Stasis MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Players do not get an untap phase. Pay o U during your upkeep or Stasis is destroyed.
Cards like Stasis
Stasis is an iconic piece in MTG’s history, known for its unique ability to freeze the game’s tempo. It finds its closest relative in Frozen Aether, which shares the concept of controlling the pace by impacting how permanents untap. Though Frozen Aether is not as restrictive as it does not prevent players from untapping per se, it delays the untap phase for an opponent’s artifacts, creatures, and lands.
Looking across the spectrum, we encounter Kismet, an older card that also taps down opposing assets as they enter the battlefield, setting back opponents similarly to Stasis. Kismet, however, does not perpetually keep things in a state of suspension. Then there’s Root Maze, which has a more narrow effect, causing only lands and artifacts to enter the battlefield tapped, affecting the flow of the game but not ongoing activities.
While examining these various options, it’s evident that Stasis stands out for its comprehensive lockdown effect. It demands continuous investment with its upkeep cost but has the potential to dominate a game unlike any other. These similarities and differences underline why Stasis remains a memorable and potent card in the fabric of MTG.
Cards similar to Stasis by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Stasis. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mono-Blue Prison | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 2 | ||
Stasis | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | ||
Esper Control | Legacy | Esper Control | 97 / The 97th Legacy at Home | |
Grixis Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 1 | ||
Abzan Aggro | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | ||
Mono-Blue Control | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stasis doesn’t directly allow for drawing extra cards, but it provides a distinct strategic advantage. It freezes the game state to your benefit, effectively making the opponent’s cards less useful as they cannot untap their permanents. This indirect card advantage can shift the game in your favor as you dictate the pace, forcing opponents to discard due to hand size while you continue to play normally.
Resource Acceleration: While Stasis itself doesn’t accelerate resources, it complements decks designed around untap mechanics or alternative resource generation. With clever deck building, you can sustain its upkeep cost while hindering your opponent, leading to a scenario where you’re the only player effectively playing the game—creating a significant imbalance in resource availability and control.
Instant Speed: Despite being an enchantment, Stasis pairs exceptionally well with instant-speed spells and abilities. By controlling the game’s tempo, you can confidently pass the turn with mana available, ready to respond to opponents’ actions. This positions you to utilize your instant-speed interactions without the pressure of a developing board state, as your adversaries are stuck in a standstill.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Stasis commands a specific mana base, requiring blue mana which may not easily fit into every deck archetype, thus limiting its versatility across various strategies.
Discard Requirement: In order to maintain the lock on the game that Stasis provides, you might find yourself forced to discard cards to keep enough mana open, potentially draining your hand and reducing your options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its powerful effect, Stasis has a mana cost that some players consider quite high for its upkeep. This can be a significant drawback, especially when you need to maintain other spells and actions within your turn.
Reasons to Include Stasis in Your Collection
Versatility: Stasis is a card that can be used as a key piece in control decks, effectively locking down opponents and slowing down fast-paced games to your advantage.
Combo Potential: This card opens the door for various combos, especially in blue-based control decks that seek to capitalize on the absence of untap steps, creating one-sided game states.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive or creature-heavy decks prevail, including Stasis can give you the upper hand, as it disrupts opponents’ tempo and allows you to dictate the pace of the game.
How to beat
Coping with the challenges posed by Stasis, a classic and potent MTG card, requires strategic planning and prompt action. This card’s ability to lock down the battlefield by preventing untap steps can be overwhelming. To counteract Stasis, players should aim to have artifact or creature removal spells on hand. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can efficiently dispose of Stasis, effectively breaking the lock.
Another practical approach is managing resources wisely—keep up land drops and conserve instant-speed removal to use at the end of your opponent’s turn. Utilizing untap capabilities that outpace the constraints of Stasis can give players an edge. Haste-enabling cards or creatures with vigilance also sustain momentum under a Stasis regime. In addition, prioritize pressuring opponents to deplete their resources, compelling them to abandon the Stasis lockdown.
Ultimately, the key to outmaneuvering a card like Stasis is to remain adaptable, leveraging removal and resource management to disrupt the intended control strategy and reestablish the game’s flow in your favor. As turn order regains its natural rhythm, you reclaim the ability to execute your strategy unimpeded.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering MTG strategy often comes down to understanding how to use cards like Stasis to maximum effect. Whether you’re crafting a control deck that thrives on dictating the tempo or searching for ways to disrupt aggressive opponents, Stasis can be a game-changer. It’s clear that while this card requires careful resource management, the payoff in controlling the board can be immense. Embrace the challenge by fine-tuning your deck to leverage Stasis’s strengths, considering its place in the meta, and preparing to counteract its limitations. Ready to delve deeper into the nuances of this fascinating card? Continue your journey on BurnMana and discover the full potential of Stasis in your MTG arsenal.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stasis MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Stasis 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Stasis Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 80 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 81 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 81 | 1993 | Normal | White | Fay Jones | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 81 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 81 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 83 | 1993 | Normal | White | Fay Jones | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 83 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 83 | 1993 | Normal | White | Fay Jones | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 104 | 1993 | Normal | White | Fay Jones | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 104 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 127 | 1997 | Normal | White | Fay Jones | |
12 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 65648 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Seb McKinnon | ||
13 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 64 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
14 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1103 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Jérémie Solomon | ||
15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones | |
16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 377 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Fay Jones |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stasis has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stasis card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | Does not prevent cards from being untapped outside the untap step. |
2004-10-04 | Since there is no untap step, Phasing in/out won’t happen. |