Spectral Grasp MTG Card
2016-08-26 - Number 24
2023-08-04 - Number 58
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack you or a planeswalker you control. Enchanted creature can't block creatures you control.
Cards like Spectral Grasp
Spectral Grasp is an intriguing control spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, which redirects an opponent’s creature’s attention away from you. Comparable to cards like Pacifism, Spectral Grasp prevents a creature from attacking or blocking for you without entirely disabling their abilities, similar to how Pacifism renders a creature nearly impotent in combat but allows them to attack and block opponents other than you.
Other cards like Arrest take the concept further by preventing the activation of abilities as well. Spectral Grasp, instead, leaves the creature’s abilities intact, merely changing its potential targets. It’s an important tactical difference for players looking to turn an opponent’s threats against another adversary. Then there’s Claustrophobia, which taps a creature down and keeps it tapped. While this incapacitates a creature more comprehensively, it does not offer the strategic player redirection found in Spectral Grasp.
In summary, Spectral Grasp serves a unique purpose in multi-player formats, allowing a Magic: The Gathering player to shift the threat landscape without completely shutting down a creature’s offensive or utility capabilities. It is measures like this that can subtly tip the scales in a nuanced game of strategy and foresight.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spectral Grasp gives control deck players a tactical edge by redirecting all effects from the enchanted creature to a specific opponent. This subtle shift can create a relative card advantage by effectively neutralizing an opponent’s threat without losing card resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although Spectral Grasp itself doesn’t produce mana, it can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by allowing you to conserve resources that would otherwise be spent on dealing with the enchanted creature. It essentially bypasses the need to use removal spells or commit blockers, saving those cards for more critical moments.
Instant Speed: The valuable aspect of Spectral Grasp is its enchantment nature, offering a persistent effect throughout the game. While not castable at instant speed, its long-term strategic impact can manipulate the game tempo in your favor, akin to the benefits derived from instant speed interactions, by forcing opponents to reconsider their attack strategies and resource allocation.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spectral Grasp requires that you have a card to discard, which could deplete your hand, especially in crucial moments where retaining options is key for strategizing.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment needs a precise combination of mana to cast, necessitating both white and generic mana, potentially restricting its seamless inclusion in more color-diverse decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Spectral Grasp offers control over a creature without seizing ownership, the requirement of three mana, including two that must be white, is steep for its specialized outcome, especially when evaluated against other control spells in the format that might execute similar functions for less or provide additional benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spectral Grasp’s ability to manipulate combat by controlling how creatures attack or block offers flexibility across various gameplay situations. It’s suitable for decks focused on managing opponents’ creatures and strategies where you want to protect yourself from specific threats.
Combo Potential: This card can be a vital component in control decks, working well with other cards that reward you for targeting, or that trigger upon a spell being cast on an opponent’s creatures. It opens up avenues for creative deck building to exploit these synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of creature-based tactics in many metas, Spectral Grasp shines by serving as an effective tool for disrupting your opponents’ offensive or defensive setups, making it a timely addition to decks aiming to navigate a creature-heavy environment.
How to beat Spectral Grasp
Overcoming Spectral Grasp, a unique aura spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, hinges on understanding its mechanics and limitations. This enchantment shifts the balance in multiplayer settings by essentially commandeering an opponent’s creature and forbidding it from assaulting or blocking for its owner, locking it out of attacking or blocking you specifically.
To turn the tables against Spectral Grasp, prioritize removal spells or abilities that can target enchantments or employ bounce effects to reset the board—thereby freeing the ensnared creature and removing the grasp. Versatile cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are staples in many decks, offering straightforward solutions to such enchantments. Additionally, using cards that grant hexproof or shroud to your own creatures can prevent Spectral Grasp from latching onto them in the first place, ensuring your forces remain at your command.
By integrating such tactical countermeasures into your strategy, Spectral Grasp’s potential to disrupt your game plan diminishes. This allows you to maintain pressure on your opponents and secure a stronghold over the gameplay dynamic. Hence, a keen understanding of the situation and appropriate counterplays ensure Spectral Grasp does not hinder your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spectral Grasp MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Commander Masters, 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 Spectral Grasp 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 Spectral Grasp Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tyler Jacobson | |
| 2 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 58 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tyler Jacobson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spectral Grasp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |