Entrancing Lyre MTG Card


Entrancing Lyre - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Number233
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byYeong-Hao Han

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers continuous board control without expending extra cards.
  2. Flexible mana use for its ability suits various situations.
  3. May compete with high-impact plays for mana resources.

Text of card

You may choose not to untap Entrancing Lyre during your untap step. , : Tap target creature with power X or less. It doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as Entrancing Lyre remains tapped.

Its strings are wayward threads of fate.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Entrancing Lyre offers a form of board control by locking down opponent’s creatures, potentially nullifying threats turn after turn without needing to expend additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to untap the Lyre using varying amounts of mana, players can adapt the resource investment each turn to their current needs, allowing for flexible resource allocation.

Instant Speed: Though it doesn’t operate at instant speed, the Lyre’s ability can be activated at the end of an opponent’s turn, which strategically parallels instant-speed interaction by freeing a player’s mana during their own turn for spells and other actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Entrancing Lyre requires a strategic approach, as utilizing its untap ability entails a discard cost. This could potentially set you back by diminishing your hand, especially if the card resources you possess are critical to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: While the initial cast of Entrancing Lyre is flexible with three generic mana, its activation depends on X mana where X is the tapped creature’s power. This can be especially limiting in multicolored decks that need to manage their mana pool carefully to accommodate various spells and abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the investment required to make full use of Entrancing Lyre’s control capabilities, it can be seen as mana-intensive. Ensuring that you have sufficient mana to tap down a significant threat means the card might compete for resources with other high-impact plays in your deck.


Reasons to Include Entrancing Lyre in Your Collection

Versatility: The Entrancing Lyre offers a unique twist to the deck-building process. It can tap down potential threats, ensuring you maintain control of the board. Its flexible mana cost for activation allows it to adapt to various board states across multiple turns.

Combo Potential: This artifact harmonizes well with cards that benefit from untapping permanents or those designed to capitalize on artifacts being used. It’s not just about controlling creatures; it’s also a key piece in intricate combos that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: Given that controlling the battlefield is always a relevant tactic, Entrancing Lyre has a place in a meta where keeping opponents’ creatures at bay is crucial. Its ability to be slotted into a deck that aims to slow down aggressive strategies makes it a valuable asset in various matchups.


How to beat

Entrancing Lyre stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to lock down opponents’ creatures. With a variable mana tap mechanism, it adapts to different stages of the game, making it a versatile control tool. To effectively counter Entrancing Lyre, consider instant-speed removal spells that can bypass the artifact’s activation, such as Naturalize or Abrade, which directly target and destroy the Lyre before it becomes a persistent nuisance.

Another approach is to employ enchantment-based strategies like Counterspell or Negate to prevent Entrancing Lyre from hitting the battlefield at all. If the Lyre is already in play, artifact removal becomes crucial; cards like Disenchant or Krosan Grip can remove the Lyre irrespective of the size of the creature it has entrapped. Additionally, aggressive decks that deploy a multitude of threats can overrun the Lyre’s singular target lock, diminishing its impact on the game’s outcome. Balancing your play between proactive threats and reactive answers is the key to dismantling the mesmerizing grip of Entrancing Lyre.


Cards like Entrancing Lyre

Entrancing Lyre is an intriguing option for players looking to control the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This artifact shares functional similarities with the card Icy Manipulator, as both have the ability to tap another target creature, potentially freezing out an opponent’s key creature from combat. However, Entrancing Lyre’s flexible activation cost sets it apart, allowing players to lock down creatures of varying strengths based on the amount of mana invested.

Another artifact, Pacification Array, taps into this same mechanic of controlling creatures and artifacts, but at a consistent cost. While the Array offers a flat rate for its effect, it does not provide the scalability of Entrancing Lyre, which can affect larger threats as your mana base grows. Conversely, the cost efficiency and predictability of Pacification Array can be more appealing in a fast-paced environment where every mana counts.

In assessing artifacts that influence the board state by restricting opponents’ actions, Entrancing Lyre has a distinct position. It allows adaptability in gameplay strategy and becomes increasingly potent as the game advances, giving it an edge over similar cards in longer matches where mana is plentiful.

Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Pacification Array - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Pacification Array - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Entrancing Lyre MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Entrancing Lyre and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Entrancing Lyre has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Entrancing Lyre card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-01-24 Entrancing Lyre’s activated ability can target a creature that’s already tapped. That creature won’t untap for as long as Entrancing Lyre remains tapped.
2020-01-24 If Entrancing Lyre becomes untapped before its activated ability resolves, the target creature is tapped, but it can untap as usual. This is true even if Entrancing Lyre becomes tapped again before the activated ability resolves.
2020-01-24 If Entrancing Lyre leaves the battlefield, it’s no longer tapped, so the creature is free to untap as usual.
2020-01-24 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Entrancing Lyre’s ability tries to resolve, the ability won’t resolve. The creature isn’t tapped and can untap as usual.
2020-01-24 If the target creature’s power is increased after Entrancing Lyre’s ability has resolved, it remains affected and won’t untap as usual.
2020-01-24 Once Entrancing Lyre is no longer tapped, the creature won’t immediately become untapped.

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