Prison Sentence MTG Card

Prison Sentence offers vital control by incapacitating enemy creatures, a move toward gaining card advantage. The card can cast at instant speed, enabling swift and unexpected combat strategies against opponents. While potent, its specific mana and discard requirements may deter inclusion in some deck types.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant,Scry
Released	2022-11-18
Set symbol
Set name	The Brothers' War
Set code	BRO
Number	21
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Valera Lutfullina

Text of card

Enchant creature When Prison Sentence enters the battlefield, scry 2. Enchanted creature can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.

War prisoners were ineffective political pawns, as neither brother cared enough to trade for them.

Cards like Prison Sentence

Prison Sentence is an intriguing control tool within Magic: The Gathering. It shares space with other enchantment cards that lock down opponents’ creatures, such as Pacifism. Both cards are adept at neutralizing threats without outright destroying them. However, Prison Sentence carries a unique dynamic; it not only disables the creature but also allows its controller to investigate under certain game conditions. This means while the creature is incapacitated, the controller can still benefit from it through the clue token mechanic.

Another card worth looking at is Arrest. Similar to Prison Sentence, Arrest prevents the creature from attacking or blocking and negates its abilities—a crucial feature against creatures with problematic activated or triggered abilities. But, unlike Prison Sentence, Arrest doesn’t offer any additional benefits to the controller of the enchanted creature.

In terms of handling potential threats and adding layers of strategy, Prison Sentence stands out as a versatile enchantment. While it doesn’t deal with creatures permanently as does Path to Exile, its ongoing control effects combined with the ability to gain clues make it a multifaceted option for players aiming to balance defense with resource advantage.

Cards similar to Prison Sentence by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Prison Sentence. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Mono-White Control	Free form		Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Prison Sentence card can give you the upper hand by neutralizing opponent’s key creatures and strategizing your moves without the threat of retaliation. This sustained control can eventually translate to card advantage as your opponent’s resources become constrained while you continue developing your board.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, the control it provides by binding an opposing creature can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. This is because you can steadily build your mana base and board presence without the pressure from the now incapacitated threat.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Prison Sentence lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed. This means you can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield and decide the most opportune moment to restrict an adversary’s creature, catching your opponent off-guard right when they least expect it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Prison Sentence demands a player to discard another card, which can be quite a setback if you’re already dealing with a depleted hand. This condition makes it a tricky play, especially when you need to maintain card advantage over the opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a specific mana composition that may not fit seamlessly into all deck types. Decks not tailored to support its white mana requirement might find it challenging to include Prison Sentence without compromising mana flow.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost that’s often considered steep for its effect, Prison Sentence competes with a range of other options. Given the diverse card pool, players might opt for lower-cost alternatives that achieve similar lockdown effects without stretching their mana resources quite as thin.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Prison Sentence is a dynamic card able to adjust to various game situations. It can serve as an efficient form of removal in decks focused on control or tempo, locking down your opponent’s key creatures.

Combo Potential: With the ability to shift from one creature to another, Prison Sentence synergizes with strategies that involve creature targeting. It can be an integral part of decks that capitalize on controlling the board state.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the dominant decks in play, Prison Sentence could be a strategic sideboard card or even a main deck choice. Its utility in dealing with problematic creatures makes it relevant in a wide range of metagames, especially if creature-based decks are predominant.

How to beat

Prison Sentence is a control card that shines in Magic: The Gathering by restricting opponents’ creatures and negating their abilities. It’s a potent tool used to incapacitate key pieces of an adversary’s strategy. However, every card has its weaknesses, and strategies exist to outmaneuver Prison Sentence’s grip on the battlefield.

One effective tactic is to employ enchantment removal spells. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can directly target and eliminate Prison Sentence from the game, freeing your creature and restoring its capabilities. Additionally, having a deck with multiple threats can dilute the impact of Prison Sentence as it can only lock down one creature at a time. Using creatures with enter the battlefield effects or those that provide value even when not attacking or blocking can also minimize the effectiveness of this restricting enchantment.

Altering your gameplay to prioritize the removal of such enchantments or diversifying your threats can be crucial in overcoming the control that Prison Sentence attempts to impose. Remember, flexibility and adaptability on the fly often dictate the victor in a match of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prison Sentence MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Prison Sentence and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prison Sentence has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Prison Sentence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2022-10-14	Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written " -ost: -ffect]." Some keyword abilities (such as equip and unearth) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.