Abeyance MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Abeyance offers card advantage and can disrupt opponents’ strategies by preventing spellcasting and ability usage.
  2. It’s limited by a specific mana cost and does not offer a permanent solution to threats.
  3. Valuable for control decks, Abeyance’s utility and added card draw outweigh similar disruption spells.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target player can't cast instant or sorcery spells, and that player can't activate abilities that aren't mana abilities. Draw a card.

"I'm too modest a wizard to reveal the full extent of my abilities." —Ertai, wizard adept


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Abeyance is a boon for controlling the flow of information and resources in a match. With its ability, you can silence your opponent’s next move while you draw a card, seamlessly adding to your hand and options for your next turn.

Resource Acceleration: Playing Abeyance during your opponent’s upkeep can stall their plans, preserving your resources. This tactical pause can effectively speed up your game plan, as it may leave them unable to utilize their mana and casting abilities, setting you up for a pivotal next turn.

Instant Speed: The value of Abeyance’s instant speed cannot be overstated. It provides you with the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at a critical moment. Casting it during their end step or in response to an attempted combo can turn the tides in your favor, maintaining the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Abeyance temporarily stops the opponent from casting spells or activating abilities, it doesn’t remove the issue permanently. This can put you at a disadvantage later, especially if you’re unable to capitalize on the temporary silence.

Specific Mana Cost: Abeyance requires a specific combination of mana to cast—both white and colorless. This requirement confines it largely to white-based or multicolor decks, potentially excluding it from mono-colored or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Abeyance provides a unique effect, its casting cost might seem steep when compared to other disruptive options available. Strategies focused on tempo may find more efficient ways to hinder opponents, questioning the card’s value in fast-paced matchups.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Abeyance offers a unique advantage by temporarily halting your opponent’s actions, allowing it to fit seamlessly into control decks or those looking for a strategic pause in an opponent’s play.

Combo Potential: This card shines in situations where you can capitalize on your opponent being unable to cast spells or activate abilities, setting up your own plays without interruption.

Meta-Relevance: Abeyance proves its worth in metas dominated by instant-speed tricks and complex stack battles. By preventing your opponent from casting spells or activating abilities, even just for a turn, you can pivot the game in your favor, disrupting their plans and strategies.


How to Beat Abeyance

In the strategic landscape of Magic: The Gathering, facing Abeyance can be a true test of one’s tactical adeptness. This versatile card possesses the ability to momentarily halt an opponent’s spells and abilities, making it a notable hurdle. To effectively navigate this hurdle, players must adopt a thoughtful approach, focusing on timing and resource management. Key to overcoming Abeyance is to engage in spellcasting when your adversary’s mana is tapped out, thereby reducing the opportunity for them to cast Abeyance.

Another crucial strategy is to maintain a diversity of instant-speed spells in your gaming arsenal. This ensures that you have the capacity to act during your own turn, bypassing the restrictions Abeyance imposes during the opponent’s next turn. Moreover, deploying threats that require immediate answers or utilizing abilities ingrained within the permanents on the battlefield can prove to be highly effective. These measures force opponents to prioritize their responses, potentially diverting their attention and resources away from casting Abeyance. By anticipating their play and strategically mitigating its impact, you can maintain an advantage even in the presence of this potent card.


Cards like Abeyance

Abeyance stands out among the versatile interruption spells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarity to cards like Silence, which also serves to prevent opponents from casting spells. However, Abeyance takes it a step further by restricting the activation of abilities as well and sweetens the deal by allowing its caster to draw a card. Silence, while comprehensive in stopping spell casting, does not offer the additional card draw.

Examining another peer, Orim’s Chant, we see that this spell can prevent both spell casting and attacking when its kicker cost is paid. This makes it slightly more versatile in certain situations than Abeyance, which doesn’t affect the combat phase. Nevertheless, Orim’s Chant doesn’t come with a card draw, making Abeyance more appealing for players looking to maintain card advantage.

When considering the role of such disruption spells, Abeyance not only inhibits opponent strategies but also keeps the hand replenished, making it a powerful choice for players who prioritize control and tempo in their Magic: The Gathering matches.

Silence - MTG Card versions
Orim's Chant - MTG Card versions
Silence - Magic 2010 (M10)
Orim's Chant - Planeshift (PLS)

Cards similar to Abeyance by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Razor Barrier - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Sacred Boon - Ice Age (ICE)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Razor Barrier - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Bathe in Light - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Abeyance MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Abeyance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Abeyance Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 1998-08-12. Illustrated by Thomas Gianni.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-06-09WeatherlightWTH 11997normalblackThomas Gianni
21997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 jk11997normalgoldThomas Gianni
31998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 bh1sb1997normalgoldThomas Gianni

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Abeyance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 Abeyance does not affect abilities which are not activated, such as static abilities and triggered abilities. It also doesn't stop the declaration of attackers or blockers.
2004-10-04 Abeyance never prevents mana abilities from being activated.
2004-10-04 Abeyance prohibits activated abilities of cards which are not on the battlefield.
2008-08-01 This can't be used as a counterspell. It will have no effect on spells which were on the stack when it was cast, nor on those cast in response to it.

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