Tangle Asp MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Snake
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	94
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daren Bader

Key Takeaways

Tangle Asp can dictate combat outcomes, potentially leading to a more favorable board state for you.
Despite its specific mana requirements, its low cost can help maintain resource efficiency in green decks.
Combining Tangle Asp with other cards can amplify its battlefield control capabilities significantly.

Text of card

Whenever Tangle Asp blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, destroy that creature at end of combat.

"I have no fangs, yet I constantly bite. I have no scales, yet I slither through you. What am I?" —Riddle of the viper's venom

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tangle Asp’s ability to potentially remove an opponent’s creature during combat can help you maintain a more advantageous board state. This can equate to card advantage as your opponent may be forced to commit additional resources to deal with Tangle Asp.

Resource Acceleration: While Tangle Asp itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its low casting cost allows you to deploy other spells more efficiently. This leaves mana available for further development of your board, effectively accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The power of Tangle Asp emerges in its combat phase utility. Although the card itself isn’t an instant, its deathtouch ability serves a similar strategic purpose, letting you dictate the course of battles much like an instant would. This allows you to leverage it as a deterrent against attackers, or use it offensively as a surprise blocker to eliminate a key threat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tangle Asp doesn’t force you to discard cards, but it’s important to note that managing hand resources is crucial in gameplay. Any card that doesn’t inherently provide card advantage or maintain hand size could be seen as a potential drawback in resource-driven formats.

Specific Mana Cost: Tangle Asp requires green mana to be cast. This specificity restricts the card primarily to green or green-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a player’s deck construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana may seem low, but for a creature with just a 1/1 stat line, players might expect more impact or additional abilities. When considering its inclusion in a deck, one must weigh its ability against other two-mana creatures that could provide a larger presence on the board.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tangle Asp can be a strategic addition to decks that focus on combat control. Its ability to destroy any creature it blocks or that blocks it means it can handle a wide range of threats, making it a utility player in various situations.

Combo Potential: Pairing Tangle Asp with equipment or enchantments that increase its survivability turns it into a reusable deterrent. This combination can repeatedly clear the battlefield of your opponent’s key creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with formidable creatures and aggressive strategies, Tangle Asp serves as an affordable method to halt larger threats. Its mere presence can alter the way opponents approach combat, giving you an upper hand in managing the pace of the game.

How to beat

Confronting Tangle Asp on the battlefield can be tricky due to its deathtouch ability, allowing it to destroy any creature it touches, regardless of the creature’s power. This makes Tangle Asp a formidable blocker and a threat to high-value creatures. However, there are strategies to tackle this slippery serpent.

To outmaneuver Tangle Asp, consider using removal spells that don’t require combat, such as Murder or Path to Exile, to dispatch the Asp without risking your creatures. Alternatively, employing flying creatures can circumvent the Asp altogether, as it lacks reach. Control decks can also gain the upper hand by countering Tangle Asp upon casting or using enchantments to nullify its abilities.

Moreover, using creatures with indestructible or utilizing protection from green spells can turn the tables, leaving Tangle Asp unable to threaten your more valuable creatures. By choosing the right approach, you can minimize the Tangle Asp’s impact and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Tangle Asp

Tangle Asp from the Magic: The Gathering universe might remind players of the trusty Deadly Recluse, both of which bring more than just standard combat damage to the battlefield. Tangle Asp, a green creature from the Fifth Dawn set, offers a straightforward yet powerful ability to destroy any creature it blocks or becomes blocked by. This effect mimics a form of deathtouch, a key trait it shares with Deadly Recluse. However, Deadly Recluse also carries reach, giving it an edge against flying threats.

Somewhat akin to Tangle Asp in its deathtouch-like capability is Ambush Viper. This snake comes with flash, allowing it to surprise opponents during combat and potentially turn the tide of battle by picking off key attackers or blockers with its instant-speed deployment. Unlike Tangle Asp, Ambush Viper can also be a proactive threat, initiating combat on your terms.

Through a direct comparison, Tangle Asp may seem to sit quietly amongst its counterparts, yet its simplicity and effectiveness in creature control should not be overlooked. It represents a solid choice, especially when the deck’s strategy leans towards passive defense and control over versatile or reactive creature abilities.

Cards similar to Tangle Asp by color, type and mana cost

Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions

Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions

Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions

Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions

Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions

Oran-Rief Survivalist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tangle Asp MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn, 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 Tangle Asp and other MTG cards: