pacifism effects. It shares similarities with Pacifism, another enchantment that has seen widespread play by preventing a creature from attacking or blocking. Where Intercessor’s Arrest differentiates itself is by also nullifying activated abilities, adding an extra layer of control over opposing creatures that proves crucial in certain matchups.
Cards like Darksteel Mutation follow a related principle. They not only prevent a creature from attacking or blocking but also strip away all abilities, rendering it nearly useless. Darksteel Mutation adds an indestructible aspect, which can be both a benefit and a drawback depending on your strategy. Meanwhile, Luminous Bonds stick closer to the classic disables of Pacifism but don’t address activated abilities like Intercessor’s Arrest does.
Analyzing these cards side by side, Intercessor’s Arrest stands out by offering comprehensive creature restriction. It can be a game-changer by not only neutralizing staple attackers and blockers but also taking high-impact activated abilities out of the equation. For players prioritizing versatility in creature control, this card undoubtedly holds substantial merit.
Cards similar to Intercessor's Arrest by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Intercessor’s Arrest offers the strategic benefit of removing a key permanent from your opponent’s board, effectively setting them back and improving your standing in terms of available resources on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: By neutralizing a threat without trading it for one of your own cards, Intercessor’s Arrest effectively frees up your mana and resources to be allocated elsewhere, thereby accelerating your own gameplay and resource management.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Intercessor’s Arrest at instant speed significantly increases its utility, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats on your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn, allowing for more efficient use of your mana and maintaining the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect that may deter players from using Intercessor’s Arrest is the discard requirement. Having to part with another card from your hand could be a significant drawback, especially in formats where card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: With a very specific mana cost that includes white mana, Intercessor’s Arrest might not seamlessly fit into every deck. Players running multicolored decks might find the strict cost less than ideal for their mana base, which could limit the card’s utility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its overall cost-effectiveness, Intercessor’s Arrest comes with a comparatively high mana cost for its effect. Players may weigh its cost against other removal options within the same mana range, potentially finding more versatile or impactful choices.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Intercessor’s Arrest offers flexible control options, seamlessly integrating into various deck builds. Its ability to neutralize both creature and planeswalker threats makes it a versatile pick, caterable to diverse game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card’s detain mechanic synergizes well with tap and untap strategies, bolstering deck combinations that capitalize on controlling opponent’s moves. Such interactions could lock down an opponent’s key asset, tilting the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that often prioritizes powerful creatures and Planeswalkers, Intercessor’s Arrest holds substantial relevance. Its presence can help players stem the tide against aggressive strategies, providing breathing room and setting the stage for a comeback.
How to beat
Intercessor’s Arrest is a distinctive Magic: The Gathering card that brings a surprising twist to the typical detain mechanic found in the game. Like other removal spells, it temporarily neutralizes a threat by preventing the affected creature from attacking, blocking, and activating its abilities. However, compared to permanent removal solutions such as Murder or Path to Exile, Intercessor’s Arrest possesses the potential drawback of being a temporary measure.
To effectively navigate against this spell, one approach includes utilizing instant-speed enchantment removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize when Intercessor’s Arrest is cast, thereby freeing your creature and negating the detention. Additionally, you can preemptively apply hexproof to your creatures with cards like Swiftfoot Boots to avoid falling victim to Intercessor’s Arrest in the first place. Moreover, playing around the detainment by diversifying your threats ensures that the arrest of one creature doesn’t halt your entire battlefield presence.
Ultimately, while Intercessor’s Arrest can be a roadblock, it’s not an insurmountable one. Understanding and deploying these strategies can ensure that your game plan continues unimpeded, even when facing such disruptive cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Intercessor's Arrest MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Intercessor's Arrest and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Intercessor's Arrest has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Intercessor's Arrest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-02-18 | A creature that “can't crew Vehicles” can't be tapped to pay the crew cost of a Vehicle. |
| 2022-02-18 | Activated abilities contain a colon and appear in the form “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder texts. Loyalty abilities of planeswalkers are also activated abilities. |
| 2022-02-18 | Intercessor's Arrest doesn't stop static abilities from affecting the game, and it doesn't stop triggered abilities from triggering. It also doesn't stop mana abilities from being activated. Most activated abilities that produce mana as they resolve are mana abilities. |