Selective Snare MTG Card


MTG players harness Selective Snare for opportunistic creature battlefield control, essential in competitive play. Its instant speed and targeting prowess make it a tactical disruptor against tribal and creature-heavy decks. Though demanding specific mana and potential card loss, its meta-relevance and combo potential are considerable.
Selective Snare - Guilds of Ravnica
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set nameGuilds of Ravnica
Set codeGRN
Number53
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAlex Konstad

Text of card

Return X target creatures of the creature type of your choice to their owner's hand.

"How thoughtful of the Legion to train its soldiers to fit our spell's specifications." —Nefara, Dimir agent


Cards like Selective Snare

Selective Snare offers MTG players a unique form of crowd control against creatures of the same type. It can be likened to cards like Harbinger of Tides or Engulf the Shore, which also serve to return creatures to their owners’ hands. While Harbinger of Tides only targets a single creature and requires two blue mana, Selective Snare’s flexibility allows usage at various mana points, potentially returning multiple creatures based on the amount of mana paid.

Engulf the Shore, meanwhile, has a dependency on the number of Islands you control but can affect all creatures on the board. Another similar card, Wash Out, benefits from a lack of mana-scalability but compensates for that by not being limited to creature type. It also affects all nonland permanents of the chosen color, which can lead to more sweeping removal at a fixed cost.

In essence, Selective Snare fills a niche role efficiently. With the ability to disrupt tribal synergies or buy time against creature-heavy opponents, it stands out among its peers for its targeted yet potentially widespread impact and should be a consideration for decks that can capitalize on tempo swings.

Engulf the Shore - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Engulf the Shore - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Selective Snare by color, type and mana cost

Drafna's Restoration - MTG Card versions
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Psychic Purge - MTG Card versions
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Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Breakthrough - MTG Card versions
Drafna's Restoration - MTG Card versions
Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Psychic Purge - MTG Card versions
Mind Bomb - MTG Card versions
Energy Tap - MTG Card versions
Recall - MTG Card versions
Portent - MTG Card versions
Taunt - MTG Card versions
Sorcerous Sight - MTG Card versions
Prosperity - MTG Card versions
Eye Spy - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Hand - MTG Card versions
Broken Dam - MTG Card versions
Index - MTG Card versions
Extract - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Secretkeeper // Venture Deeper - MTG Card versions
Preordain - MTG Card versions
Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Ponder - MTG Card versions
Breakthrough - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Selective Snare can help in thinning out an opponent’s battlefield, effectively giving you an advantage. By returning multiple creatures of the same type to their owner’s hand, you can decrease the threat level and improve your position in the game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Selective Snare can decelerate your opponent’s development. This disruption can be critical in allowing you to maintain or gain the upper hand and can indirectly contribute to your resource advantage.

Instant Speed: Selective Snare’s strength is amplified by its instant speed. This allows for flexible and tactical gameplay, enabling you to respond to threats immediately or surprise an opponent during combat. The ability to act during an opponent’s turn makes Selective Snare a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Selective Snare demands that you discard a card from your hand, which can be a setback when your available options are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires blue mana in its casting cost, which may not fit smoothly into multicolored decks or those that are mana color-restricted.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be considered steep for its targeted effect, players might find that other cards could provide a better balance between cost and utility.


Reasons to Include Selective Snare in Your Collection

Versatility: Selective Snare offers flexibility in play, allowing you to tailor your response to various creature types on the battlefield. This utility makes it a handy tool in decks that need to manage the board without overcommitting resources.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in combination with other cards that capitalize on returning creatures to the hand. It sets the stage for beneficial re-plays or can disrupt opponent combos by sending their key creatures back to their hand.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where tribal decks are prevalent, Selective Snare gains significant utility. It can act as a scalable answer to tribal strategies, potentially removing multiple threats with a single card, thus keeping you a step ahead in the current meta.


How to beat

Selective Snare offers a unique approach to controlling the battlefield in MTG. As a card that returns multiple creatures of the same type to their owner’s hand, it can stall tribal decks and interrupt synergies. However, this can be turned into a momentary setback rather than a defeat if you’re prepared. Diversifying your creature types ensures that Selective Snare doesn’t leave you defenseless. Employing instant-speed spells that can be cast during your opponent’s turn also helps negate the tempo loss that Selective Snare attempts to impose.

Moreover, the inclusion of resilient or indestructible creatures can minimize the effect of the snare. Having cards with flash in your deck adds an element of surprise, allowing you to redeploy threats even after a Selective Snare is cast. Lastly, running counterspells or hand disruption strategies can prevent Selective Snare from ever hitting the table, keeping your creatures safe and maintaining board presence. Keep these strategies in mind, and your deck can stand firm against the tides of control that Selective Snare embodies.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Selective Snare MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Selective Snare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Selective Snare has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-10-05 To choose a creature type, you must choose an existing creature type, such as Vampire or Knight. You can’t choose multiple creature types, such as “Vampire Knight,” but choosing “Vampire” is enough to allow you to target a Vampire Knight. Card types such as artifact can’t be chosen; nor can supertypes such as legendary; nor can subtypes that aren’t creature types, such as Jace, Vehicle, or Treasure.