Time of Ice MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Time of Ice allows a player to gradually control the battlefield by tapping an opponent’s creature for two consecutive turns, effectively denying them resources and potential attacks. This ‘stalling’ gives you crucial extra draws, increasing the likelihood of pulling the cards necessary to solidify your game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct form of resource acceleration, Time of Ice can buy you time to develop your board presence unimpeded. By delaying threats, you effectively speed up your own strategy relative to your opponent’s – a subtle but powerful form of indirect acceleration.

Instant Speed: While Time of Ice is not an instant, it compensates with a powerful set of abilities that unfold over several turns. This sequencing creates a disadvantage for your opponent that can be as valuable as the flexibility offered by an instant since they must plan for an eventual loss of their tapped creature and adapt their play to the ongoing saga effect.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Time of Ice comes with a particularly demanding mana cost. To cast this saga, you need both blue mana and additional generic mana, which might not always align with your deck’s mana base. This requirement could potentially delay the card’s play or clash with the deck’s mana curve, making it less flexible for quick adaptation within various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of four mana to bring Time of Ice into play, this card occupies a slot where competition is fierce. Given the cost, players might prefer options that have an immediate impact on the game rather than waiting for a saga to unfold over several turns. This can make Time of Ice a less attractive choice in faster paced or more aggressive decks that value immediate board presence or game-changing effects.

Discard Requirement: Although Time of Ice does not have a direct discard requirement, the nature of sagas necessitates an investment over several turns. Players might need to plan their hand and plays around the stages of the saga, thus indirectly influencing discard decisions and hand management. In situations where quick answers or resources are needed, having a Time of Ice on board could be less beneficial compared to cards that offer immediate utility or require less strategic planning.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Time of Ice fits seamlessly into decks that are designed to manipulate the board state. Its ability to delay opponents’ threats over several turns gives players the adaptability required to set up their own board for a win.

Combo Potential: With its phased-out mechanic, Time of Ice can synergize with cards that benefit from the absence or return of creatures to the battlefield, offering intriguing interactions and the potential to build around.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment that heavily features creature-based strategies, Time of Ice shines by disrupting your opponent’s tempo and giving you an upper hand in pacing the game. Its relevance grows as it provides an answer to popular aggressive or midrange decks that rely on maintaining a formidable creature presence.

How to beat

Time of Ice stands out in Magic the Gathering as a card that can disrupt opponents’ battlefields for consecutive turns. It’s part of sagas, a unique kind of enchantment which has a rising effect over a few turns. It starts by tapping a creature an opponent controls, which doesn’t untap during the opponent’s untap phase as long as Time of Ice remains on the field. On the following turn, another creature gets frozen in time. Finally, when its last chapter is reached, all tapped creatures return to their owner’s hand.

To counter Time of Ice effectively, consider including enchantment removal in your deck. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can remove Time of Ice before its final harmful effect triggers. Alternatively, playing creatures with haste allows you to bypass the tapping effect or using untap abilities to negate the chapter effects. You might also counter Time of Ice with spells like Negate when it’s initially cast. Playing around this saga requires smart timing and deckbuilding to ensure that your creatures don’t get locked out of the game.

By preemptively including answers to this threat and recognizing the optimal time for intervention, players can successfully navigate the chilling impact of Time of Ice in their matches.

BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG players ponder their deck’s next level of sophistication, it’s essential to consider how cards like Time of Ice could play a pivotal role. This saga card weaves a web of control over the battlefield, tactically freezing the opponent’s momentum and carving a path for your victory. Understanding the nuances of such strategic tools is key to dominating the game. Ready to turn the tides in your favor with masterful board manipulation? Delve deeper with us and discover a trove of strategies and insights that make cards like Time of Ice a jewel in any player’s collection. Immerse yourself in our knowledge base to ace your gameplay.