Sensory Deprivation MTG Card

Functions as a card advantage tool by negating multiple cards to handle threats with a single cast. Its low cost benefits player’s mana economy, enabling diverse strategies without burdening the mana curve. Inflicts strong power reduction on creatures, making it versatile against various aggressive deck builds.

Innistrad (ISD)
2011-09-30 - Number 74

Magic 2014 (M14)
2013-07-19 - Number 71

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets -3/-0.

They call it "stitcher's anesthesia," a spell to deaden the senses while the mad doctors begin their grisly work.

Cards like Sensory Deprivation

Sensory Deprivation is a unique aura spell in Magic: The Gathering that reduces the power of a targeted creature significantly. This card echoes the mechanics of other power-altering auras like Dead Weight, which serves a similar purpose by giving a creature -2/-2. While Dead Weight can potentially kill a weaker creature, Sensory Deprivation’s -3/-0 effect is purely offensive, limiting its target’s ability to deal damage without affecting its toughness.

Another close relative in function is Frogify, which neutralizes a creature by turning it into a 1/1 Frog with no abilities. Although it doesn’t lower the power as drastically as Sensory Deprivation, it effectively removes all abilities the creature had, which can be more impactful in some game scenarios. Claustrophobia also shares the theme of incapacitating creatures, and while it doesn’t reduce the power, it taps the creature and keeps it from untapping during the controller’s untap step, which can be a game-changer.

Each of these cards offers a different method of creature control, highlighting the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering. Sensory Deprivation stands out not only for its low mana cost but for its ability to reduce even the mightiest creatures to a harmless state without destroying them, an aspect crucial to circumventing various forms of creature protection.

Cards similar to Sensory Deprivation by color, type and mana cost

Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sensory Deprivation can be a subtle yet effective way to maintain card advantage. By reducing a creature’s power, it can negate the need to use multiple cards to deal with threats, thus providing a card advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Sensory Deprivation doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, it’s low mana cost can indirectly accelerate your game plan by leaving more mana resources available for other strategies and plays during your turn.

Instant Speed: Although Sensory Deprivation is an enchantment played at sorcery speed, its impact on the board can be as sudden and disruptive as an instant. It allows you to deploy other instant-speed interactions without over-committing to the board and keeps opponents wary of their creature-based strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sensory Deprivation does not impose a discard requirement, so this is one less worry for players considering this card for their deck.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is exclusively blue, which makes it a smooth addition for blue-centric or multicolor decks that can generate blue mana with ease. It’s an efficient tool in control strategies or decks that capitalize on its low-cost enchantment nature.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of a single blue mana, Sensory Deprivation is a bargain when it comes to mana economy. Its low cost allows for easy inclusion in a variety of strategies without weighing heavily on your mana curve.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sensory Deprivation may seem like a humble aura, but its ability to reduce a creature’s power makes it a flexible tool in various decks. It’s efficient in both tempo and control strategies, limiting opposing threats at a low mana cost.

Combo Potential: This card becomes even more intriguing when paired with the right synergies. Imagine combining it with cards that reward you for enchanting creatures, or use it as fodder for enchantment-recycling mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Sensory Deprivation shines in a game environment teeming with potent creatures. As the battlefield becomes cluttered with formidable adversaries, this one-mana answer can efficiently mitigate threats and preserve your life total, making it a nuanced addition to your arsenal against aggressive decks.

How to beat

Sensory Deprivation is a unique aura in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, capable of significantly weakening a targeted creature by reducing its power and toughness. Playing around this card involves utilizing robust creatures that can withstand a drop in their stats without losing their effectiveness. One approach to overcoming the impact of Sensory Deprivation is by utilizing creatures with abilities that are not contingent on their power and toughness, such as those with “Tap” abilities for direct effects.

Another strategy involves having a way to bounce or sacrifice the affected creature to your advantage, allowing you to nullify Sensory Deprivation’s effect. Cards with inherent resilience, such as those with the undying or persist abilities, can outmaneuver the Aura’s weakening grasp. Lastly, consider incorporating enchantment removal or protection spells. Green’s natural affinity for enchantment destruction or cards like Disenchant in white can efficiently remove Sensory Deprivation, liberating your creature from its constraints and maintaining your board presence.

Navigating around the challenges posed by Sensory Deprivation with these tactics allows players to limit its influence and carry on with a robust game plan, irrespective of their opponent’s attempt to disrupt their board state.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sensory Deprivation MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Magic 2014, 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 Sensory Deprivation and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sensory Deprivation Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2013-07-19. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-09-30	Innistrad	ISD		74	2003	Normal	Black	Steven Belledin
2	2013-07-19	Magic 2014	M14		71	2003	Normal	Black	Steven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sensory Deprivation has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal