Stabilizer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Number	142
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Martin

Key Takeaways

Stabilizer provides consistent game control by hampering opponent graveyard strategies, offering a tempo advantage.
Though lacking in direct resource acceleration, Stabilizer’s disruption can be a subtle yet effective tool.
A continuous deterrent on the battlefield, its always-active state poses constant challenges to opponents.

Text of card

Players can't cycle cards.

"Hold that thought." —Pemmin, Riptide survivor

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Stabilizer card is crafted to provide players with sustained control over the game’s tempo. When played, it can potentially interrupt your opponent’s long-term planning by affecting their graveyard strategy, tipping the advantage in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Stabilizer does not directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, but its ability to disrupt opponents’ graveyard interactions can indirectly preserve your board state and resources, while slowing down your opponents’ strategy.

Instant Speed: As a static artifact, Stabilizer operates continuously once on the battlefield, providing an ever-present effect that is akin to a deterrent in instant speed terms. This always-active state ensures that your opponents must navigate around its restrictions without the need to allocate mana each turn for its activation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Stabilizer requires players to discard a card as part of its activation. This could potentially set you back, especially in tight situations where each card in hand is pivotal to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying the Stabilizer demands a precise mana arrangement which can be restrictive. If your deck isn’t tuned to produce the colors needed effortlessly, fitting the Stabilizer in can be more challenging than more flexible options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher side, one might expect a more immediate impact on the game state. This can make the Stabilizer less attractive compared to other cards with lower mana requirements or those that offer a more significant effect right off the bat.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stabilizer offers flexibility in gameplay, seamlessly integrating into control decks that aim to dictate the pace and flow of the match. It’s an excellent inclusion for those looking for ways to suppress opposing strategies that rely heavily on cycling.

Combo Potential: For players fond of intricate interactions, Stabilizer works wonders in combination with cards that penalize drawing or discard, amplifying the disruptive elements of your deck to catch opponents off-guard.

Meta-Relevance: Given a meta that’s dense with cycling or card draw strategies, utilizing Stabilizer can give you an edge, as it directly counters these tactics and solidifies your control over the game’s cadence, making it a must-consider for your collection.

How to beat

Stabilizer is a unique card in MTG known for its ability to shut down strategies centered around cycling, a mechanism many players rely on for card flow and certain combo setups. The challenge with Stabilizer is that once it’s on the battlefield, it severely limits your ability to cycle cards, which can be crucial for digging through your deck to find the answers or pieces you need.

When facing a deck that uses Stabilizer effectively, the key is to adapt your strategy. This could involve increasing the amount of direct removal in your deck to ensure you can deal with the artifact as soon as it lands. Since Stabilizer is an artifact, cards like Naturalize or Shatter are excellent choices as they can destroy it for a low mana cost. Alternatively, running counter spells can prevent Stabilizer from ever hitting the board, circumventing its restrictive effect entirely.

Remember to build your deck with a versatile toolkit to handle situations where Stabilizer could potentially lock out an important part of your strategy. Flexibility in deck design is paramount, always consider including versatile answers that can address a range of threats, not just a single problematic card.

Cards like Stabilizer

Understanding the mechanics and utility of Stabilizer is crucial for players looking to refine their control decks in Magic: The Gathering. It stands in a unique category of cards that restrict certain actions, akin to Defense Grid which also limits the timing of spell casting, specifically aiming at opponents’ spells during your turn. Though different in execution, both cards serve a strategic purpose in managing opponents’ plays.

Another card worth mentioning is Damping Matrix, which similarly inhibits activated abilities, yet does not differentiate between artifacts or spells. While Stabilizer focuses solely on preventing cycling, which can be an essential move for disrupting opponents’ card flow, Damping Matrix has a broader scope. Moreover, the Matrix affects all abilities contrary to Stabilizer’s cycling specificity.

Then there’s the comparison to Ground Seal. This card has the capacity to stymie graveyard strategies by negating targeting cards in graveyards. Though not a direct counterpart to Stabilizer which halts cycling, it shares the philosophy of interfering with opponent’s options. As part of a considered deck strategy, the utility in denying resource advantages cannot be overstated across these distinctive cards.

All things considered, Stabilizer carves out its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a specialized tool for controlling the pace and flow of the game, demonstrating its merit when effectively deployed against cycling-heavy decks.

Cards similar to Stabilizer by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stabilizer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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