Chill MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Chill can give you a strategic edge by delaying opponent spells, leading to potential card advantage.
  2. Its restriction to blue mana can limit deck inclusion but pays off with tempo control gains.
  3. Inclusion in your collection is smart against red-heavy metas, offering significant sideboard value.

Text of card

Red spells cost an additional to play.

"Temper, temper." —Ertai, wizard adept


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Chill card can disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to either pay more or delay the casting of spells, potentially leading to card advantage as they waste resources or lose tempo in their game plan.

Resource Acceleration: By hindering your opponent’s ability to curve out their mana efficiently, Chill can indirectly accelerate your own resources in comparison, as you may be able to deploy threats or answers unhindered while they are set back.

Instant Speed: The power of casting Chill at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows for strategic timing, such as casting it during an opponent’s upkeep to maximize the surprise factor and disruption potential, effectively putting you a step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Similar to the effect of certain cards that demand a card discard, Chill imposes a heavy toll on your hand. This drawback means playing Chill requires you to weigh the benefits against potentially depleting your hand, which can leave you at a disadvantage, particularly in games where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Chill’s mana cost is color-specific, which narrows its integration to decks that run blue mana. This restriction can be a hindrance in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary blue mana available at the right time, limiting its general flexibility and instant casting potential when you need it most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Chill might not always be the optimal play. In a fast-paced game where tempo is key, committing two blue mana to this card could mean forgoing other critical plays, which might provide greater immediate impact on the board state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chill is a card that can be seamlessly integrated into decks that aim to control the pace of the game, particularly those that want to delay or disrupt opponent’s strategies. It serves as a cost-effective way to counteract decks that rely heavily on red spells.

Combo Potential: In the right deck, Chill can work wonders by not only slowing down opponents but also combining with cards that capitalize on the opposition’s missteps, leading to a well-rounded strategy that can lock the opponent out of the game.

Meta-Relevance: If the current landscape of the game features a surge of red-based aggressive decks, then Chill becomes a crucial sideboard card. Its presence can be a deciding factor in matchups where red spells dominate, giving you an upper hand.


How to beat

Understanding your opponent’s cards is key in Magic: The Gathering and Chill presents a unique challenge. Often used to halt red spells, this card can be a thorn in the side of many aggressive strategies. To navigate around this, flexibility is your greatest asset. Employ non-red sources of damage or consider adopting a diverse mana base to circumvent Chill’s influence. Cards that allow you to change the color of your spells or use alternative casting costs can effectively sidestep Chill’s taxing effect.

In addition, opting for abilities that don’t rely on casting spells, such as activated abilities from artifacts or creatures, can keep your game plan on track. This can work around Chill since it specifically targets red spells. Anticipating the play and having a response ready, such as a counterspell or enchantment removal, ensures that Chill doesn’t freeze out your chances at victory. When constructing your deck, include versatile answers to various threats to prepare for cards like Chill that may seek to disrupt your strategy.

Lastly, considering the timing of your spells can also be pivotal. Being patient and waiting for the opportune moment to resolve your impactful red spells when your opponent might lack the resources to cast Chill can also lead to success on the battlefield.


Cards like Chill

Chill is a unique entrant among Magic: The Gathering’s repertoire of control cards. It bears resemblance to Frost Breath, which also targets creatures and inhibits their attack for a limited time. However, Chill distinguishes itself by entirely freezing an opponent’s assets, preventing them from untapping on the next turn. Unlike Frost Breath’s selective targeting, Chill applies a broader stroke of restraint across the board.

Moving to another similar card, Delay, we notice a shared theme of interference with an opponent’s strategy. Delay doesn’t prevent untapping but instead hinders immediate threats by suspending a spell for a few turns. While it serves a different function, the essence of temporizing an adversary’s plan mirrors Chill’s core strategy. Then, we have the card Sleep, which like Chill, incapacitates multiple creatures. Even though Sleep affects more creatures, Chill stands out by constraining potential combos or ramp by locking all nonland permanents for a turn.

In essence, each of the mentioned cards provides strategic advantage through disruption. However, Chill’s ability to put a comprehensive hold on an opponent’s momentum can prove invaluable in the right circumstances and is a compelling choice for players looking to incorporate broad control tactics into their MTG decks.

Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Delay - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Frost Breath - Magic 2012 (M12)
Delay - Future Sight (FUT)
Sleep - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Chill by color, type and mana cost

Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Power Leak - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Terrain - MTG Card versions
Stasis - MTG Card versions
Creature Bond - MTG Card versions
Lifetap - MTG Card versions
Power Artifact - MTG Card versions
Venarian Gold - MTG Card versions
Psychic Venom - MTG Card versions
Soar - MTG Card versions
Dance of Many - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Veil - MTG Card versions
Legacy's Allure - MTG Card versions
Buoyancy - MTG Card versions
Mana Maze - MTG Card versions
Psionic Gift - MTG Card versions
Immobilizing Ink - MTG Card versions
Stupefying Touch - MTG Card versions
In Too Deep - MTG Card versions
Inertia Bubble - MTG Card versions
Invisibility - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Power Leak - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Phantasmal Terrain - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Stasis - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Creature Bond - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Lifetap - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Power Artifact - Antiquities (ATQ)
Venarian Gold - Legends (LEG)
Psychic Venom - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Soar - Mirage (MIR)
Dance of Many - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Teferi's Veil - Weatherlight (WTH)
Legacy's Allure - Tempest (TMP)
Buoyancy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Mana Maze - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Psionic Gift - Odyssey (ODY)
Immobilizing Ink - Odyssey (ODY)
Stupefying Touch - Torment (TOR)
In Too Deep - New Capenna Commander (NCC)
Inertia Bubble - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chill MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Chill and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chill Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Greg Simanson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 561997normalblackGreg Simanson
21999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 601997normalwhiteGreg Simanson
32000-01-01Arena League 2000PAL00 41997normalblackGreg Simanson
42000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 tvdl60sb1997normalgoldGreg Simanson
52000-08-02World Championship Decks 2000WC00 jf60sb1997normalgoldGreg Simanson
62002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 360621997normalblackGreg Simanson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chill has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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