Silkwrap MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 38
2021-10-15 - Number 4
2002-06-24 - Number 62497
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
When Silkwrap enters the battlefield, exile target creature with converted mana cost 3 or less an opponent controls until Silkwrap leaves the battlefield. (That creature returns under its owner's control.)
Better scarves than scars.
Cards like Silkwrap
Silkwrap is a versatile removal spell in MTG, often measured against a cadre of other exile effects. It aligns with cards like Banishing Light, both offering a temporary solution by exiling a target creature or planeswalker until the enchantment leaves the battlefield. Silkwrap, however, is more restrictive with its mana cost and the range of creatures it can target; it’s limited to those with converted mana cost three or less.
Another parallel can be drawn with Declaration in Stone, which also exiles creatures but can target numerous creatures at once and provides clues to the opponent as compensation. While Declaration in Stone is broader in scope, Silkwrap’s lower cost makes it a preferred choice for early game control. Then there’s Oblivion Ring, which can remove any nonland permanent, not just creatures, providing a wider range of targets than Silkwrap. The decision to use Silkwrap over these alternatives often comes down to the specific needs of a deck’s strategy and the metagame it operates within.
Choosing the right removal spell is critical for any magic player’s success. Silkwrap holds its own by offering affordable and efficient early game control, making it a solid pick for those looking to keep their opponent’s threats in check.
Cards similar to Silkwrap by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Silkwrap doesn’t directly draw cards, it effectively removes one of your opponent’s threats from the battlefield. This diminishes the resources available to your opponent and can potentially disrupt their strategies, indirectly contributing towards card advantage in a broader sense.
Resource Acceleration: Silkwrap itself doesn’t accelerate resources in terms of mana production. However, it does provide strategic acceleration by clearing the path for your own creatures to attack. By removing blockers or key utility creatures of your opponent, Silkwrap can hasten your route to victory.
Instant Speed: Silkwrap operates at sorcery speed, which encourages thoughtful play. Timing becomes crucial, and while not as flexible as an instant, its potent ability to exile a target creature with converted mana cost 3 or less upon entering the battlefield ensures a robust response to early threats, preserving your pace in the early to mid-game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Silkwrap doesn’t require a discard, but this aspect is crucial for balancing many control elements in a player’s deck. Cards with discard requirements tend to balance power with the risk of resource loss.
Specific Mana Cost: Silkwrap demands a precise mana combination, costing one white and one colorless mana, which might constrict its integration into multi-colored decks not heavily invested in white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering Silkwrap’s specialized removal effect, its mana cost is on the higher side. This can be a detriment when faster and more cost-effective removal spells are available in the game, potentially leaving Silkwrap as a less favorable option in a tightly curated deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Silkwrap is a flexible removal option that can effortlessly fit into multiple deck archetypes. Its ability to exile target creatures with converted mana cost 3 or less makes it a reliable answer to early threats in the game.
Combo Potential: With its straightforward exile mechanic, Silkwrap can serve as a critical component in decks that capitalize on removing opponents’ resources. It synergizes particularly well with strategies intent on disrupting the opponent’s board presence.
Meta-Relevance: Given its efficacy against aggressive low-cost creatures, Silkwrap remains a pertinent card in environments where early-game tempo dictates the pace of play. Its relevance increases especially in metas dominated by fast, creature-based strategies.
How to beat
Silkwrap is a versatile removal spell in Magic: The Gathering that can handle troublesome creatures early in the game. To effectively circumvent this white enchantment, it’s critical to utilize cards that can target enchantments, such as Naturalize or Disenchant. These cards allow you to remove Silkwrap from the battlefield, returning your captured creature back into play. Furthermore, playing creatures with hexproof or using spells that provide protection from white can preemptively shield your key creatures from being exiled by Silkwrap.
Another strategic approach is to bait out Silkwrap with less critical creatures, preserving your high-impact creatures for later in the game when your opponent may not have an immediate answer. Additionally, playing around Silkwrap involves being cautious about overcommitting your board with creatures that fall within its mana threshold, instead pacing your creature plays to reduce the impact of the exile effect.
Ultimately, while Silkwrap serves as a strong control piece, savvy players can adapt their decks and strategies to mitigate its influence, ensuring their most valuable creatures stay in play to drive their game plan forward.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Silkwrap MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Silkwrap and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Silkwrap Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2021-10-15. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62497 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | ||
| 2 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Gaillet | |
| 3 | 2021-10-15 | Pioneer Challenger Decks 2021 | Q06 | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Gaillet |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Silkwrap has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Silkwrap card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist. |
| 2015-02-25 | Face-down creatures have a converted mana cost of 0. If one is exiled by Silkwrap, it will return to the battlefield face up. |
| 2015-02-25 | If Silkwrap leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target creature won’t be exiled. |
| 2015-02-25 | If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won’t be returned to the battlefield. |
| 2015-02-25 | In a multiplayer game, if Silkwrap’s owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn’t an ability that goes on the stack, it won’t cease to exist along with the leaving player’s spells and abilities on the stack. |
| 2015-02-25 | Silkwrap’s ability causes a zone change with a duration, a style of ability that’s somewhat reminiscent of older cards like Oblivion Ring. However, unlike Oblivion Ring, cards like Silkwrap have a single ability that creates two one-shot effects: one that exiles the creature when the ability resolves, and another that returns the exiled card to the battlefield immediately after Silkwrap leaves the battlefield. |
| 2015-02-25 | The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Silkwrap leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions. |