Take into Custody MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2017-01-20 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Aether Revolt |
| Set code | AER |
| Number | 47 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David Palumbo |
Text of card
Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
"You can tell me what I want to know, or you can talk to the Chief of Compliance. Why don't you make it easy on yourself?"
Cards like Take into Custody
Take into Custody offers players a straightforward but tactical control option in Magic: The Gathering, holding a place next to other single-target freeze effects. It stands alongside Frost Breath, which has the ability to target two creatures, but comes with a higher mana cost and is a sorcery rather than an instant. This comparison highlights the advantages of Take into Custody’s instant speed, enabling surprise plays that disrupt opponents during critical phases of the game.
Another card worth looking at is Ice Over. Even though both it and Take into Custody achieve a similar end — incapacitating opposing creatures — Ice Over remains in play, continuously neutralizing the threat as long as the aura is attached. Contrastingly, Take into Custody provides a one-off effect, forcing players to time their plays for maximum impact. Encase in Ice is also a common comparison seen, with added versatility against red or green creatures, owing to its color-specific passive effect.
All things considered, Take into Custody carves out its unique niche due to its instant speed and low casting cost. It may not have the permanence of other freeze spells, yet its utility in the right situation can be game-defining for MTG players who prize timing and precision.
Cards similar to Take into Custody by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Take into Custody doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it stalls opponents by tapping their creatures. This tactical pause can indirectly lead to card advantage as you maintain board control and draw into more significant threats or answers.
Resource Acceleration: Take into Custody costs a single blue mana, making it a cost-effective way to manage threats. It enables you to use your resources efficiently and keep up the pressure without setting yourself back mana-wise.
Instant Speed: This spell’s ability to be cast at instant speed offers flexibility during gameplay. You can strategically time its use to disrupt enemy attacks, surprise opponents during combat, or even protect your own position when most vulnerable.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Take into Custody does not include a discard requirement itself, it’s worth noting this element in general can deplete important resources from your hand. This could leave players at a tactical disadvantage, especially when the game state requires maximum card utility.
Specific Mana Cost: Take into Custody requires a single blue mana which means it’s inherently limited to decks that run blue mana sources. Without the appropriate mana base, this card could be stuck in your hand unplayable, not contributing to board development or game progression.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effect to tap a creature until your next turn, the investment of one blue mana might seem steep when compared to other instant spells or abilities that can offer more versatile control for similar or even lesser mana investments. Players might prefer to reserve their blue mana for more impactful spells.
Reasons to Include Take into Custody in Your Collection
Versatility: Take into Custody is a card that offers flexibility in controlling the battlefield. It allows you to tap a target creature, which doesn’t untap during the next untap step, making it a useful tool for stalling opponents’ threats across various deck types.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with mechanics that capitalize on tapped creatures, paving the way for potential combos. It fits into decks that reward players for controlling the state of their opponents’ creatures, whether through card draw mechanisms or other tap-related synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where aggressive creature strategies are prevalent, Take into Custody can serve as a cost-effective means to delay opponents. Its role in your deck could be crucial for keeping pace and maintaining board control amidst a rapidly shifting meta.
How to beat
Take into Custody is a blue instant from Magic: The Gathering that temporarily neutralizes a creature by tapping it and preventing it from untapping during its controller’s next untap step. When facing this spell, it’s essential to have a strategy to mitigate its disruptive effect and maintain the momentum of your game. One effective approach is to prioritize creatures with vigilance, which remain untapped when attacking, thereby lessening the impact of such control spells.
Another tactic is to include instant-speed removal or bounce spells in your deck, allowing you to respond to Take into Custody by either eliminating the targeted creature or returning it to your hand, preserving its potential for future turns. Additionally, cards with abilities that untap creatures or those granting hexproof can also serve as countermeasures. Ultimately, while Take into Custody can hinder aggressive strategies, it’s a temporary setback and can be effectively surpassed with a well-prepared deck fortified with the right mix of protective and reactive spells.
Evaluating the card’s strengths and limitations within blue control strategies in Magic: The Gathering, it is clear that Take into Custody offers tactical advantages, but with foresight and deck versatility, players can adeptly navigate around this temporary control measure.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Take into Custody MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Take into Custody 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Take into Custody has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Take into Custody card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-02-09 | Take into Custody can target a creature that’s already tapped. That creature won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step. |