Sky Tether MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers resource preservation by neutralizing threats without expending multiple cards.
  2. Enables quicker board control while maintaining a favorable mana curve.
  3. Best suited for mono-white or dual-color decks requiring minimal mana fixing.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has defender and loses flying.

"If you can't control your mount, I will control it for you." —Mirela, Azorius hussar


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Sky Tether, you efficiently deal with a flying threat without spending multiple cards. Although it doesn’t remove the creature, negating its ability to attack or block can be functionally equivalent to removing it from the game, thus preserving your card resources.

Resource Acceleration: At a low mana cost of just one white, Sky Tether allows you to manage threats without setting back your mana curve. This leaves you with more resources to deploy other spells sooner, accelerating the pace at which you can establish board control.

Instant Speed: While Sky Tether is an enchantment, its ability to be cast at sorcery speed should not be underestimated. This means you can respond immediately to a newly summoned flyer, effectively neutralizing it before your opponent benefits from its presence on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Sky Tether does not directly require a discard, being a cheap removal means your hand depletes faster, leaving you potentially vulnerable to opposing strategies if not played judiciously.

Specific Mana Cost: Sky Tether’s mana cost, while low, is specifically white. This means it’s best suited for mono-white or color-compatible decks, potentially restricting its versatility in multicolor decks without sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a one-mana spell, there’s an argument to be made about opportunity cost. Given that it only taps a creature without dealing with it permanently, you might find yourself foregoing the chance to play a more impactful card at the same mana value, or preferring to save that mana for a versatile instant during your opponent’s turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sky Tether is a flexible card that can be incorporated into various decks, especially those seeking efficient creature control options without a high mana cost.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that aim to lock down the opponent’s key creatures while advancing your board state, making it a tactical addition to any deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fast-paced nature of many formats, having cost-effective removal like Sky Tether can give players an edge, particularly in metagames dominated by aggressive creature-based strategies.


How to beat

Sky Tether has emerged as a low-cost, efficient removal option for creatures in MTG. It restricts opponents’ creatures, effectively grounding them and negating their ability to participate in combat. Nonetheless, overcoming the restrictions imposed by Sky Tether is achievable through several strategies. One approach involves using enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize, directly targeting and eliminating the Sky Tether from the creature it’s binding. Alternatively, granting the affected creature vigilance allows it to still contribute defensively. Creatures with built-in abilities to untap or cards that can reset a creature’s status also bypass Sky Tether’s constraints. Lastly, employing strategies that minimize reliance on a single creature’s combat abilities, like utilizing creature tokens or focusing on non-creature spells, can reduce the impact of being tethered. As with any tactical maneuver in Magic: The Gathering, understanding your deck’s strengths and adaptability to removal spells like Sky Tether can make all the difference in maintaining the upper hand.


Cards like Sky Tether

Sky Tether is an effective control tool in MTG, offering a unique approach to handling creatures. In comparison to other removal options, Sky Tether grants a distinct advantage with its low cost and efficiency. It parallels cards like Pacifism, which also prevent a creature from attacking or blocking, yet Sky Tether allows the creature to retain its abilities, a subtle but relevant distinction for tactical play.

Another similar enchantment is Arrest, which completely neutralizes a creature, preventing it from attacking, blocking, and using its abilities. Although more comprehensive in its effect, Arrest carries a higher mana cost. Weight of Conscience is also akin to Sky Tether, using tapping mechanics to incapacitate creatures but offers utility through its additional exile feature, again at the expense of a higher mana investment.

Ultimately, Sky Tether’s enchantment remains a highly competitive option for control decks in MTG. Its ability to keep critical threats at bay with minimal resource expenditure makes it an attractive choice for players aiming to maintain tempo and board control.

Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Weight of Conscience - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - Mirage (MIR)
Arrest - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Weight of Conscience - Morningtide (MOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sky Tether MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Jumpstart, 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 Sky Tether and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sky Tether Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 212015normalblackZezhou Chen
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1332015normalblackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sky Tether has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-01-25 Sky Tether can enchant a creature that never had flying at all.
2019-01-25 The enchanted creature can later gain flying from another effect.

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