Entangler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	7
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	D. Alexander Gregory

Key Takeaways

Entangler provides a major defensive edge by allowing massive blocks, altering combat dynamics.
Its instant speed and combo potential enable surprise strategy shifts and strong synergies.
Despite its benefits, its mana cost and discard requirement may impact resource management.

Text of card

Enchanted creature may block any number of creatures.

"Tell me again," said Latulla, raising her fist, "how just one woman held back an entire Keldon platoon."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Entangler allows you to entwine with your opponent’s resources, gaining a tactical edge by potentially leaving their creatures vulnerable while strengthening your battlefield position.

Resource Acceleration: By manipulating the pace of creature interactions, Entangler can effectively accelerate your resource management, giving you a strategic advantage in the tempo of the game.

Instant Speed: Its ability to act at instant speed ensures that you can adapt to the evolving state of play, shielding your strategy with a veil of unpredictability and providing opportunities to disrupt your opponents’ moves at critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Entangler compels you to toss a card from your hand to utilize its ability. This can set players back, especially when their hand size is shrinking, and the optimal cards to maintain control of the game are needed.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost includes both generic and white mana, which can restrain deck-building options. Players running multi-colored decks may find it challenging to converge the necessary mana, particularly in the early stages of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a cost of four mana, Entangler is considered to have a high casting cost for its effect when compared to other cards with similar abilities. This may not always provide the best value for the mana spent, as you could be unable to deploy other spells or summon creatures simultaneously.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Entangler is one of those unique cards that opens up a variety of defensive strategies. This enchantment can turn any creature into a formidable wall capable of blocking multiple attackers, thus making it an excellent choice for decks that aim to fortify their defenses while setting up for a big play.

Combo Potential: Entangler thrives in combinations, especially with creatures that have damage prevention or redirection abilities. Pairing it with creatures that have indestructible or with cards that prevent damage can create a near-impenetrable defense, frustrating opponents and setting you up for a game-winning counterattack.

Meta-Relevance: As the competitive scene fluctuates, Entangler serves as a handy tool against aggro decks that flood the board with attackers. Its ability to potentially neutralize swarms of opposing creatures makes it a relevant and situational addition that can greatly influence the tempo of the match in your favor.

How to beat

The Entangler is a unique card that can create problematic board states for many MTG players. Its ability to force creatures to block it means that savvy opponents must be selective about when to commit creatures to the battlefield. One effective strategy to overcome the Entangler is to make use of removal spells. Direct damage spells or those allowing you to destroy or exile target creatures can take the Entangler out of the equation before it starts to dictate the flow of combat.

Additionally, employing creatures with evasion abilities such as flying or trample can circumvent the Entangler’s ability since it can only compel creatures to block it if they are able. Cards that grant your creatures these abilities can turn the tables. Instants and spells that untap your creatures post-combat or grant them temporary invincibility also provide a line of defense, ensuring your most valuable creatures survive encounters with the Entangler.

Another angle is to focus on non-creature strategies. Using enchantments, planeswalkers, or an approach centered around direct life damage can also mitigate the Entangler’s influence on the game. By diversifying your strategies and maintaining a dynamic approach, the Entangler can be managed effectively within MTG gameplay.

Cards like Entangler

Entangler is an intriguing presence within the pantheon of enchantment cards in Magic: The Gathering. In the realm of defensive enchantments, it can be paralleled with cards like Indestructibility, which provides a robust shield by making a creature impervious to destruction. However, Entangler expands upon the concept, conferring the ability for a creature to block any number of creatures, amping up the defensive capacity in a game.

Grappling with the same theme of multitasking creatures, there’s High Ground. It grants a similar boon, allowing each creature you control to block an additional creature. While it doesn’t scale to Entangler’s unlimited blocking potential, it does enhance the entire battlefield, offering wider defensive strategy options for a player’s army.

Moreover, there’s the noticeably different Guardian of the Ages. While not an enchantment, this artifact creature unlocks its full potential when attacked by multiple creatures, transforming into a colossal foe. Whereas Entangler focuses on enabling a defensive stalwart, Guardian of the Ages metamorphoses offense from defense, offering a more aggressive response.

Ultimately, weighing the attributes of these similar cards, Entangler provides a competitive edge, especially for players focusing on fortifying a singular, nearly unbreachable defensive line in their MTG battles.

Guardian of the Ages - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Entangler by color, type and mana cost

Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions

Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions

Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions

Conversion - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Divine Transformation - Renaissance (REN)

Teleportation Circle - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)

Hallowed Haunting - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Entangler MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Entangler and other MTG cards: