Encrust MTG Card

Magic 2013 (M13)
2012-07-13 - Number 49

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 53

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Key Takeaways

Encrust grants card advantage by neutralizing opponent’s creatures or artifacts without removal spells.
Strategically played, it can hamper an opponent’s resource acceleration, giving you the upper hand.
Despite its limitations, Encrust adds versatility to your strategy by affecting both creatures and artifacts.

Text of card

Enchant artifact or creature Enchanted permanent doesn't untap during its controller's untap step and its activated abilities can't be activated.

"Barnacles are the sea's final defense." —Garild, merfolk mage

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Encrust stops a targeted creature or artifact from attacking or blocking, and its activated abilities can’t be activated. This effectively provides you with card advantage by negating the utility of an opponent’s key card without having to outright remove it, thus preserving your own removal spells and resources for more pressing threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Encrust does not directly accelerate your resources, it does inhibit your opponent’s resource utilization. By locking down a potential mana source, such as an opponent’s mana-producing creature or artifact, you can slow down their pace and gain an indirect advantage in resource competition.

Instant Speed: Encrust does not have instant speed itself, but it can be strategically employed to surprise the opponent during your turn before they are able to declare attackers or in response to the activation of an artifact. This allows for effective timing when taking out an adversary’s resources, although it’s done during your main phases.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Encrust necessitates discarding another card to activate certain effects, presenting a drawback during gameplay when hand size is crucial for maintaining options.

Specific Mana Cost: Encrust has a specific mana cost involving both blue mana and generic mana, which might constrain deck-building choices and its inclusion in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Taking up two mana, one of which must be blue, can be considered steep for its ability to lock down a creature or artifact, especially when there are alternative cards that can perform similar functions at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Encrust offers flexibility by being able to immobilize any artifact or creature, which can be strategically valuable in decks that aim to control the pace of the game.

Combo Potential: By locking down key pieces of your opponent’s strategy, Encrust synergizes with tap/untap mechanics or other control effects to gain an advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with reliance on important artifacts or creatures, Encrust serves as a cost-efficient tool to neutralize threats and maintain board presence.

How to Beat

Encrust is a tricky enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can lock down your opponent’s vital artifacts or creatures. It essentially renders the attached card useless without destroying it, preventing the card from attacking, blocking, or using its abilities. So, how do you outmaneuver this control card?

The key is to keep versatile removal in your deck. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are perfect for this situation, allowing you to destroy the Encrust enchantment directly. Alternatively, you can focus on having a diverse array of threats, ensuring that the loss of one creature or artifact to Encrust won’t leave you without defenses or offensive options. Another strategy is to use hexproof or shroud to your advantage, as Encrust cannot target cards with these abilities.

Lastly, consider the timing of your plays. Encrust can only be cast on an already deployed artifact or creature, so sometimes playing more conservatively and waiting for your opponent to tap out before swinging in with your most valuable asset is the way to go. Each of these tactics can help you maintain the upper hand against Encrust, keeping your important cards in play and operational.

Cards like Encrust

Encrust is an interesting control card, locking down opponents’ assets by rendering them inactive. Comparable to Ice Cage from older sets, both cards share the ability to neutralize a threat without outright destruction. Encrust offers an edge by also disabling mana abilities, a subtlety not found in Ice Cage.

Narrowly looking at the blue color pie, Claustrophobia also stands in the ring of comparison. It entraps creatures in a similar manner but doesn’t affect artifact use. The difference here lies in Encrust’s broader scope, affecting both creatures and artifacts alike. Conversely, Claustrophobia is a strong choice strictly for creature control within the sail of enchantment-based restrictions.

Lapse of Certainty, though not a direct comparison, offers a different approach to control, putting a spell on top of its owner’s library instead of nullifying a permanent. This particular card represents a momentary reprieve compared to the lasting impact of Encrust. When these attributes and the versatility of control are weighed, Encrust carves its niche with its unique capability to freeze both creatures and key artifacts with a single cast.

Cards similar to Encrust by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Encrust MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Magic 2015, 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 Encrust and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Encrust Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2014-07-18. Illustrated by Jason Felix.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-07-13	Magic 2013	M13		49	2003	Normal	Black	Jason Felix
2	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15		53	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Felix

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Encrust 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 Encrust card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2014-07-18	Static and triggered abilities are unaffected by Encrust.
2014-07-18	The permanent can be untapped by other spells and abilities.
2016-06-08	Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.