Seal of Removal MTG Card


Enforcing board control, it returns creatures at instant speed without losing card advantage. For a single blue mana, it fits smoothly in mana curves, aiding resource efficiency. Adaptable in multiple decks, it disrupts foes and re-exploits allied creature effects.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Sacrifice Seal of Removal: Return target creature to its owner's hand.

"I am the unraveler, the loosened thread that will not hold." —Seal inscription


Cards like Seal of Removal

The Seal of Removal card offers a unique twist within the realm of bounce spells in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It sits alongside other notable bounce cards like Unsummon, which also allows you to return a creature to its owner’s hand. Seal of Removal differs in that it can be played as an enchantment and activated at your leisure, providing a strategic advantage by threatening to disrupt your opponent’s plays at any moment.

Comparatively, another parallel can be drawn with the card Vapor Snag. This card also returns a single creature and inflicts a sting of one life point loss to its controller, yet it lacks the flexibility of timing provided by Seal of Removal. Echoing Truth is another bounce spell with the versatility to address multiple copies of a single token or card on the battlefield, though it does not offer the same board presence or delayed activation capability.

Assessing these differences, Seal of Removal stands out due to its potential tactical use, allowing players to plan several moves ahead while it passively influences the opponent’s decisions just by being in play.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Seal of Removal by color, type and mana cost

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Flight - MTG Card versions
Unstable Mutation - MTG Card versions
Field of Dreams - MTG Card versions
Dream Coat - MTG Card versions
Tangle Kelp - MTG Card versions
Tidal Flats - MTG Card versions
Flood - MTG Card versions
Backfire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Essence Flare - MTG Card versions
Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Mana Chains - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Veiled Sentry - MTG Card versions
Air Bladder - MTG Card versions
Shimmering Wings - MTG Card versions
Aboshan's Desire - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
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Writ of Passage - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sultai MidrangeSultai Midrange ModernSultai MidrangeModern Preliminary 2024-04-16
Temur AggroTemur Aggro LegacyTemur DelverWeekly Legacy Mont
Temur DelverTemur Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy Super Qualifier 2023-12-28
Jeskai EphemerateJeskai Ephemerate PauperJeskai EphemeratePauper League 2024-04-08
WUBWUB LegacyLegacy League 2024-04-08
Lurrus SagaLurrus Saga VintageLurrus SagaVintage League 2024-03-27
UBUB ModernModern Preliminary 2024-03-12
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo Modern4c Tameshi Combo$5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 1:00 pm
EnchantressEnchantress Premodern$1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am
Izzet DelverIzzet Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy Super Qualifier 2023-12-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Seal of Removal bewitches players with its ability to return a target creature to its owner’s hand without losing card presence on the board. This nimble disruption often forces the opponent to spend resources redeploying their threats, tipping the scale of card advantage in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Seal of Removal itself doesn’t generate additional mana, the efficiency of its cost at a single blue mana allows for a sleek mana curve. This card paves the way for resource acceleration by keeping mana available for more significant plays or multiple spells in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The power of Seal of Removal shines at instant speed, enabling strategic play and unpredictability. Cast it to interrupt combos, protect your board from imminent removal, or simply to unsettle your opponent during their turn, all while keeping up the pace and pressure in the race for victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Seal of Removal may necessitate you discarding a card upon activation, which can be a significant downside when your hand is already depleted or when every card is crucial to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Seal of Removal requires blue mana, which means integrating it into your deck is only feasible if you’re running blue or have a reliable mana base that can accommodate blue spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Seal of Removal offers a bounce effect, its mana cost might be seen as steep when compared to other instant-speed options. This could potentially slow your tempo, especially in a game where efficiency and speed are paramount.


Reasons to Include Seal of Removal in Your Collection

Versatility: Seal of Removal can be a key card in various deck types given its ability to temporarily remove a creature from the battlefield. This flexibility lets you react to a broad range of threats or reuse your own enter-the-battlefield effects.

Combo Potential: This card works seamlessly with strategies that capitalize on bounce mechanics. It can also be paired with cards that benefit from casting spells or returning permanents to hand.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prominent, Seal of Removal has the potential to disrupt your opponents’ plans, giving you a significant advantage during the game.


How to beat

The Seal of Removal is a versatile blue enchantment, offering an efficient tempo play in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to return target creature to its owner’s hand can disrupt the opponent’s board presence significantly. To counter this card, players should focus on building resilience against bounce effects. One effective strategy is to deploy creatures with enter the battlefield effects, ensuring you get value even if they are returned to your hand.

Furthermore, capitalizing on spells that can’t be targeted by Seal of Removal, like hexproof creatures or cards with protection from blue, can help maintain your board state. Additionally, having instant-speed removal or counterspells ready can be crucial when your opponent activates the Seal of Removal, allowing you to respond and potentially negate its impact. By carefully selecting your plays and holding up interaction, you can mitigate the tempo loss and maintain control over the game’s pace.

Moreover, keep in mind that Seal of Removal requires the controller to sacrifice it to utilize its effect, so if you can force them to use it prematurely or at a suboptimal time, you can invalidate some of its benefits. By adopting these tactics, players can effectively work around the challenges posed by Seal of Removal and maintain a competitive edge in their matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the tactical world of MTG, every card choice can be pivotal in turning the tides of battle. Seal of Removal is one such card that offers nuanced play both on your turn and your opponent’s. Its potential to disrupt, offer card advantage, and fluidly adapt to the unfolding game makes it a card worth considering for your blue strategies. If you’re keen on fine-tuning your deck’s maneuverability and proactive control, Seal of Removal may just earn its place in your collection. Decipher your deck’s potential and engage in the cerebral side of MTG; discover more on how to optimize your gameplay with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Seal of Removal MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and World Championship Decks 2000, 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 Seal of Removal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Seal of Removal Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by Christopher Moeller.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-02-14NemesisNEM 421997NormalBlackChristopher Moeller
22000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 tvdl421997NormalGoldChristopher Moeller
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2692015NormalBlackChristopher Moeller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Seal of Removal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-06-18 Sacrificing Seal of Removal is the cost to activate its ability. Once you activate the ability, no player can do anything to Seal of Removal to stop you from activating it. Notably, if you cast Seal of Removal during your turn, you'll have priority to activate its ability before anyone can respond to stop you.