Panic Attack MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Panic Attack’s disruption of enemy lines can decisively shift combat in your favor.
  2. The card’s discard cost and specific mana needs can limit its playability.
  3. Despite downsides, its unique effect adds strategic value to aggro decks.

Text of card

Up to three target creatures can't block this turn.

Sometimes everyone decides to go for help at the same time.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Panic Attack in MTG can hamper multiple opponents’ plans by preventing up to three creatures from blocking. This disruption can be pivotal, offering a strategic edge and ensuring your creatures connect for significant damage.

Resource Acceleration: While Panic Attack does not directly accelerate resources, the potential to clear the path for attackers can indirectly lead to more resources. Successful attacks can result in more damage dealt and can activate abilities or trigger effects that reward you, effectively speeding up your resource gain.

Instant Speed: Panic Attack’s sorcery speed demands strategic planning, ensuring that its use is timed for maximum impact during your turn. While not an instant, its timing can still be crucial. Conducting the spell before the combat phase can create unexpected opportunities and shift the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Panic Attack comes with the upfront cost of discarding a card from your hand. This requirement can prove detrimental, especially if your hand is already depleted or if you’re forced to toss away a pivotal piece of your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a red mana to be cast. While this may seamlessly fit into red-themed or multicolor decks, it could pose a challenge for those not running red mana sources, effectively limiting its versatility across different deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that might be considered steep for the effect it offers – temporarily incapacitating an opponent’s creature without permanent removal – playing Panic Attack can lead to suboptimal use of your mana resources when compared to other control options available in the game.


Reasons to Include Panic Attack in Your Collection

Versatility: Panic Attack is a flexible card that can be added to various decks, particularly those aiming to disrupt opponents’ plans. It can prevent up to three creatures from blocking, paving the way for an unimpeded attack.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in strategies that aim to win by overwhelming opponents with multiple creatures. By ensuring blockers are out of the equation, Panic Attack can effectively turn the tides in a single combat phase.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and creature combat are key, Panic Attack has the potential to neutralize an opponent’s defensive line. It’s a useful tool against deck types that rely heavily on creature-based defense mechanisms.


How to beat

Panic Attack is a spell in Magic: The Gathering that can disrupt your battlefield presence. This card forces up to three target creatures to lose their standing orders, meaning they can’t block this turn. Understanding your enemy’s resources is key when facing such disruptive strategies. Keeping your board diversified with creatures that have vigilance or creatures that can untap themselves can mitigate the effects of Panic Attack, ensuring you maintain a defensive stance, even when targeted.

Strategically, it’s also effective to prioritize playing creatures with instant speed abilities to flash in as blockers after a Panic Attack has been played, effectively bypassing its limitation on your blocking capabilities. Moreover, spells that grant you hexproof can prevent Panic Attack from targeting your creatures altogether, keeping your guards up and ready despite your opponent’s attempts to clear the path for an unobstructed assault.

Ultimately, overcoming the restrictions imposed by Panic Attack comes down to strategic deck building and sharp in-game decisions. By planning for such contingencies and utilizing the right cards, MTG players can turn what seems like a frantic situation into an opportunity to outwit their opponent and gain the upper hand.


Cards like Panic Attack

Panic Attack is an intriguing card within Magic: The Gathering that allows a player to prevent up to three creatures from blocking this turn. When looking at other cards with a similar effect, Panic Attack finds company with spells like Glaring Spotlight. Although Glaring Spotlight doesn’t restrict creatures from blocking directly, it does make creatures you control unblockable for a turn with its activated ability. However, Panic Attack’s strength lies in its ability to selectively neutralize potential blockers rather than providing a widespread unblockable status.

Another card worth comparing is Blinding Spray, which not only prevents creatures from blocking but also weakens their combat capabilities by reducing their power. Though more costly in mana, the added effect may turn the tides during combat. Encroach is a cheaper alternative, effectively preventing a single creature from blocking. While it doesn’t impact multiple creatures like Panic Attack, its lower cost can be advantageous in the early game.

After examining Panic Attack alongside cards with related functions, it’s clear that its ability to disrupt the opponent’s defense across multiple creatures grants players a significant tactical advantage when timing is crucial for an aggressive strategy in Magic: The Gathering.

Glaring Spotlight - MTG Card versions
Blinding Spray - MTG Card versions
Encroach - MTG Card versions
Glaring Spotlight - Gatecrash (GTC)
Blinding Spray - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Encroach - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Cards similar to Panic Attack by color, type and mana cost

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Fiery Gambit - MTG Card versions
Flamebreak - MTG Card versions
Thunderblade Charge - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Game of Chaos - Ice Age (ICE)
Evaporate - Homelands (HML)
Pillage - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Steam Blast - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Goblin Offensive - Urza's Saga (USG)
Desert Sandstorm - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Arc Lightning - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Search for Survivors - Prophecy (PCY)
Searing Rays - Invasion (INV)
Rupture - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tundra Fumarole - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Browbeat - Masters 25 (A25)
Erratic Explosion - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Threaten - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sizzle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hammer of Bogardan - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Fiery Gambit - Mirrodin (MRD)
Flamebreak - Darksteel (DST)
Thunderblade Charge - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Panic Attack MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy and Eighth Edition, 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 Panic Attack and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Panic Attack Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2000-06-05 and 2009-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-06-05ProphecyPCY 981997normalblackMike Ploog
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2092003normalwhiteMike Ploog
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 209★2003normalblackMike Ploog
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 207★2003normalblackMike Ploog
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2072003normalwhiteMike Ploog
62009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1502003normalblackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Panic Attack has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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