Neck Tangle MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2013-10-19 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Face the Hydra |
| Set code | TFTH |
| Number | 10 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jesper Ejsing |
Text of card
If there are five or more Heads on the battlefield, tap two of them and they don't untap during the Hydra's next untap step. Otherwise, reveal the top card of the Hydra's library and the Hydra casts that card.
Cards like Neck Tangle
Neck Tangle has introduced an intriguing dynamic to creature control in Magic: The Gathering. This card echoes the functionality of familiar clampdown cards such as Lignify. Both cards essentially neutralize threats by stripping a creature of its abilities. Neck Tangle, however, adds its own twist by also modifying the creature’s base power and toughness to 1/1.
Another similar card is Darksteel Mutation, which turns a creature into an indestructible 0/1, removing all abilities but making it harder to remove. Neck Tangle allows for easier creature disposal in contrast to Darksteel Mutation’s indestructible status. Frogify is also worth mentioning in this context; like Neck Tangle, it reshapes a creature’s identity, setting its power and toughness to 1/1. The difference lies in that Frogify does not hamper a creature’s capacity to gain other abilities post-transformation.
In evaluating these options, Neck Tangle stands out for its ability to weaken creatures into minimal threats, providing strategic versatility. Its role in the landscape of creature control spells in Magic: The Gathering is defined by its unique blend of depowering and ability suppression.
Cards similar to Neck Tangle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Neck Tangle, you have the potential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy significantly, forestalling key plays and giving you the upper hand in controlling the flow of the match.
Resource Acceleration: This card can affect the board state by manipulating the resources your adversary relies on, indirectly speeding up your game progression by slowing theirs.
Instant Speed: Neck Tangle’s flexibility as an instant-speed interaction allows for reactive plays during critical phases of your opponent’s turn, providing tactical advantages during combat or in response to enemy spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card’s effectiveness is dampened by its discard condition, causing potential setbacks when your hand is already scarce. Keeping your hand size healthy is crucial, and sometimes discarding might not be viable or could derail your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Neck Tangle’s mana cost demands a precise color combination which can be tricky in multicolored decks. This limitation often necessitates a deck build around its color needs, potentially restricting the card’s versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the abilities it grants are significant, the investment is noteworthy. Players must weigh the card’s cost against their curve, as there are alternatives that may provide similar benefits without as steep a mana requirement.
Reasons to Include Neck Tangle in Your Collection
Versatility: Neck Tangle offers a unique intersection of disruption and protection, suitable for a variety of deck archetypes. It can be a tactical asset in combat, swaying the outcome in your favor regardless of whether you’re piloting an aggressive or a more controlled build.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks that aim to manipulate combat and benefit from effects that alter or dictate how battles unfold. Pairing Neck Tangle with cards that incentivize attacking or deter opponents from attacking can create a formidable tableau that underscores your strategic advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a constantly evolving competitive environment, having tools that can adapt to various popular deck styles is critical. Neck Tangle’s ability to skew the combat phase to your benefit can counter a range of meta-dominant strategies, making it a strategic choice for inclusion in collections geared toward versatile responses to shifting trends.
How to beat
Neck Tangle is a unique card that can be quite challenging to overcome if you’re not prepared. It’s an enchantment that can create obstacles for your opponent, hindering their creatures and complicating combat strategies. To counteract Neck Tangle, there are a few strategies to keep in your arsenal. First, consider using enchantment removal spells such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which can directly target and eliminate Neck Tangle from the battlefield. Additionally, using hexproof or shroud abilities to protect your creatures can preserve your momentum and keep your strategy intact, leaving the effects of Neck Tangle nullified.
Another effective method is to employ creatures with the “can’t be blocked” ability, circumventing the need to actually engage in combat where Neck Tangle thrives. Also, adapting to a control playstyle, with counterspells and indirect damage, can minimize the impact of creatures being entangled and unable to perform effectively. It’s important to anticipate such interruptions and incorporate flexibility in your deck-building to ensure you can navigate around such hindrances that cards like Neck Tangle present.
Ultimately, the key to beating Neck Tangle lies in preparedness and adaptability. By having the right tools and strategies at the ready, you can ensure that cards like these become a mere bump in the road to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Neck Tangle MTG card by a specific set like Face the Hydra, 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 Neck Tangle and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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