Capsize MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Buyback

Key Takeaways

  1. Capsize provides repeatable control, allowing for either opponent disruption or personal permanent protection.
  2. While versatile and powerful, it demands specific blue mana and is mana-intensive with Buyback.
  3. Perfect for controlling metas; its impact increases with decks designed for high mana generation.

Text of card

Buyback o3 (You may pay an additional o3 when you play this spell. If you do, put it into your hand instead of your graveyard as part of the spell's effect.) Return target permanent to owner's hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Capsize offers a repeatability effect that lets you return any non-land permanent to its owner’s hand. When used strategically, this can provide a significant advantage by disrupting your opponent’s board state and preserving your resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s utility can also be leveraged as a form of resource acceleration. By bouncing your own permanents, you can protect them from removal or reuse their enter-the-battlefield effects, effectively turning Capsize into a versatile tool in your arsenal.

Instant Speed: Capsize’s capability to be cast at instant speed ensures you have maximum flexibility during the game. This allows you to respond to threats immediately or use the card during your opponent’s turn, preserving the element of surprise and keeping your options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Capsize does not apply here as it does not require you to discard cards as part of its casting or Buyback costs. Instead, Capsize’s disadvantage lies elsewhere.

Specific Mana Cost: Capsize demands a specific mana investment of two blue mana which constrains its integration purely into blue or blue-centric multicolor decks. Players not running blue will miss out on its utility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Capsize’s base cost is fairly low, performing the Buyback to retain the spell can be mana-intensive. Repeatedly paying six mana for the combined casting and Buyback cost is a significant investment, potentially leaving less mana available for other plays during a turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Capsize offers a flexible control option that can be woven seamlessly into a variety of deck builds. Its repeatability makes it a go-to for returning nonland permanents to an opponent’s hand, regardless of the game’s phase or your current strategy.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with ample mana sources, often creating lock-down scenarios when combined with high mana generation. It works well with strategies involving buyback or repeated spell casting to progressively hinder opponent plays while you build your board state.

Meta-Relevance: In fluctuating metas where player’s permanents offer significant value, Capsize can disrupt opponent tempo and manage powerful threats. Its relevance grows with the deck’s ability to generate large amounts of mana, making it a viable choice in control or combo-oriented environments.


How to beat

Capsize is a blue instant Magic: The Gathering spell with a timeless Buyback mechanic, letting players return it to their hand after casting it for an additional cost. This capacity for recurring bounce effects can become a thorn in the side of many MTG players as their permanents are repeatedly returned to their hands, disrupting their board presence and strategy.

Overcoming Capsize involves a multi-faceted approach. Foremost is prioritizing the threat and applying pressure to deplete your opponent’s available mana, limiting their ability to use Capsize with Buyback effectively. Proper timing is also essential; casting spells or activating abilities when the opponent lacks sufficient mana can circumvent the disruption caused by Capsize. It can be advantageous to bait out a Capsize cast during a less critical moment, thereby conserving more valuable spells and permanents.

Lastly, direct counterspells or abilities that prevent spells from being targeted, such as hexproof, can effectively neutralize Capsize’s impact. Understanding the dynamics of play and carefully crafting your strategy to anticipate and counter this persistent threat can turn the tides of the game in your favor, preventing Capsize from capsizing your carefully constructed plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the use of Capsize in MTG demands strategic depth and an understanding of its unique role in the game. As it stands, Capsize can act as a cornerstone in control decks, paving the way for victory by keeping your opponent’s board clear or safeguarding your own permanents. To truly leverage this card’s potential, smart mana management and timing are crucial. We encourage MTG enthusiasts to experience Capsize’s versatility firsthand and witness how it heightens gameplay, especially in blue-centric strategies. Immerse yourself deeper into MTG’s strategic nuances and unlock the full potential of Capsize in your deck by learning more with us.


Cards like Capsize

Capsize holds its own in the realm of Magic: The Gathering control cards, seamlessly fitting into the classic category of bounce spells. When thinking of cards that operate in the same vein, Unsummon immediately comes to mind. Unsummon is a straightforward option that allows players to return target creatures to their owner’s hand at a low cost. Capsize differs by providing a reusable effect through its Buyback ability, allowing for repeated use at the expense of additional mana.

Void Snare is another card that shares similarities with Capsize, offering the ability to return nonland permanents to their owner’s hand. Yet, it lacks the flexibility of Capsize, which can target any permanent and be reused if the Buyback cost is paid. Echoing Truth also parallels Capsize, in that it can return multiple identical nonland permanents. However, Echoing Truth, unlike Capsize, cannot be used repeatedly on multiple turns.

Overall, Capsize presents a unique advantage due to its versatility and potential for indefinite use. This makes it a particularly valuable tool in decks that aim to control the board and have the resources to capitalize on its Buyback feature.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Void Snare - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Void Snare - Magic 2015 (M15)
Echoing Truth - Darksteel (DST)

Cards similar to Capsize by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - 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
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Dissipate - MTG Card versions
Thunderheads - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Psionic Blast - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Dream Fracture - Eventide (EVE)
Oona's Grace - Eventide (EVE)
Cancel - Ixalan (XLN)
Deluge - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Stoic Rebuttal - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Dissipate - Innistrad (ISD)
Thunderheads - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Capsize MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Capsize and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Capsize Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2017-04-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 551997normalblackTom Wänerstrand
21998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 rb55sb1997normalgoldTom Wänerstrand
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 360401997normalblackTom Wänerstrand
42003-01-01Friday Night Magic 2003F03 41997normalblackTom Wänerstrand
52010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A181997normalblackTom Wänerstrand
62015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 422015normalblackTom Wänerstrand
72017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 322015normalborderlessCliff Childs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Capsize has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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