Chain of Vapor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Chain of Vapor’s instant speed lets players adapt and counter opponents’ moves mid-game.
  2. This card’s capability to bounce nonland permanents provides broad utility in diverse situations.
  3. Chain of Vapor is a staple due to its low cost and potential for multiple uses in a single turn.

Text of card

Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. Then that permanent's controller may sacrifice a land. If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chain of Vapor offers a unique interaction by potentially bouncing multiple nonland permanents when sequenced correctly. By sacrificing a land, a player can copy the spell, effectively turning a single card into various removal spells when conditions are right.

Resource Acceleration: Although it does not directly produce additional resources, Chain of Vapor can indirectly facilitate resource acceleration by clearing the way for your more potent creatures or spells to dominate the game. Removing blockers or problematic artifacts and enchantments can allow you to attack more efficiently or execute your strategy without disruption.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Chain of Vapor at instant speed allows players to react dynamically to threats or strategies presented by the opponent. Whether it’s disrupting a combo or saving a key piece from removal, the timing flexibility of this card makes it a potent tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Chain of Vapor, you don’t discard a card, but you may sacrifice a land as part of its copy mechanism, which might set you back on board presence and mana accessibility.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires blue mana, which means it’s primarily compatible with blue or multicolored decks, potentially restricting its application in mono-colored or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Chain of Vapor’s initial casting cost is low, generating multiple copies can be resource-intensive as each additional copy requires the sacrifice of a land, which can significantly impair your mana curve and overall tempo in the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chain of Vapor offers extensive flexibility across numerous deck archetypes due to its potential to bounce any nonland permanent. This card’s utility shines in nearly any situation—freeing your own permanents from immobilizing effects or removing opponents’ threats temporarily.

Combo Potential: Utilized adeptly, Chain of Vapor can become a pivotal part of intricate combos. It can instigate surprising plays by returning your own permanents to hand, thereby triggering enter-the-battlefield effects multiple times or clearing the way for a decisive strike.

Meta-Relevance: Given that Chain of Vapor can disrupt a wide range of strategies, its relevance in the meta is enduring. Its low casting cost and ability to target any nonland permanent make it a powerful tool in fast-paced games or against decks that quickly develop their board presence.


How to beat

Chain of Vapor is an intriguing and versatile instant in Magic: The Gathering, capable of returning a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. While at first glance it may seem like a simple nuisance, skilled players recognize its potential to derail strategies, particularly when it comes to tempo. However, Chain of Vapor isn’t unbeatable. One effective strategy for overcoming this card is to maintain a diversified board state, ensuring that the potential return of one permanent won’t completely disrupt your game plan.

Avoid overcommitting to the board. This can mitigate the impact of Chain of Vapor, especially since an opponent can sacrifice a land to copy the spell, potentially clearing multiple threats if you’ve extended too far. Another tactic is to prioritize permanents with enter-the-battlefield effects. Not only do these provide value upfront, but they can also offer an advantage if Chain of Vapor forces them back to your hand, allowing for a beneficial replay. Lastly, keep instant-speed interaction in hand to disrupt the chain mechanism or protect your most valuable assets on the board.

In managing these strategies, players can effectively neutralize the disruption that Chain of Vapor aims to create, thereby maintaining a strong presence on the battlefield and progressing towards victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Chain of Vapor’s strategic nuances highlight its role beyond a mere bounce spell in MTG. With its impressive capability to disrupt opponents or to ingeniously orchestrate your board, this card is a must-know for enthusiasts aiming to harness the depths of gameplay optimization. Whether it’s to finely-tune your deck or to scout for pivotal game-turning assets, understanding Chain of Vapor can be your stepping stone to becoming a more adept player. Dive into the detailed mechanics and master the art of utilizing this spell to ensure your strategy remains fluid and your opponents are kept on their toes. Embark on your journey to MTG mastery with us today.


Cards like Chain of Vapor

Chain of Vapor firmly establishes its utility within the pantheon of one-mana blue spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card is often juxtaposed with other bounce spells, such as Unsummon. While Unsummon permits the targeting of creatures only, Chain of Vapor offers a broader range, allowing any nonland permanent to be returned to its owner’s hand. This flexibility provides a wider application during gameplay.

Considering other spells, Cyclonic Rift stands out with its ability to clear an entire board when overloaded, significantly altering the state of the game. Chain of Vapor, however, doesn’t require a sizeable mana investment and can be crucial in interruptive plays or dismantling combos with precision. Another notable mention is Into the Roil. This card also returns permanents to hand and offers card draw when kicked. Though it doesn’t facilitate the copy mechanic Chain of Vapor does, allowing a potentially repeated effect at the cost of sacrificing lands.

When weighing Chain of Vapor against its counterparts, it’s clear that it offers a unique combination of low cost, versatility, and a potential chain reaction that savvy players can exploit. It’s these factors that solidify its place in decks that value strategic depth and reactive play in Magic: The Gathering.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Into the Roil - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Cyclonic Rift - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Into the Roil - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Chain of Vapor by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Jump - Magic 2010 (M10)
Sleight of Mind - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Twiddle - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Unsummon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Siren's Call - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Power Sink - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blue Elemental Blast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Spell Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Magical Hack - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Riptide - The Dark (DRK)
Winter's Chill - Ice Age (ICE)
Mind Bend - Tenth Edition (10E)
Denied! - Unglued (UGL)
Hydroblast - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Whispers of the Muse - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Ertai's Trickery - Planeshift (PLS)
Force Spike - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Opt - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Envelop - Judgment (JUD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chain of Vapor MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Onslaught, 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 Chain of Vapor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chain of Vapor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2016-11-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 625132015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22002-10-07OnslaughtONS 731997normalblackCarl Critchlow
32016-11-11Commander 2016C16 842015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chain of Vapor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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