Vapor Snare MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2010-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Worldwake
Set code	WWK
Number	44
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Trevor Claxton

Key Takeaways

Gaining control of creatures swaps board advantage and disrupts opponent strategies with Vapor Snare.
Vapor Snare can accelerate your resources by utilizing a commandeered creature for your benefit.
Instant-speed spell sync maximizes Vapor Snare’s strategic impact during your turn sequence.

Text of card

Enchant creature You control enchanted creature. At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Vapor Snare unless you return a land you control to its owner's hand.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: By gaining control of your opponent’s creature, Vapor Snare contributes to your side of the board while potentially diminishing your opponent’s resources. This switch not only affects the board state but also can disrupt your adversary’s game plan, making it a pivotal move towards card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Vapor Snare requires an upkeep cost, this can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by utilizing the hijacked creature for your own strategy. Be it through attacking, defending, or utilising any abilities the creature may have, it allows you to further your position on the battlefield without the need to spend additional mana on casting creatures from your hand.

Instant Speed: While Vapor Snare itself is not cast at instant speed, it can be particularly effective when played tactically alongside instant-speed spells in your arsenal. It’s important to consider how you can synchronize Vapor Snare with your instants, using it as a preemptive measure or in response to opponents’ actions, maximizing its strategic advantage within your turn sequence.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vapor Snare demands the sacrifice of a permanent if its controller misses a land drop. This can be quite the drawback in games where maintaining board presence is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement for blue mana, Vapor Snare may not fit in all decks, especially those that aren’t centered around blue’s typical control and manipulation themes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The five mana needed to cast Vapor Snare, including one that is specifically blue, could be costly compared to other control options. Players must consider if the investment matches their strategic needs.

Reasons to Include Vapor Snare in Your Collection

Versatility: Vapor Snare provides a flexible solution to deal with opposing threats. As a blue enchantment, it fits well within control decks or any build seeking to leverage the power of a key creature across the battlefield.

Combo Potential: When used strategically, this card can be a linchpin in a combo, setting up a board state that allows for a swing in momentum. It can also synergize with sacrifice mechanics, providing multiple layers of utility and interaction in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to temporarily remove a vital piece from your opponent’s board, Vapor Snare holds its ground in a meta dominated by creature-heavy decks. It’s an efficient way to turn the tide by using your opponent’s resources against them.

How to beat

Vapor Snare is a unique card in MTG that enables a player to gain control of an opponent’s creature as long as the enchanted island’s condition is met. Dealing with this can be tricky, but not impossible. Having a strategy to tackle enchantments directly is a surefire way to overcome the limitation imposed by Vapor Snare. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are straightforward answers as they can destroy the enchantment, thereby returning the creature to its rightful owner.

Another approach is to limit the enchantment’s effectiveness by reducing the number of islands in play. This can be achieved through land destruction or conversion effects, disrupting the opponent’s mana base and their ability to meet Vapor Snare’s condition. Additionally, keeping a count on your own creature’s summons to avoid overcommitting valuable assets when a Vapor Snare could be imminent is a wise tactic. Lastly, employing hexproof or shroud abilities to shield your creatures can prevent them from being targeted by such control-changing spells in the first place.

By incorporating these countermeasures into your deck and gameplay, the impact of Vapor Snare can be significantly mitigated, preserving your board position and maintaining control over your creatures.

Cards like Vapor Snare

Vapor Snare stands out in the realm of control magic within Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels to other cards that temporarily or permanently seize control of opponents’ creatures. Cards like Control Magic or Mind Control share the same basic function of commandeering creatures but differ in the nuances of their use. Vapor Snare offers the additional utility of being able to untap the creature it ensnares, giving it an edge in terms of surprise and immediate board impact.

Comparatively, Sower of Temptation offers a similar effect but with a body on the board. While it takes control of a creature upon entering the battlefield, its higher cost and susceptibility to removal make it a riskier option. On the flip side, Confiscate allows you to take control of any permanent, not just creatures, providing a broader range of targets, but at a higher mana cost.

Ultimately, Vapor Snare’s ability to maintain a grip on an opponent’s threat every turn, at the cost of blue mana, positions it as a strategic choice for decks focused on control and tempo. It shines in scenarios where keeping up defenses while disrupting opponents is crucial. The quality of locking down a key creature every turn, if mana is available, sets Vapor Snare apart in the vast collection of control spells in Magic: The Gathering.

Control Magic - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Vapor Snare by color, type and mana cost

Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions

Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions

Sunken Hope - Planechase Anthology (PCA)

Reflections of Littjara - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)

Wrath of Marit Lage - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Followed Footsteps - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Gravitational Shift - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vapor Snare MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake, 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 Vapor Snare and other MTG cards: