Thwart MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 108
2001-08-08 - Number ab108
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
You may return three islands you control to their owner's hand instead of paying Thwart's mana cost. Counter target spell.
Cards like Thwart
Thwart is a distinctive counter spell within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Its unique ability lets players return three islands to their hand instead of paying the mana cost. This is compared to the likes of Counterspell, a staple that requires two blue mana to cast, offering a straightforward and potent interruption to an opponent’s play with no additional cost to the caster’s land base.
Looking at Foil, another related card, we find similarities in the alternate casting cost involving discarding an island and another card. But unlike Thwart, Foil’s base casting cost is higher. This demonstrates Thwart’s strategic edge in preserving mana resources when facing an unexpected threat. Daze is another comparison point, with its ability to return an island to hand instead of paying its mana cost. However, its effect is softer, only countering spells unless the caster pays an additional one mana, which limits its reach compared to Thwart’s unconditional counter.
Evaluating both the power and flexibility of alternate costs, Thwart emerges as a strong contender in the counter spell category. Its innovative cost mechanism offers a significant advantage, allowing players to maintain tempo and surprise opponents with a cost-free counter in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Thwart by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Thwart. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Omni-Tell | Legacy | Omni-Tell | Legacy League 2023-11-25 |
 | Four-color Beans | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | Berlin Double Up Legacy III im Brettspielplatz 07.03.24 |
 | Bant Miracles | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | $5K - Legacy - SCG CON Philadelphia - Sunday - 9:30 am |
 | Stasis | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Mono-Blue Stiflenought | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am | |
| Four-color Miracles | Legacy | 4C Control | 2023 NA Legacy Champs |
| Simic Tempo | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | 2023 NA Legacy Champs |
 | Esper Miracles | Legacy | Esper Control | 2023 NA Legacy Champs |
| Bant Control | Legacy | Beanstalk Control | 8 LPL OPEN - SEASON IV - LIGA PAULISTA LEGACY |
 | Abzan Aggro | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thwart provides a significant edge by allowing you to return three islands to your hand instead of paying its mana cost. This can be an unexpected way to reuse landfall triggers or similar effects, thereby giving you a potential advantage on the battlefield through strategic land plays.
Resource Acceleration: While Thwart itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its alternative casting condition can be a form of resource management. By bouncing islands back to your hand instead of tapping out, you effectively preserve your mana for other uses, thereby keeping your options open.
Instant Speed: The instant nature of Thwart means you can disrupt your opponent’s strategies at critical moments. Whether it’s stopping a game-winning combo or simply providing a shield against threatening spells, the ability to cast this card on an opponent’s turn adds a layer of depth to your tactical decisions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate Thwart’s powerful effect, players must discard three cards. This can dramatically decrease your hand advantage, especially in moments when each card counts toward your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Thwart demands a strict blue mana alignment, necessitating three blue mana sources to cast. This requirement might fit perfectly in mono-blue or control-type decks, but it could be a restrictive factor in multicolored or varied mana base decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential to disrupt opponents’ plays, Thwart’s base mana cost is four, including three blue mana, which might be high for a counterspell. Players often seek lower-cost alternatives to maintain tempo and maximize the use of their mana each turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thwart’s capacity to counter any spell without the immediate need for mana makes it a highly flexible option for control decks, enabling reactive play even when resources are stretched thin.
Combo Potential: This card’s requirement to return three islands to your hand can synergize with landfall abilities or reset utility lands for multiple uses within the same turn, offering multiple layers of interactive combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by high-profile spells, Thwart stands as a key defense mechanism. Its mana-free countering aligns perfectly with a tempo-based strategy, keeping you ahead while your opponents are trying to establish their board or execute game-winning plays.
How to beat
Thwart is a card that can catch any Magic: The Gathering player off guard with its ability to counter spells without paying any mana at the cost of returning three islands you control to your hand. This can be a game-changer in the right situation. The key to overcoming Thwart lies in playing a strategy that pressures your opponent’s resources or utilizes spells that can’t be countered.
By deploying a diverse array of threats, you encourage the Thwart player to make difficult decisions on what to counter. Cards like Cavern of Souls can ensure your most crucial creatures are uncounterable, sidestepping Thwart’s effect entirely. Alternatively, employing an aggressive land destruction strategy can limit the Thwart player’s ability to have the necessary islands in play to activate its alternative casting cost.
It’s essential to anticipate when your opponent might have Thwart in their hand. Playing around the potential for a counter by not committing all your resources at once or waiting until the opponent is tapped out can be crucial. By taking these approaches, you can outmaneuver Thwart’s defensive capabilities and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thwart MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Thwart 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Thwart Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2001-08-08. Illustrated by Christopher Moeller.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 108 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 2 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ab108 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Christopher Moeller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thwart has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |