Crystallization MTG Card


Crystallization - Alara Reborn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set nameAlara Reborn
Set codeARB
Number144
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

  1. Crystallization offers card advantage and can disrupt the opponent’s pace at instant speed.
  2. The requirement to discard and specific mana cost may limit its versatility in some decks.
  3. Despite its cons, the potential to control multi-colored creatures justifies its inclusion.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block. When enchanted creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, remove that creature from the game.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: This enchantment provides a reliable method to slow down opposing threats while setting you up to draw extra cards when the crystallized creature dies.

Resource Acceleration: Crystallization can act as a subtle form of resource acceleration. By removing a potential blocker or attacker, it indirectly accelerates your board state while potentially stymieing your opponent’s development.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed offers significant flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s plays and keep them guessing about your potential moves.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the first hurdles when playing Crystallization is the requirement to discard a card. This can be particularly troublesome during the mid to late game, where every card in hand is a valued resource. For a player with an already stretched-thin hand, the additional discard cost can hinder the deck’s momentum and potentially stall critical plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The Crystallization card requires a precise mana investment to cast. Decks that are not aligned with the card’s mana symbols may find it challenging to integrate without compromising the mana base. For a player running a multi-colored deck, the specific mana cost can make Crystallization a less flexible option compared to cards with generic mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the current meta and the plethora of options available, Crystallization has a mana cost that some might deem lofty for the effects it delivers. Players often weigh the benefits of such a card against others that could offer similar functionality at a more economical mana value. As such, Crystallization might not make the cut in highly competitive settings where efficiency and cost-effectiveness are paramount.


Reasons to Include Crystallization in Your Collection

Versatility: Crystallization not only serves as an efficient removal option for multicolored environments, but it can also target any attacker that threatens your stability on the battlefield, fitting seamlessly into a variety of deck styles from control to tempo.

Combo Potential: As an enchantment, Crystallization can synergize with strategies that capitalize on enchantment interactions or benefit from having permanents that can be sacrificed or returned to hand for repeated use.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving metagame, a card like Crystallization could prove to be a silver bullet against multi-colored creature-based strategies that are prevalent, ensuring your deck adapts and stays competitive.


How to Beat

Crystallization is a unique spell that offers MTG players a tactical advantage in limiting opponents’ actions by transforming a threatening creature into a harmless gem. When up against this spell, smart counterplay is crucial. The key to overcoming Crystallization lies in being able to respond quickly with enchantment removal options. Spells like Naturalize or Disenchant can easily dispatch the gemstone bind, restoring your creature’s capabilities and swinging momentum back into your favor.

Another effective strategy involves utilizing hexproof or shroud to shield your creatures from becoming targets in the first place. Cards that grant these abilities, like Swiftfoot Boots or Asceticism, can be game-changers when Crystallization is a known threat on the board. It’s also beneficial to keep up mana for counterspells or to play creatures with abilities that trigger upon being targeted; this turns the tables and potentially grants you benefits when targeted by such removal spells.

With proper preparation and a thorough understanding of your deck’s strengths, Crystallization becomes less of an endgame and more of a minor obstacle. It’s a reminder that in Magic the Gathering, adaptability and foresight can turn a disadvantage into an opportunity for victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Crystallization is a nuanced card that offers a strategic edge for those adept at navigating MTG’s multifaceted battles. With its ability to neutralize threats and its potential in multicolored environments, it deserves consideration for inclusion in your deck arsenal. Keep in mind, its effectiveness is highly contextual, so understanding your play style and the metagame is key. If you’re intrigued by the possibilities this card presents and want to delve deeper into strategies that can turn the tide in your favor, be sure to connect with us. Dive into our extensive resources and learn how to optimize your deck with Crystallization and other impactful cards.


Cards like Crystallization

Crystallization stands as an intriguing option within the suite of removal spells available in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards like Oblivion Ring, which also exiles a target nonland permanent until the enchantment leaves the battlefield. Crystallization narrows its focus by only targeting multicolored creatures, but it has an advantage with a lower mana cost. Unlike Oblivion Ring, Crystallization converts the removal into a creature inability by attaching an aura, requiring the affected creature’s controller to act to regain their creature.

Looking at Condemn, we observe a different yet effective removal strategy. Though Condemn doesn’t exile, it effectively removes threats by putting the attacking creature on the bottom of its owner’s library. It costs less than Crystallization but is restrictive in that it applies only to attacking creatures. Journey to Nowhere is another comparable card, also exiling any creature for a similarly low cost but missing the colored creature condition that Crystallization has.

When evaluating the efficiencies and constraints of these spells, Crystallization presents itself as a specialized yet cost-effective tool in a player’s arsenal, particularly adept at dealing with the versatility of multicolored creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Condemn - MTG Card versions
Journey to Nowhere - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Condemn - MTG Card versions
Journey to Nowhere - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crystallization MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Crystallization and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crystallization has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-05-01 When the enchanted creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, Crystallization’s last ability will trigger. When that ability resolves, that creature will be exiled, even if Crystallization has left the battlefield or is enchanting a different creature by that time. If Crystallization is still enchanting the same creature, Crystallization will then be put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action.

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