Choke MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Choke severely restricts players relying on Islands, fundamentally impacting blue-focused deck strategies.
  2. Its inclusion in a sideboard offers a strategic advantage in matches against blue decks in various formats.
  3. Choke’s presence in a game can alter the tide, rewarding players who effectively anticipate the meta.

Text of card

Islands do not untap during their controllers' untap phases.

"One day we shall walk where once was water." —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves


Advantages of Choke

Card Advantage: Choke provides you with an advantage by restricting your opponent’s ability to generate mana from Islands, possibly hindering their plans leading your deck to hold dominance over the game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Choke decelerates your opponent’s resources if they rely heavily on Islands for mana. This imbalance potentially accelerates your game plan relative to your opponent’s.

Instant Speed: While Choke isn’t an instant, its impact on the battlefield is almost immediate once it is cast, especially against decks that are Island-centric. By restricting an opponent’s mana generation, you can force them to rethink their strategy in real-time, adding a psychological perspective to your strategy.


Limitations of Choke

Discard Requirement: The major downside to the Choke card is that it doesn’t allow you to discard a card as an added maneuver. This can pose a constraint when you’re strained and trying to navigate your game with minimal resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Utilizing Choke requires an explicit mana color: it necessitates green mana for activation. This may deter its application to certain deck types, particularly those lacking versatility in color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, it’s true that Choke can stymie opponents utilizing islands. However, there could well be other cards with a less steep mana requirement that could provide more tactical advantage or resource proliferation, making Choke seem costly in comparison.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Choke offers a unique and disruptive element to various kinds of decks. As it stifles opponents’ use of blue mana, it’s particularly beneficial against blue-dominant or multi-colored decks that rely heavily on Islands.

Combo Potential: The card’s power is significantly amplified when combined with strategies that limit or control your opponents’ land resources. It synchronizes perfectly with cards that force your rivals to switch their lands to Islands, aggravating Choke’s effect.

Meta-Relevance: Given the blue’s prominence in many metagames, Choke remains a valuable asset. Its ability to potentially shut down opponents’ mana production can turn the tide of a match, especially when up against decks that rely heavily on blue spells.


Similar Cards

Choke is a unique yet powerful enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that shines especially against decks built heavily around island-type lands. A comparison can be made to cards such as Boil and Boiling Seas, both designed to destroy islands. While Choke doesn’t demolish islands, it renders them unusable, ultimately freezing a player’s game plan.

Contrasting with Tsunami, another island-focused card, Choke has an edge as it does not destroy the lands, keeping the aggravating effect constant as long as Choke remains in play. Whereas Tsunami, one shot in implementation, becomes less impactful in the long run.

Then there’s Mana Web, centralizing more on restricting land usage universally, not exclusively to islands. It possesses a similar strategy to Choke but affects all players, leveling the playing field. Made comparisons reveal the strength Choke possesses against specific deck types in Magic: The Gathering.

Despite the peculiarities of each card, Choke etches its significance by exploiting the dependency on island lands, creating a sense of dread for opponents who heavily rely on such resources. Hence, it sits impressively in terms of strategy and game control among other similar MTG cards.


How to Beat Choke

For those deep within the world of MTG, the struggle against the card known as Choke can be real. This potent enchantment card can easily turn the tide of a game by restricting islands from untapping during their controller’s untap steps. The grip of Choke is a challenging one to break, but not impossible.

Consider implementing the card Boomerang. This fits perfectly against the force of Choke. A well-placed Boomerang spell allows you to return Choke to its owner’s hand, buying you time and potentially letting you gather the resources needed for an ultimate win. Furthermore, Echoing Truth is another suitable option, which, in addition to bouncing Choke back to its owner’s hand, clears the board of any additional copies of Choke.

Lastly, splashing green mana sources in your deck also works. By throwing in cards that provide any color mana, you effectively mitigate Choke’s damage. Hence, adapting your mana base to contain less dependency on islands is key to outlast the impact of Choke.

Beat Choke, and you become that much stronger a player in MTG.


Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the intricate strategies of Magic the Gathering is essential for any enthusiast. Cards like Choke have the power to turn the tides of a game and mastering their use can lead to exceptional plays. We invite seasoned players and newcomers alike to deepen their knowledge and enhance their gameplay. Explore advanced tactics, refine your deck-building skills, and keep up with the ever-evolving meta. Victory lies in preparation and adaptability. So, let’s continue our journey together, uncovering the secrets of MTG, and pushing the boundaries of competitive play. Ready for your next challenge? Learn more and join the ranks of the elite.


Cards like Choke

Choke is a unique yet powerful enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that shines especially against decks built heavily around island-type lands. A comparison can be made to cards such as Boil and Boiling Seas, both designed to destroy islands. While Choke doesn’t demolish islands, it renders them unusable, ultimately freezing a player’s game plan.

Contrasting with Tsunami, another island-focused card, Choke has an edge as it does not destroy the lands, keeping the aggravating effect constant as long as Choke remains in play. Whereas Tsunami, one shot in implementation, becomes less impactful in the long run.

Then there’s Mana Web, centralizing more on restricting land usage universally, not exclusively to islands. It possesses a similar strategy to Choke but affects all players, leveling the playing field. Made comparisons reveal the strength Choke possesses against specific deck types in Magic: The Gathering.

Despite the peculiarities of each card, Choke etches its significance by exploiting the dependency on island lands, creating a sense of dread for opponents who heavily rely on such resources. Hence, it sits impressively in terms of strategy and game control among other similar MTG cards.

Boil - MTG Card versions
Boiling Seas - MTG Card versions
Tsunami - MTG Card versions
Mana Web - MTG Card versions
Boil - Tempest (TMP)
Boiling Seas - Portal (POR)
Tsunami - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Mana Web - Weatherlight (WTH)

Cards similar to Choke by color, type and mana cost

Kudzu - MTG Card versions
Wanderlust - MTG Card versions
Maddening Wind - MTG Card versions
Cycle of Life - MTG Card versions
Hall of Gemstone - MTG Card versions
Dense Foliage - MTG Card versions
Momentum - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Mask - MTG Card versions
Broken Fall - MTG Card versions
Lure - MTG Card versions
Food Chain - MTG Card versions
Howling Moon - MTG Card versions
The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - MTG Card versions
Squirrel Nest - MTG Card versions
Alpha Status - MTG Card versions
Lifegift - MTG Card versions
Blanchwood Armor - MTG Card versions
Rites of Flourishing - MTG Card versions
Raking Canopy - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Pollen - MTG Card versions
Kudzu - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Wanderlust - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Maddening Wind - Ice Age (ICE)
Cycle of Life - Mirage (MIR)
Hall of Gemstone - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Dense Foliage - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Momentum - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Ancestral Mask - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Broken Fall - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Lure - Tenth Edition (10E)
Food Chain - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Howling Moon - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Squirrel Nest - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Alpha Status - Scourge (SCG)
Lifegift - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Blanchwood Armor - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Rites of Flourishing - Future Sight (FUT)
Raking Canopy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Fyndhorn Pollen - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Choke MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Choke and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Choke Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2017-04-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 2191997normalblackTerese Nielsen
21999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 ml219sb1997normalgoldTerese Nielsen
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 237★2003normalblackTerese Nielsen
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2372003normalwhiteTerese Nielsen
52017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 502015normalborderlessFlorian de Gesincourt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Choke has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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