Trap the Trespassers MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Secret council

Key Takeaways

  1. Its potential to repeatedly exile creatures can swing games by reducing opponents’ resources significantly.
  2. The card’s instant speed makes it a flexible defense tool, yet the discard cost requires thoughtful play.
  3. It’s valued for meta-relevance and combo potential but is weighed down by its specific mana cost.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trap the Trespassers MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Trap the Trespassers and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Secret council — Each player secretly votes for a creature you don't control, then those votes are revealed. For each creature with one or more votes, put that many stun counters on it, then tap it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: “Trap the Trespassers” offers unique utility by potentially removing two creatures from your opponent’s side, putting you ahead in terms of available resources. The ability to exile a creature and then have the chance to repeat the process with its encore ability can decisively shift the balance of power in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While “Trap the Trespassers” doesn’t directly provide mana or tokens, the act of removing key creatures from your opponent can disrupt their resource acceleration, effectively functioning as an indirect acceleration for you by slowing them down and preserving your board presence.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of “Trap the Trespassers” allows for surprise interactions on your opponent’s turn. It gives you flexibility to decide the best moment to act, potentially disrupting their game plan and protecting your strategy from unexpected threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Trap the Trespassers comes with the downside of discarding a card. This cost can be quite cumbersome during the late game or when your hand is already running low on cards, potentially putting you at a resource disadvantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to activate Trap the Trespassers is strictly black, which may not always be readily available in multi-colored decks. Players using decks that don’t heavily favor black mana might find it difficult to utilize this card at the right moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the card’s casting cost set at four mana, including three generic and one black, it may be considered quite steep for its control effect. Considering other cards in the same mana range, players might find more versatile or impactful options to include in their decks.


Reasons to Include Trap the Trespassers in Your Collection

Versatility: Trap the Trespassers offers adaptability across various strategies, fitting well in decks that aim to control the board. Its ability to remove creatures and disrupt opponents’ hands makes it a valuable card in multiple scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with decks that capitalize on discard mechanics or benefit from opponents having fewer cards in hand. It can be a key piece in combos aimed at locking down the game by depriving your opponent of resources.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies are commonplace in the game, Trap the Trespassers holds a place in the current meta. Its capacity to tilt the tempo in your favor can be critical against a wide array of popular decks.


How to Beat

Trap the Trespassers emerges as a formidable trap card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Focused on strategic timing, it can disrupt your opponent’s game plan by exiling an attacking creature and giving you clues to uncover further strategies. It’s a valuable asset for players aiming to maintain control over the board.

To navigate around its threatening presence, consider baiting it out with less critical creatures or using spells that offer protection to your battalion. It’s also prudent to play around its activation cost, predicting when your opponent has enough mana to spring the trap. It’s this nuanced understanding of the card’s mechanics that can turn the tide in your favor.

Making intelligent use of instant spells that counter or destroy enchantments before the trap is set can nullify its impact. Similarly, taking advantage of indestructible creatures makes it harder for your adversary to capitalize on the card’s exile effect. In essence, mastering the art of anticipation and adroit reaction allows you to mitigate the risks posed by Trap the Trespassers and maintain the upper hand in your duels.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up, the strategic depth of MTG shines with cards like Trap the Trespassers, tailored for those who relish board control and timing finesse. Leveraging this card’s strengths could very well tilt the scales in your favor, while understanding its limitations helps refine your deck building skill. Embrace the challenge of integrating such intricate cards into your arsenal and revel in the thrill of outmaneuvering opponents. Eager to uncover more insights and add a layer of sophistication to your gameplay? Dive deeper with us into the MTG universe. Enhance your strategy and command the battlefield like never before.


Cards like Trap the Trespassers

Trap the Trespassers finds its place in the realm of defensive instant spells in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels to other cards like Arrest, which also hinder an opposing creature’s potential. Arrest, however, permanently prevents the creature from attacking or blocking without dealing damage, whereas Trap the Trespassers deals damage if a condition is met.

When exploring other equivalents, we come across Pacifism, a classic aura that simply prevents a creature from attacking or blocking. It’s straightforward and low-cost but lacks the immediate impact of Trap the Trespassers which can eliminate a threat on the spot. Similarly, there’s Claustrophobia that taps and keeps a creature from untapping, a more permanent solution compared to Trap the Trespassers but without the damage aspect.

Each of these spells serves a unique purpose, tailored to different strategies. While Trap the Trespassers may not prevent a creature from attacking or blocking indefinitely, it has the upside of possibly removing a threat from the battlefield altogether, a nuanced advantage over the alternatives.

Arrest - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Trap the Trespassers by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
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Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Intuition - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Rushing River - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Vex - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Venser's Diffusion - MTG Card versions

Printings

The Trap the Trespassers Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Tatiana Kirgetova.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1082015NormalBlackTatiana Kirgetova
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 252015NormalBlackTatiana Kirgetova
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 4272015NormalBlackTatiana Kirgetova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Trap the Trespassers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 Abilities that trigger "whenever players finish voting" trigger once all players have voted or once all secret votes are revealed, but they won't go on the stack until the current spell or ability finishes resolving.
2023-06-16 Before secret votes are revealed, players may announce how they intend to vote, but they can't reveal what they actually wrote down until all votes are simultaneously revealed. Players can lie about how they intend to vote before the votes are revealed.
2023-06-16 Each player must vote for one of the available options. They can't abstain.
2023-06-16 No player votes until the spell or ability resolves. Any responses to that spell or ability must be made without knowing the outcome of the vote.
2023-06-16 None of the creatures are targeted. Players may vote for a creature with hexproof, protection from blue, or similar.
2023-06-16 Players may vote for creatures that are already tapped.
2023-06-16 The phrase "the vote is tied" refers only to when there is more than one choice that received the most votes. For example, if a 5-player vote from among three different choices ends 3 votes to 1 vote to 1 vote, the vote isn't tied.
2023-06-16 To secretly vote, each player writes down their chosen option without showing it to anyone else. Each player then keeps their vote secret until all players simultaneously reveal their votes.