Trapmaker's Snare MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2009-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar |
| Set code | ZEN |
| Number | 74 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daarken |
Text of card
Search your library for a Trap card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
"Trapmaking is an art. The trap is a corporeal riddle, a battle of wits between its creator and whatever it lures inside."
Cards like Trapmaker's Snare
Trapmaker’s Snare is a unique utility card from Magic: The Gathering that taps into the fascinating theme of traps. This card fetches a trap card directly into your hand, ensuring that you have the perfect response to your opponent’s next move. Its closest relative in terms of functionality is Mystical Tutor. While Mystical Tutor searches for any instant or sorcery, Trapmaker’s Snare’s niche is more specific, focusing only on trap cards, which can be a strategic advantage in the right deck.
Long-Term Plans is another card that shares some similarities with Trapmaker’s Snare by means of tutor mechanics. Long-Term Plans also puts a card on top of your library instead of into your hand, and it isn’t restricted to trap cards. This slower approach requires additional steps before you can utilize the chosen card. Lastly, Tamiyo’s Journal comes to mind, providing long-term advantage by allowing you to search for any card, albeit at a slower pace. Trapmaker’s Snare’s direct and instantaneous tutoring, specifically for traps, can be incredibly potent for setting up defenses or enabling combos.
Though each has its uses, Trapmaker’s Snare stands out in decks built around traps, offering immediate, targeted access that can catch opponents off guard. Diverse tutoring options offer MTG players a wide array of strategic choices, but Trapmaker’s Snare holds its own as a specialized tool in a deck builder’s arsenal.
Cards similar to Trapmaker's Snare by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Trapmaker's Snare. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Blue Mill | Modern | Mill | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-22 |
| Dimir Mill | Modern | Mill | Modern League 2024-03-04 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Trapmaker’s Snare enables you to search your library for a trap card, effectively thinning your deck and putting a potentially game-changing spell directly into your hand. This movement can be pivotal in outmaneuvering your opponent by ensuring you have the right answers at the right time.
Resource Acceleration: By fetching a specific trap card, you can streamline your game plan, saving on resources you would have otherwise spent digging through your deck. This acceleration can be significant, giving you the upper hand in the resource management battle that’s often key to victory.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Trapmaker’s Snare at instant speed grants you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This surprise element can catch an adversary off guard, disrupting their strategy while you strengthen your position without sacrificing your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Trapmaker’s Snare can fetch a valuable trap, it doesn’t include the card in hand immediately. Players need to discard a card or otherwise meet a condition to play the obtained trap, potentially depleting resources or necessitating additional setup.
Specific Mana Cost: Trapmaker’s Snare comes with a mana cost that requires two blue mana, making it less flexible for multi-colored decks or those that run on a tight mana base. This specificity can hinder its inclusion in decks that cannot reliably produce the required blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring two mana to activate, Trapmaker’s Snare can be costly, especially considering that the traps it searches for often have their activation conditions or mana requirements. This can lead to a slower tempo, as players may need to wait additional turns before effectively using the card searched by Trapmaker’s Snare.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Trapmaker’s Snare is a flexible card that allows you to search for any trap card in your library. This can fit in a variety of decks that leverage specific trap cards to counter opponents’ strategies or to pull off surprising plays.
Combo Potential: This card enables intricate combos by fetching the perfect trap for any given situation, making it a linchpin in decks that rely on synergies between traps and other cards to optimize their game plan.
Meta-Relevance: Given its unique ability to search for and introduce traps into your hand, Trapmaker’s Snare can be particularly relevant in meta-games where traps can disrupt common strategies or serve as key components in control or combo decks.
How to beat
Trapmaker’s Snare is a nuanced card in the arsenal of Magic: The Gathering strategies, known for its ability to fetch any Trap card from your deck. This can be a game changer by potentially countering an opponent’s threatening creatures or pivotal spells. To effectively navigate against this card, awareness and preemption are key.
Your strategy should involve anticipation of common Traps such as Archive Trap or Mindbreak Trap. Playing minimal spells in a turn could dodge the conditions set by many Traps, reducing the Snare’s effectiveness. Consider employing instant-speed removal or counterspells to disrupt the timing and prevent your opponent from exploiting the Trap they’ve searched for. Tracking your opponents’ mana and revealed cards also can give you a clear sign when they’re setting up for a Trapmaker’s Snare play.
Successfully beating Trapmaker’s Snare often hinges on maintaining a balance between advancing your game plan and considering the potential repercussions of walking into a well-laid trap. A timely Thoughtseize or a meticulously played Pithing Needle can prove crucial in negating the exploitation of the searched Trap card, ultimately disrupting your opponent’s crafted strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Trapmaker's Snare MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Trapmaker's Snare 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Trapmaker's Snare has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |