The Cheese Stands Alone MTG Card


The Cheese Stands Alone - Unglued
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1998-08-11
Set symbol
Set nameUnglued
Set codeUGL
Number2
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byRandy Elliott
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Owning ‘The Cheese Stands Alone’ demands clever play, as an empty hand and board could seal your victory.
  2. ‘The Cheese Stands Alone’ requires precise mana and intense deck-building commitment for successful strategy integration.
  3. Despite its six mana cost, its potential to revolutionize game endings in MTG makes it a noteworthy collectible.

Text of card

If you control no cards in play other than The Cheese Stands Alone and have no cards in your hand, you win the game.

The meat, on the other hand, has frequent visitors.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the distinctive ability of potentially winning the game, The Cheese Stands Alone offers a unique type of advantage. It leverages a position with no other cards in play or in hand to achieve victory, essentially turning an empty board and hand into the ultimate advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, The Cheese Stands Alone motivates a strategy that meticulously manages resources to fulfil its winning condition. It supports gameplay that tactically accelerates toward the card’s unique win state.

Instant Speed: While the card itself does not operate at instant speed, it encourages a play style that often relies on instant speed actions to control the board and protect the precarious conditions needed to make The Cheese Stands Alone effective. This instigates an interaction-rich environment where timing is crucial.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to trigger the victory condition of The Cheese Stands Alone, you need to strip your hand and battlefield of all other cards, which places you in a precarious situation. If the ability is disrupted or the card is removed before your next upkeep, you are left vulnerable with no other resources at your disposal.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a specific combination of mana costs, demanding one white and five other mana. This restrictive requirement can be a stumbling block for decks that are not heavily invested in white mana or that operate with a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana to play, The Cheese Stands Alone is a costly investment. Other cards in the same mana range may provide immediate board presence or game-changing effects without the conditional nature of this card’s win condition.


Reasons to Include The Cheese Stands Alone in Your Collection

Versatility: The Cheese Stands Alone offers a unique win condition that can be incorporated into various deck archetypes. It’s a card that calls for creative deck-building and can breathe new life into old strategies that revolve around controlling the board and protecting valuable permanents.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to end the game instantly when you control no other permanents sets the stage for interesting combos. Players can devise strategies to systematically exile or sacrifice their own permanents to fulfill the card’s win condition, pairing it with cards that streamline this process.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks may dictate the pace, The Cheese Stands Alone could serve as an unexpected and game-ending surprise. Especially in longer games where resources are depleted, achieving its condition can be a viable path to victory.


How to Beat

‘The Cheese Stands Alone’ is a unique condition-based card that really puts a twist on win conditions in Magic: The Gathering. When this enchantment card is on the battlefield, its controller wins the game if they control no other permanents. This means that as soon as all other cards have been removed from play under their ownership, victory is theirs. This rare scenario creates not just a fun challenge but also a specific puzzle for opponents to solve.

To overcome ‘The Cheese Stands Alone’, disruption is the key. Employing targeted removal spells to take out this enchantment before its condition can be met is crucial. Efficient destruction spells or ones that force an opponent to sacrifice enchantments could tip the scales back in your favor. Counterplay moves can also save the day, such as introducing cards that penalize players for an empty battlefield, or simply by maintaining a consistent threat presence so your adversary can’t clear their field safely. The game dynamics change when ‘The Cheese Stands Alone’ is played, necessitating quick adaptation and a strategic counter-approach to avoid the opponent swinging the game in their favor unexpectedly.

Ultimately, ‘The Cheese Stands Alone’ requires careful attention as soon as it hits the table. Quick action combined with a good understanding of your available resources will ensure that this powerful win condition doesn’t catch you unprepared.


Cards like The Cheese Stands Alone

The Cheese Stands Alone is a unique outlier within Magic: The Gathering’s array of win condition cards. Its closest relative in concept is Barren Glory, which presents a similar challenge – win the game by having no cards in hand and no permanents other than itself when you start your turn. The Cheese Stands Alone, however, requires just an empty board and hand, excluding itself, to declare victory. This quirky enchantment invites creative deck-building around self-sacrifice and discard strategies, setting it apart from the usual victory paths players pursue.

While comparing, it’s also worth mentioning Mayael’s Aria, a card that can grant a win provided a creature under your control meets certain power prerequisites. On the flip side, Mortal Combat offers an alternative win by having a specific number of creatures in the graveyard. Both cards provide distinct conditions that need to be met, creating different gameplay dynamics compared to the self-emptiness required by The Cheese Stands Alone.

When it comes to measuring the uniqueness and playability, The Cheese Stands Alone occupies a distinctive niche. Players seeking an unconventional and challenging route to victory will surely appreciate what this card brings to the table; a taste of victory through minimalism.

Barren Glory - MTG Card versions
Mayael's Aria - MTG Card versions
Mortal Combat - MTG Card versions
Barren Glory - Future Sight (FUT)
Mayael's Aria - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Mortal Combat - Torment (TOR)

Cards similar to The Cheese Stands Alone by color, type and mana cost

Aysen Highway - MTG Card versions
Transcendence - MTG Card versions
True Conviction - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Bond - MTG Card versions
Leyline Binding - MTG Card versions
Sigarda's Summons - MTG Card versions
Barren Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Mantle - MTG Card versions
Exclusion Ritual - MTG Card versions
Axis of Mortality - MTG Card versions
Fall of the Thran - MTG Card versions
Song of the Worldsoul - MTG Card versions
Nykthos Paragon - MTG Card versions
Sworn to the Legion - MTG Card versions
Battle at the Helvault - MTG Card versions
The Night of the Doctor - MTG Card versions
From the Rubble - MTG Card versions
Aysen Highway - Homelands (HML)
Transcendence - Torment (TOR)
True Conviction - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Martyr's Bond - The List (PLST)
Leyline Binding - Dominaria United Promos (PDMU)
Sigarda's Summons - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Barren Glory - Future Sight (FUT)
Celestial Mantle - Jumpstart (JMP)
Exclusion Ritual - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Axis of Mortality - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)
Fall of the Thran - The List (PLST)
Song of the Worldsoul - Commander 2019 (C19)
Nykthos Paragon - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Sworn to the Legion - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)
Battle at the Helvault - Commander Masters (CMM)
The Night of the Doctor - Doctor Who (WHO)
From the Rubble - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Cheese Stands Alone MTG card by a specific set like Unglued, 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 The Cheese Stands Alone and other MTG cards:

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