Abjure MTG Card


Abjure - Weatherlight
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set nameWeatherlight
Set codeWTH
Number31
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTed Naifeh

Key Takeaways

  1. Abjure allows sacrificing blue permanents, utilizing assets for tactical advantage against threats.
  2. Instant speed of Abjure adds a layer of surprise, disrupting the opponent’s plans effectively.
  3. The spell’s strict blue mana cost can limit its use in multicolored decks, affecting flexibility.

Text of card

Sacrifice a blue permanent: Counter target spell.

Mirri's hackles rose as Ertai continued expounding his virtues. "If that arrogant brat doesn't shut up soon," she growled to herself, "I'm going to have to kill him."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: This spell eliminates a potential threat by enabling you to sacrifice a blue permanent instead of paying its mana cost, neatly turning a potentially useless asset into a strategic advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing a boost to your mana pool, Abjure helps maintain your resources by acting as an inexpensive answer to an opponent’s threat, preserving more mana for use on your own turn.

Instant Speed: Abjure’s capability to be played at instant speed offers the flexibility to disrupt an opponent’s strategy during their turn, keeping you one step ahead while holding up mana for other responses or end-of-turn plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Abjure is the need to sacrifice a blue permanent in addition to its blue mana cost. This can be a substantial setback, especially when you’re sacrificing a valuable asset for a timely counter.

Specific Mana Cost: Abjure’s casting cost demands a strict adherence to blue mana, making it less flexible for multicolor decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary blue mana at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the additional sacrifice required, the overall cost of utilizing Abjure can seem quite steep. There are alternative counter spells in the game that offer similar levels of disruption without the need for such a sacrifice, potentially offering better value for the mana invested.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Abjure offers a unique instant-speed sacrifice mechanic that can turn any redundant permanent into a shield against spells or abilities, making it a flexible addition to blue-based control or combo decks.

Combo Potential: Abjure can synergize with decks that benefit from sacrificing their own permanents, such as those with graveyard-based strategies or when paired with cards that replace or capitalize on the sacrifice.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to counter key spells at a low mana cost, Abjure fits well into metagames dominated by high-impact spells and permanents, efficiently disrupting opponent’s strategies while keeping your mana open for other plays.


How to beat

Abjure plays a unique role in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a quick defensive option by sacrificing a blue permanent to counter a spell. The challenge lies in its low cost and the surprise element it can bring to the table. To effectively counter this spell, it’s crucial to bait it out or wait for the opponent’s mana to be low. Compared to other counterspells, Abjure’s requirement of sacrificing a permanent can be turned into an advantage if you’re playing a deck that can exploit such a sacrifice.

Strategies such as pressuring with multiple threats can stretch your opponent’s resources thin, making it harder for them to keep blue permanents available to sacrifice. Alternatively, decks that can generate tokens or recurring creatures can easily replace the sacrificed permanent, reducing Abjure’s effectiveness. In essence, pacing your threats and maintaining a board presence that can recover from a potential sacrifice is key. This ensures that even if Abjure counters a key spell, your overall strategy remains unaffected, allowing you to maintain control of the game.

When you anticipate an Abjure, playing less critical spells first to draw it out can leave the path clear for more significant plays. Understanding and adapting to the flow of the game can turn what might seem like a setback into an opportunity to strengthen your position.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re an MTG player looking to enhance your strategic depth, Abjure might be the intriguing twist your blue deck needs. With the ability to utilize an otherwise untapped blue permanent as a bargaining chip, Abjure offers a multi-layered form of control that can catch your opponents off guard. Especially potent in formats where timing is everything, this spell can seamlessly integrate into a strategy that values resourcefulness over raw power. Learn more about this nuanced spell, uncover strategies that turn a simple sacrifice into a victorious pivot, and explore how to make Abjure work for you in various metagames. Dive into our detailed insights to empower your deck with this card’s unique magic.


Cards like Abjure

In the realm of protective spells within Magic: The Gathering, Abjure distinguishes itself with its unique cost and benefit structure. Similar to other counterspells like Counterspell or Negate, it serves the purpose of thwarting an opponent’s spell. Abjure’s twist, however, is in its requirement of sacrificing a blue permanent as part of its casting cost. This can be a significant trade-off, as it potentially affects board presence.

Contrarily, Dispel strictly counters instant spells but without any additional cost apart from its one blue mana. This makes it a more straightforward, if more limited, option for reactive strategies. Complicate offers a flexible alternative, giving the option to counter a spell or cycle it to draw a different card. Unlike Abjure, which asks for a commitment in terms of resources on the board, Complicate provides versatility with its cycling ability.

Assessing magic cards like Abjure in the blend of counterspells, it emerges as a particular choice for decks that can leverage the sacrifice of a blue permanent as part of a greater strategy or for the benefit of low casting cost, illustrating its tactical positioning in the MTG landscape.

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions
Dispel - MTG Card versions
Complicate - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Negate - Morningtide (MOR)
Dispel - Worldwake (WWK)
Complicate - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Abjure by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - Vintage Championship (OVNT)
Jump - Magic 2010 (M10)
Sleight of Mind - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Twiddle - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Unsummon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Siren's Call - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Power Sink - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blue Elemental Blast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Spell Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Magical Hack - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Riptide - The Dark (DRK)
Winter's Chill - Ice Age (ICE)
Mind Bend - Tenth Edition (10E)
Denied! - Unglued (UGL)
Hydroblast - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Whispers of the Muse - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Ertai's Trickery - Planeshift (PLS)
Force Spike - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Opt - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Envelop - Judgment (JUD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Abjure MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Abjure and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Abjure has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 You can't sacrifice more than one permanent.

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