Interdict MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Number	69
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Laubenstein

Key Takeaways

Interdict offers card advantage, replacing itself in hand, crucial for maintaining resources.
Its instant speed allows players to disrupt strategies and gain the upper hand.
Despite a discard requirement, Interdict’s versatile disruption makes it a strategic pick.

Text of card

Counter target artifact, creature, enchantment, or land ability requiring an activation cost. Abilities of that permanent cannot be played again this turn. Draw a card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Interdict allows players to draw a card upon use, seizing the opportunity to replace itself in your hand. This helps in maintaining card presence and gives players potential access to more options for responding to the evolving play environment.

Resource Acceleration: Though Interdict does not directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, the card negates the costs sunk into an activated ability or triggered ability by an opponent. This can potentially set back an opponent’s resource development, indirectly tipping the resource balance in your favor.

Instant Speed: The strength of Interdict is its instant speed, providing players the flexibility to disrupt an opponent’s strategy at a crucial moment. Whether it’s pausing an opponent’s combo or simply buying time, the ability to cast Interdict on an adversary’s turn can be a significant advantage, keeping opponents on their toes and giving you the upper hand in the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Interdict’s power hinges on its ability disruption effect; however, it requires the player to discard another card. This can set you back, especially when your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: Pinpointing its mana cost can be tricky as it necessitates one blue mana. This makes it less flexible for multicolored decks that may struggle to generate the needed blue mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Interdict might not seem too hefty at first glance. Yet, when you consider the swift pace of gameplay and the need for efficient mana spending, other cards might offer similar effects without the stiff mana requirements, thus flying under the radar in many deck lists.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Interdict is a card that offers broad utility across various deck types. Its ability to counter activated or triggered abilities means it can be a crucial tool for disrupting your opponent’s strategy at critical moments.

Combo Potential: This card is not just a reactive play; it has the potential to fit into combos that aim to limit or deny opponent’s opportunities. By timing the casting of Interdict shrewdly, players can turn the tide of the game in their favor.

Meta-Relevance: With constantly shifting MTG metas, Interdict remains relevant due to its unique control properties. It can be particularly effective against decks that rely heavily on activated abilities of artifacts, creatures, or lands, proving to be a strategic sideboard card in competitive play.

How to beat

Interdict is a versatile instant in MTG with the ability to hamper an opponent’s strategy by specifically targeting activated abilities. Its strength lies in its timing – by using it during your opponent’s crucial moments, you can disrupt strategies hinged on artifact, creature, or land abilities. However, this card can be overcome with smart gameplay. Playing around Interdict involves baiting the spell out, using less critical abilities to draw it out of your opponent’s hand. This strategy ensures your vital abilities remain untouched, allowing you to execute your game plan effectively.

Additionally, considering Interdict’s nature as a reactive card, maintaining a strong proactive stance can mitigate its impact. By continuously applying pressure and presenting multiple threats, an opponent holding Interdict may be forced into a position where they must use it suboptimally. In decks not reliant on activated abilities or ones that can generate a multitude of threats at once, Interdict’s impact is naturally diminished, showcasing the importance of a diversified approach.

Understanding the meta and anticipating potential sideboard cards like Interdict helps players adapt their strategy accordingly. With careful planning and thoughtful gameplay, overcoming the disruption Interdict brings to the table is well within the reach of any skilled MTG enthusiast.

Cards like Interdict

Interdict is a blue card known for its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies at critical moments in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative is arguably Stifle, which also counters activated or triggered abilities. However, Stifle has the upper hand with its lower casting cost of a single blue mana. Despite this, Interdict edges out with its twofold advantage – not only does it neutralize a threat, but it also allows you to draw a card, replenishing your hand as you control the game.

Like Interdict, Trickbind can counter triggered or activated abilities and it makes them uncounterable for the turn, giving it a unique defensive posture that neither Stifle nor Interdict offer. Trickbind, however, does not present the added benefit of drawing a card, which can be pivotal in maintaining card advantage.

Delving into their usefulness, it’s clear that each has its place depending on your tactical approach. Interdict shines in decks where card flow is crucial and where one can afford the two mana investment. In comparison, Stifle caters to more aggressive, mana-efficient strategies while Trickbind is optimal for a surefire defense against uncounterable moves. Ultimately, Interdict carves out a niche where countering key abilities and sustaining card advantage is paramount.

Cards similar to Interdict by color, type and mana cost

Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions

Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Interdict MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Interdict and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Interdict has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Interdict 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	This card targets the ability, and not the permanent itself.
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.