Obscuring Haze MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Its fog effect at instant speed can save creatures, securing a pivotal advantage without depleting your hand.
  2. Though resource acceleration isn’t direct, Obscuring Haze preserves tempo, aiding rapid threat deployment.
  3. Mana cost and card discard are significant considerations when integrating Obscuring Haze into a multi-colored deck.

Text of card

If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures your opponents control.

Whether hunter or hunted, Kathril chooses when it is seen.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Obscuring Haze is a sleeper hit when it comes to sneaking through card advantage in a combat-focused deck. While it doesn’t draw cards outright, preventing all damage that would be dealt by creatures your opponents control can often equate to saving crucial creatures on the board. This utility can prevent the need to recast those creatures, indirectly serving as a way to conserve the cards in your hand for other strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: Though it doesn’t offer direct resource acceleration like generating mana or treasure, Obscuring Haze can contribute to your tempo by negating the need for defensive spells or abilities. This preservation of resources keeps you ahead in the game, enabling quicker deployment of threats and maintaining pressure on your opponents.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Obscuring Haze is significantly amplified by its instant speed. Its ability to be cast whenever you could cast an instant means you have the flexibility to decide during your opponent’s turn whether it’s the right time to nullify their combat damage, keeping them guessing and preventing potential combat tricks or removal spells from disrupting your board presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Obscuring Haze offers valuable fog effects, some might miss that it comes with a discard requirement. This can be a steep price to pay in game situations where maintaining a full hand is crucial to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Obscuring Haze commands a purely green mana cost, which may restrict its integration into multi-colored decks. Players need to be aware of their mana base to ensure they can use it when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at three, Obscuring Haze is comparatively expensive for a one-time use fog effect. In a fast-paced game, players could find themselves set back, lacking the mana to follow up with impactful plays.


Reasons to Include Obscuring Haze in Your Collection

Versatility: Obscuring Haze serves as a surprise element in Commander decks that can run it. This card can turn the tide by nullifying damage from non-flying creatures, which is quite common in big multiplayer battles.

Combo Potential: It works well with cards that benefit from combat phases going awry for opponents, or ones that reward you for surviving attacks that would otherwise be devastating.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where ground forces dominate and combat interactions are key to victory, Obscuring Haze can provide the edge needed to outlast opponents and control the pace of the game.


How to beat

Obscuring Haze is one of those cards in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tides of combat in an instant. Part of the cycle of free “if you control a commander” spells, this instant can be cast for zero mana if you meet its condition, offering an unexpected fog effect that can nullify combat damage for a turn. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re on the aggressive side, thinking the way to your opponent’s life points is clear.

To reliably overcome Obscuring Haze, the key lies in being able to pinpoint the right moment to bait it out or work around it. Tactics such as using spells that provide indestructible status or protection to your creatures can mitigate its impact. Alternatively, focusing on non-combat strategies to diminish your opponent’s life total can also negate the card’s relevance. Building up a diverse game plan that includes direct damage spells or abilities that can affect life totals outside of combat can help to circumvent the surprise obstructive nature of Obscuring Haze.

Moreover, employing counterspells or hand disruption methods can ensure Obscuring Haze never settles the fog on your parade. By adding these strategies to your deck, you elevate your gameplay to efficiently handle unexpected defenses and maintain the momentum in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the layers of MTG gameplay with Obscuring Haze reveals its potential not just as a protective spell but as a strategic asset. As we’ve dissected its pros and cons, and delved into its unique position amongst fog effects, the importance of incorporating such versatile cards into your collection is clear. Mastering its timing and making the most of its cost-effective nature could be pivotal in your next Commander confrontation. Looking to enhance your green-commander deck or just keen on tricks that turn the tide of battle? Dive deeper with us and discover the art of using Obscuring Haze to outmaneuver opponents and safeguard your path to victory.


Cards like Obscuring Haze

Obscuring Haze presents a unique fog effect in the realm of green spells within the game. Like other classic fog effects, such as the namesake Fog itself, Obscuring Haze prevents combat damage that would be dealt this turn. Yet, it stands alone with its conditional zero mana cost, if you control a commander. This can be a game-changer in Commander format games, where flexibility and surprise elements significantly shift the dynamics of play.

Comparing it to other fog-like cards, we can look at Darkness, a black spell which similarly fends off combat damage, but lacks the potential for a mana-free cast. Moment’s Peace, another key card in this category, not only stops damage for a turn but with flashback, it offers a second use; however, it does carry a mana cost for both instances. Haze of Pollen is also worth mentioning, with its cycling ability providing more versatility, albeit with an attached mana cost regardless of game state.

In the spectrum of fog effects, Obscuring Haze shines with its situational cost reduction, allowing green-commander players to maintain mana availability while potentially safeguarding themselves from a lethal strike or undermining an opponent’s planned combat phase.

Fog - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Moment's Peace - MTG Card versions
Haze of Pollen - MTG Card versions
Fog - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Moment's Peace - MTG Card versions
Haze of Pollen - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obscuring Haze MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020 and Commander Masters, 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 Obscuring Haze and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Obscuring Haze Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-17 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-17Commander 2020C20 612015NormalBlackCampbell White
22023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5662015NormalBlackCampbell White
32023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 692015Art seriesBorderless
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 7012015NormalBorderlessDaren Bader
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3082015NormalBlackCampbell White

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Obscuring Haze has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 It doesn’t matter whose commander you control. Any one will do. If you have two commanders, you just need to control one of them.
2020-04-17 Once you begin casting this spell, players can’t take any other actions until you’re done casting it. Notably, they can’t try to remove the commander you control to make you pay its cost.

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