Halt Order MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	34
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Izzy

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage by countering opponent spells, potentially altering the game’s pace.
Enables instant-speed interaction, enhancing defensive strategies and mana efficiency.
Demands precise mana base construction and card management, challenging deckbuilding skills.

Text of card

Counter target artifact spell. Draw a card.

An artificer's least favorite mind-missive may be "I regret to inform you that the funding for your project has been cut."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Halt Order provides a crucial edge in gameplay by allowing you to stop a key play from your opponent. This can effectively lead to a card advantage if used to counter a spell that would have otherwise resulted in a significant loss of your own cards or board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Through its effect of countering and potentially exiling an opposing spell, Halt Order can lead to resource acceleration by disrupting your opponent’s mana curve and strategy, leaving you at a tempo advantage to further develop your board or hold up mana for responses.

Instant Speed: The power of Halt Order is amplified by its instant speed, enabling you to interact on your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and unable to fully anticipate your counters. This allows for a dynamic defense and the opportunity to use your mana efficiently throughout the entire game cycle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Incorporating Halt Order into your hand comes with a significant trade-off. Every time you cast it, you’re obliged to discard another card. This can be especially cumbersome when your hand is already dwindling, essentially narrowing down your capacity to respond to future threats or maintain a firm grip on your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailoring your mana base to accommodate Halt Order’s unique cost can be tricky, as it specifies blue mana. This requisite could restrict the card’s integration, predominantly in decks that either run multiple colors or those that might not prioritize blue mana sources. Consequently, Halt Order may not align with every strategic archetype.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at three mana, including two that must be blue, Halt Order is not the most mana-efficient interruption tool at your disposal. Players often seek out cheaper alternatives that provide similar or even more impactful disruption, enabling them to allocate resources more effectively elsewhere in their game strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Halt Order can be a valuable addition to various deck styles, excelling in those that require reactive measures to disrupt opponents’ plays. Its ability to counter artifact spells caters to a range of formats where artifacts are prevalent.

Combo Potential: This card shines in scenarios where you can capitalize on its secondary effect, drawing a card when it counters a target. This function seamlessly integrates with strategies that thrive on card advantage and disruption-based tactics.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of competitive play, including cards that answer specific strategies can be crucial. Halt Order maintains its place in a meta where artifact-centered decks or combos dominate, providing a tactical edge by impeding your opponent’s plans while keeping your hand stocked.

How to beat

Halt Order is a nuanced disruption tool in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a way to interrupt their opponent’s strategies by countering artifacts or enchantments. At first glance, its capacity to stall the development of permanents might seem daunting. To effectively navigate around Halt Order, it’s essential to gauge the timing of your plays. Playing your less critical artifacts or enchantments first can bait out the Halt Order, preserving your more impactful permanents.

Another angle is to employ spells that can’t be countered or use abilities to protect your key cards from being targeted. Instant-speed interaction can be vital here, allowing you to wait until your opponent is tapped out or lacks the mana to cast Halt Order. It’s also wise to consider the inclusion of cards that offer redundancy for your important artifacts and enchantments, ensuring that your strategy doesn’t hinge on a single card that could be countered.

In essence, overcoming Halt Order demands a blend of strategic baiting, protection mechanisms, and redundancy in deck construction. Keeping these elements in mind can help maintain the momentum of your game plan even when faced with potent control spells like Halt Order.

Cards like Halt Order

Halt Order stands out in MTG as a potent tool against artifacts, disrupting opponents by returning target artifacts to the owner’s hand. Its parallels can be drawn with other artifact interaction spells like Disperse and Crush. Disperse is versatile, allowing you to target any nonland permanent, not just artifacts, which provides broader utility in various game scenarios. Yet, it lacks the card draw component that Halt Order offers, making Halt Order favorable in decks focused on card advantage.

Crush is another comparable card; it costs less but can only destroy an artifact with mana cost 2 or less. While Halt Order impacts a wider range of artifacts and draws a card, its higher mana cost might be a decisive factor in fast-paced matches. Steel Sabotage serves a comparable function but with the added flexibility of countering an artifact spell or bouncing an existing artifact, making it a versatile choice for certain blue artifact-control strategies.

Each of these cards brings something unique to the table, and the best choice often depends on the specific deck and playstyle. Nonetheless, Halt Order’s combination of tempo disruption and card draw is a powerful blend that can be a valuable asset in matches dominated by artifact strategies.

Cards similar to Halt Order by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Halt Order MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Halt Order and other MTG cards: