Lethargy Trap MTG Card

Effective against aggressive decks, Lethargy Trap can slow down opponents, offering crucial breathing room during combat. As a versatile sideboard option, it complements strategies that benefit from opponents having tapped creatures. Despite some drawbacks, such as specific mana requirements, its impactful presence justifies inclusion in certain deck types.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant — Trap
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Number	51
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony Francisco

Text of card

If three or more creatures are attacking, you may pay rather than pay Lethargy Trap's mana cost. Attacking creatures get -3/-0 until end of turn.

Suddenly, Zurdi didn't care about treasure, glory, food . . . or the drakes circling above.

Cards like Lethargy Trap

Lethargy Trap brings a unique flavor to the field of combat trick cards in Magic: The Gathering, not unlike its cousin, Amass the Components. While both cards influence the battlefield, Lethargy Trap focuses on stalling opponents’ creatures, giving it a distinct tactical advantage in skirmishes. Comparatively, Amass the Components offers card draw but doesn’t interact with the battlefield directly.

Layer upon layer, we discover Encase in Ice. While it also incapacitates creatures, it’s more limited, targeting only red or green creatures. Lethargy Trap does not have this restriction and can potentially affect multiple creatures, although it is dependent on the number of creatures attacking. This can be ideal for a defensive strategy, especially when up against aggressive decks.

Delineating the strengths of each card, Lethargy Trap holds a niche in Magic: The Gathering for those defining moments in a match where turning the tide is paramount. While not as straightforward as other control spells, its conditional nature and potential for a significant impact under the right circumstances cater to players loving intricate battlefield control.

Amass the Components - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lethargy Trap by color, type and mana cost

Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lethargy Trap provides a beneficial tempo shift by potentially neutering an opponent’s attacking force, which can help you preserve your own cards while they struggle to reestablish board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct ramp card, Lethargy Trap’s mana cost can be reduced to a single blue mana if three or more creatures are attacking, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere while still playing impactful spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Lethargy Trap at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt combat or wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to spring the trap, preserving the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Lethargy Trap involves a discard action from your hand, potentially putting you at a card advantage loss against your opponent. This cost can be especially detrimental in decks that already utilize a heavy discard strategy or those that need to maintain card advantage to execute their game plan effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: Lethargy Trap’s mana cost requires both blue and colorless mana, making it less flexible for multicolored decks that may not consistently have the necessary blue mana sources. This can lead to situations where the card becomes a dead draw because you can’t meet the color-specific mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered high for the type of effect it produces, Lethargy Trap may not be as mana-efficient as other options in your deck. When compared to other cards with similar effects, the mana investment needed for Lethargy Trap could be better allocated to spells or creatures that offer a more significant impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Lethargy Trap in Your Collection

Versatility: Lethargy Trap provides strategic control against decks that focus on unleashing a flurry of spells in a single turn. It can easily fit into sideboards or main decks that need to slow down aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: It synergizes with decks that take advantage of opponents having tapped creatures, possibly enabling powerful lockdown combos or punishing strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fast pace of many current decks, Lethargy Trap can be a decisive card for controlling the tempo and maintaining an advantageous position in the game.

How to beat

Lethargy Trap presents a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This instant can potentially hamper the onslaught of an opposing creature army by making them substantially weaker for a turn. When faced with such a card, timing becomes crucial. The most straightforward tactic is to bait out the trap with less significant creatures before committing your more valuable threats. This minimizes the impact and retains your momentum.

Preemptive measures can also be a deciding factor against Lethargy Trap. Counterspells are your first line of defense, offering a shield against the unexpected setback. Alternatively, granting your creatures hexproof or protection from blue can nullify the Trap’s effect. Lastly, instant-speed buff spells can counteract the Trap’s debuff, ensuring your creatures remain a formidable force. Playing with foresight and readiness to adapt mid-combat will greatly diminish Lethargy Trap’s potential to disrupt your game plan.

Thus, while Lethargy Trap can create a temporary hiccup in your offensive strategy, it can be overcome. With careful play, and a focus on resourceful timing and protective measures, maintaining the upper hand against such tricks is well within reach for a skilled player.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lethargy Trap MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Lethargy Trap and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lethargy Trap has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-10-01	Casting a Trap by paying its alternative cost doesn’t change its mana cost or converted mana cost. The only difference is the cost you actually pay.
2009-10-01	Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a Trap will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay.
2009-10-01	You may ignore a Trap’s alternative cost condition and simply cast it for its normal mana cost. This is true even if its alternative cost condition has been met.