Thassa's Ire MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2014-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Journey into Nyx
Set code	JOU
Number	54
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chris Rahn

Key Takeaways

Enables card advantage and disrupts opponents by repeated tapping or untapping at instant speed.
Complements resource acceleration strategies by providing versatile control over mana dorks and lands.
Faces challenges in decks with tight mana bases and may have a steep activation cost in fast-paced games.

Text of card

: You may tap or untap target creature.

The sailor had never seen a god before. Now she had gazed upon Thassa. Shortly she would see Athreos, and then she would meet Erebos.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thassa’s Ire can be a subtle yet consistent source of card advantage in the right deck. Unlike card draw, Thassa’s Ire lets players tap or untap a creature, which may enable repeated uses of tap abilities, or disrupts an opponent’s strategy, thus indirectly affecting the card economy in a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, Thassa’s Ire can complement such strategies by freeing up mana dorks or untapping lands enchanted with cards like Market Festival. This flexibility can accelerate your game plan, especially in the mid to late game.

Instant Speed: One of Thassa’s Ire’s main strengths is its instant speed, giving you proactive control during your turn and reactive potential during your opponent’s turn. By holding up mana for Thassa’s Ire, players can decide on the best course of action based on their opponent’s moves, making it an unpredictable and versatile tool.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thassa’s Ire requires a repeated discard of a blue mana, which might strain your mana pool, especially in the early turns of the game where establishing board presence is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With a blue mana requirement, it could be difficult to integrate Thassa’s Ire successfully in multicolored decks that may have a tighter mana base and might not always afford the luxury of a spare blue mana, ultimately reducing its versatility in gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes with an activation cost that may not always align with the tempo of your strategy. When considering Thassa’s Ire as a control element, its continuous investment of four mana to tap a single creature might be less appealing compared to other control options that offer a more comprehensive solution for the same or less mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thassa’s Ire offers flexible control options as it can untap not just creatures but any permanent, making it a utilitarian tool in decks that thrive on activating abilities multiple times a turn.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can be a linchpin in combos, notably in those involving creatures with tap abilities or in conjunction with cards that reward you for untapping permanents.

Meta-Relevance: With constantly evolving deck archetypes, Thassa’s Ire remains relevant against tap-down control strategies or as a subtle yet effective way to generate incremental advantages over opponents.

How to beat

Thassa’s Ire represents a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering with the power to control the battlefield tempo by tapping or untapping creatures or permanents. It can be particularly tricky to counter once an opponent has established a board presence and has the mana to activate Thassa’s Ire repeatedly. Overcoming this card requires a tactical approach, focusing on its reliance on both a strong board presence and available mana.

One effective strategy is to limit your opponent’s resources, disrupting their mana base with land destruction or taxing their mana with cards like Damping Sphere. This pressure can restrict their ability to use Thassa’s Ire’s ability and maintain control. Moreover, enchantment removal spells are another direct route to dismantle this threat. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can remove Thassa’s Ire from the battlefield efficiently, nipping the issue in the bud before the controller can fully capitalize on its abilities.

Additionally, keeping a swift and aggressive pace can hinder an opponent’s ability to utilize Thassa’s Ire effectively. Deploying quick threats and maintaining pressure forces the opponent to use their mana defensively, potentially leaving them unable to pay for Thassa’s Ire’s tapping ability. Hence, fast aggression can prove to be a reliable method to overpower a strategy centered around Thassa’s Ire.

Cards like Thassa's Ire

Thassa’s Ire is an enchantment that captures the essence of what it means to control the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out in its unique ability to repetitively tap or untap a target creature for a single blue mana, bringing about strategic advantages during play. In the world of similar mechanics, Icy Manipulator echoes this control aspect, yet at a higher activation cost and without the enchantment permanency.

Looking at Pemmin’s Aura, there’s also a similarity in the control over creatures it provides. However, Pemmin’s Aura is more versatile, allowing creature protection and stat modification, albeit at a higher mana investment. Conversely, Tidal Bore, with its mono-blue identity, offers the untapping feature, but it’s a single-use instant with a broader scope since it can target multiple creatures but without the continuous control Thassa’s Ire provides.

When we evaluate the efficiency and versatility, Thassa’s Ire emerges as a reliable card for players aiming to exert ongoing control in a game—perfect for stalling opponents or enhancing your own creatures’ potential. Its low-cost activation makes it a formidable card in recurring control strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Thassa's Ire by color, type and mana cost

Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thassa's Ire MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Thassa's Ire and other MTG cards: