Chronostutter MTG Card

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 48

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 316

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M15-48

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Chronostutter grants strategic advantage by disrupting opponents’ tactics with its instant-speed, creature-removal ability.
It demands specific mana and card sacrifice, which can limit its utility and impact player’s resource management.
Despite nuances, Chronostutter remains a potent control tool, capable of altering game tempo and unsettling opponents.

Text of card

Put target creature into its owner's library second from the top.

Timing is everything.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chronostutter can be perfectly positioned to disrupt your opponent’s strategical plays. By removing an opponent’s creature just as they’re about to attack or use an ability, you effectively set them back while maintaining the cards in your hand, tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Chronostutter itself does not directly accelerate resources, the time you gain by bouncing an opponent’s creature can allow you to deploy your lands and spells more effectively. This indirect resource acceleration can sometimes be the deciding factor in a tightly contested match where every turn counts.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Chronostutter at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions. This reactive playstyle can catch an opponent by surprise, saving you in tight situations or when you’re planning a counterattack on your next turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chronostutter necessitates discarding a card from your hand, a significant setback when your hand size is already depleted or if you’re holding key pieces for your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell commands a particular blend of mana that includes blue, possibly restricting its integration to blue-centric or multicolored decks, consequently limiting its flexibility in various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its tempo-delaying effect, Chronostutter competes with other control spells that might offer either a more permanent solution or additional benefits for a similar or lower cost.

Reasons to Include Chronostutter in Your Collection

Versatility: Chronostutter offers a flexible answer to threats, being able to temporarily remove a creature from combat or delay an opponent’s plan. It’s an excellent tool for various deck types looking to control the pace of the game.

Combo Potential: This card has synergies in decks that capitalize on time manipulation effects. It can reset persist or undying creatures, combine with cards that abuse enter the battlefield triggers, or help to achieve a lock on your opponent’s resources.

Meta-Relevance: With fast-paced aggro or creature-heavy decks being prominent in certain metas, Chronostutter presents a cost-effective way to slow down opponents, potentially disrupting their momentum and giving you time to establish your strategy or set up a win condition.

How to beat

Chronostutter is a compelling card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique approach to tempo control. It excels at delaying opponents by thrusting their creatures into the future turns of the game. However, overcoming this disruptive force is possible. Unlike some other time manipulation spells, Chronostutter targets only one creature and doesn’t deal with it permanently.

Key strategies to conquer Chronostutter involve swarming tactics, where you deploy multiple threats across the board, lessening the impact of a single creature being sidelined. Use cards that offer hexproof to safeguard your creatures from being targeted in the first place, or employ instant-speed removal to counteract Chronostutter when it’s cast. Diversify your threats, both in terms of creature abilities and non-creature spells, so that setting one back doesn’t cripple your gameplay.

Remember, while Chronostutter can be a setback, its effect is temporary. It opens opportunities to play around it by using the extra time to develop your mana base or set up for when your creature re-enters the fray. Adaptability and proactive planning ensure that Chronostutter doesn’t disrupt your path to victory.

Cards like Chronostutter

Chronostutter occupies its own niche within the realm of control spells in MTG. It resonates with the overarching theme of tempo plays, akin to cards like Unsummon, which also aims to return creatures to their owner’s hands. The core difference between Chronostutter and Unsummon is its conditional trigger, hence it only targets creatures that are tapped, whereas Unsummon has no such limitations.

Another related card is Frost Breath, which doesn’t remove the creature from the battlefield but rather keeps them locked down for two turns. Chronostutter, with its more permanent solution, arguably provides a stronger setback for your opponent, although at a higher mana cost. Then there’s Voyaging Satyr, providing a less direct but still relevant approach by impeding a tapped creature’s utility, although it lacks the displacement effect of Chronostutter.

Delving into these comparisons showcases Chronostutter’s utility as a tactical asset in MTG, offering players a way to deal with immediate threats. While not as flexible as some alternatives, its specific condition can be a strategic tool in the right deck, setting up opportunities for swinging the game in your favor.

Cards similar to Chronostutter by color, type and mana cost

Overwhelming Intellect - MTG Card versions

Dragonlord's Prerogative - MTG Card versions

Scour the Laboratory - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Chronostutter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Seb McKinnon.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15	48	2015	Normal	Black	Seb McKinnon
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	316	2015	Normal	Black	Seb McKinnon
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	M15-48	2015	Normal	Black	Seb McKinnon