Ovinize MTG Card
2007-02-02 - Number 57
2023-01-13 - Number 63
2023-01-13 - Number 291
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature loses all abilities and becomes 0/1 until end of turn.
"You wish for me to cow your enemies? I can do better than that . . . ." —Teferi, second-level student
Cards like Ovinize
Ovinize stands out in the realm of transformative spells in MTG. This card temporarily downsizes a creature to a 0/1 and strips it of all abilities, akin to cards like Turn to Frog or Polymorphist’s Jest which also alter creature metrics and effects for a turn. However, Ovinize’s strength lies in its lower mana cost and its ability to target only a single creature, offering precision control without affecting other creatures on the battlefield.
Comparing it to Humble, another spell with a similar effect, Ovinize offers an additional defining feature – it reduces the target creature’s power and toughness, whereas Humble only negates abilities. This difference can be vital when facing off against creatures with formidable stats. Deep Freeze also shares thematic similarities, but instead it locks the creature down for a longer duration and still renders it capable of blocking, which is not an issue with the instantaneous impact of Ovinize.
Ultimately, Ovinize holds its own against comparable MTG cards by providing a direct and cost-effective way to neutralize powerful threats for a turn, thereby offering strategic advantages and tactical plays that can turn the tide of a game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Ovinize, you can nullify the threat of a powerful creature without losing card equilibrium. By turning a threatening creature into a 0/1 with no abilities, Ovinize effectively removes an opponent’s strategic advantage and keeps the board state in your favor without diminishing your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While Ovinize itself does not directly add to resource acceleration, its low mana cost allows you to manage your resources efficiently, keeping mana open for other crucial spells or abilities that can ramp up your board presence.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Ovinize provides significant flexibility, giving you the power to disrupt enemy combos or attacks during their turn. This timely intervention can be pivotal in maintaining control of the game and can often catch an opponent off guard, leading to advantageous board positions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ovinize does not necessitate discarding, but it’s vital to consider hand depletion when playing cards that transform creatures. Each card played reduces your overall resources, affecting your ability to respond to opponents’ threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Ovinize’s mana cost requires one blue and one white, which could restrict its inclusion solely to Azorius or multicolored decks. Players running monocolored or other two-colored combinations without blue and white may find this card incompatible with their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of one white and two generic mana, Ovinize could be considered expensive for its immediate effect compared to other removal spells. Cards that offer permanent removal or carry additional benefits might be preferred in slots where Ovinize could have been a consideration.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ovinize is a utility card that can be slotted into numerous deck archetypes. Whether you’re running a control deck seeking to manage threats or a tempo deck looking to swing in for the win, Ovinize’s ability to neutralize a problematic creature can prove invaluable in a pinch.
Combo Potential: When combined with cards that capitalize on diminished creatures, such as ones that trigger upon dealing damage to creatures or ones that benefit from opponent creatures having low power, Ovinize can become part of a strategic combo that turns the tides in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state saturated with powerful creatures and aggressive creature strategies, Ovinize maintains its relevance. Its ability to efficiently handle threats on the battlefield makes it a versatile option in sideboards and main decks alike, keeping your position secure against the ever-evolving meta.
How to beat
Ovinize is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering players a creative way to deal with imposing creatures. At first glance, its power to shrink a mighty creature down to a harmless 0/1 with no abilities might seem overwhelming. But like every spell in MTG, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.
To play around Ovinize effectively, consider the timing of your actions. Since it’s an instant, be wary of casting your powerful creatures when your opponent has untapped lands and potentially Ovinize at the ready. You can bait out Ovinize by playing less critical creatures first or holding up counter magic to protect your key threats.
Additionally, creature redundancy is a valuable strategy. If you have multiple threats on the board, Ovinize loses much of its potency. It might neuter one creature, but the rest can carry on unimpeded. Ultimately, navigating around Ovinize in MTG is about strategic creature deployment and having backup plans. With the right approach, this deceptively simple card can be overcome, and your powerful creatures can continue to dominate the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ovinize MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Dominaria Remastered, 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 Ovinize 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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Printings
The Ovinize Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-02-02 | Planar Chaos | PLC | 57 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | |
| 2 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 63 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Seaman | |
| 3 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 291 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Chris Seaman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ovinize 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 Ovinize card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-12-08 | Effects that modify a creature’s power and/or toughness without setting them to specific values will apply to the creature no matter when those effects began. The same is true for counters that change the creature’s power and/or toughness. |
| 2022-12-08 | If the affected creature gains an ability after Ovinize resolves, it will keep that ability. |
| 2022-12-08 | Ovinize overwrites all previous effects that set the creature’s base power and toughness to specific values. Any power- or toughness-setting effects that start to apply after Ovinize resolves will overwrite this effect. |