Stupefying Touch MTG Card
2002-02-04 - Number 48
2003-08-07 - Number dh48sb
2016-06-10 - Number 74
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
When Stupefying Touch comes into play, draw a card. Enchanted creature's activated abilities can't be played.
Just because your eyes are open doesn't mean you're awake.
Cards like Stupefying Touch
Stupefying Touch is a unique enchantment in the diverse pool of Magic: The Gathering control cards. When compared to other enchantments like Claustrophobia, which also incapacitates a creature, Stupefying Touch offers a different advantage. While Claustrophobia locks a creature down completely, Stupefying Touch grants the ability to dull a creature’s abilities and draw a card upon entering the battlefield.
Closely related in function is Narcolepsy, an enchantment that taps a creature every upkeep. Though it doesn’t disable activated abilities or draw a card, it effectively keeps a threat under permanent sleep. In the realm of card utility, Ice Over is another relevant mention. It freezes a tapped artifact or creature, preventing it from untapping during its controller’s untap step, which leans towards a less versatile but more enduring control tool.
Evaluating these options, Stupefying Touch offers a distinct mix of immediate pseudo-removal and card draw, thus occupying a unique niche in MTG’s array of enchantments designed to manage opponents’ threats while maintaining card advantage.
Cards similar to Stupefying Touch by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Stupefying Touch, players have the potential to disrupt their opponent’s hand by forcing the discard of cards when the enchanted creature becomes tapped. This ongoing effect can lead to a cumulative card advantage as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: Stupefying Touch does not directly accelerate resources but can indirectly aid in it by slowing down your opponent’s board development, giving you more time to draw into your resource acceleration mechanisms.
Instant Speed: Although Stupefying Touch is an enchantment, the ability to tap the enchanted creature at will is an instant-like feature allowing strategic gameplay. This can catch an opponent off-guard, disrupting combat or other planned actions at critical moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stupefying Touch necessitates discarding a card as part of its casting cost. This can often be a steep price, especially when you’re already managing your hand size meticulously. In games where hand advantage plays a pivotal role, using Stupefying Touch might be more of a setback than a strategic move.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise arrangement of mana, specifically including blue, to play. Players running multicolored decks or those with stringent mana bases may find it challenging to meet this condition consistently. Consequently, the utility of Stupefying Touch can be significantly diminished in decks that aren’t heavily skewed towards blue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of casting Stupefying Touch is somewhat exorbitant when juxtaposed with the benefit it provides. For two mana, the enchantment bestows a fairly modest effect, which might deter players from including it in their decks in lieu of cards that can bring about a more tangible impact on the game at the same, or lesser, mana requirement.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stupefying Touch offers the ability to disrupt your opponent’s plans by deterring the activation of certain troublesome abilities. This enchantment can be slotted into various deck types, providing tactical control over the battlefield.
Combo Potential: Coupled with cards that benefit from enchantments or target triggers, Stupefying Touch can become a cog in a larger combo machine. It’s a tool for those looking to create a synergy that capitalizes on your opponent’s creatures without outright destroying them.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where activated abilities on creatures are prevalent, Stupefying Touch serves as an inexpensive answer. It can potentially shift the balance of a game by nullifying key threats and disrupting your opponent’s carefully laid plans.
How to beat
Stupefying Touch is one of those enchantments in MTG that might not seem menacing at first, but it can become an impediment if left unchecked on the battlefield. This card is both a tool for controlling opponents’ creatures and a mild disruption, as it deprives the enchanted creature of its activated abilities and draws a card upon entering the battlefield. Its unique utility can throw a wrench into your game plan, especially if you rely on creature abilities.
One strategy to overcome Stupefying Touch is to prioritize the removal of enchantments. Green, for example, has efficient cards like Naturalize that can dispose of enchantments directly. Another method is to use creatures with hexproof to prevent them from becoming valid targets for such enchantments. White also offers various protection spells, which can safeguard creatures from being targeted in the first place. Alternatively, focusing on creatures with passive or triggered abilities can render the Touch less effective, since it only affects activated abilities. Incorporating versatility in your deck with these effective strategies should help mitigate the impacts of Stupefying Touch and maintain the momentum of your game.
Understanding your opponent’s cards is as crucial as knowing your own. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of Stupefying Touch, you can adapt your gameplay to counteract its effects, preserving your creatures’ abilities, and securing a path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stupefying Touch MTG card by a specific set like Torment and World Championship Decks 2003, 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 Stupefying Touch 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 Stupefying Touch Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-02-04 | Torment | TOR | 48 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Bradley Williams | |
| 2 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | dh48sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Bradley Williams | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stupefying Touch has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stupefying Touch card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. |
| 2016-06-08 | Unlike many similar abilities, Stupefying Touch’s last ability stops mana abilities from being activated. |