Maze of Ith MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
RarityUncommon
TypeLand

Key Takeaways

  1. Maze of Ith provides key tactical benefits by untapping creatures without mana cost at instant speed.
  2. Flexibility in combat and synergistic combo possibilities make it a strong addition to any collection.
  3. Despite non-mana production, its combat control keeps it relevant in varied MTG formats.

Text of card

oc T: Target attacking creature becomes untapped. This creature neither deals nor receives damage as a result of combat.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Maze of Ith doesn’t strictly draw you cards but it provides an undeniable tactical advantage. By untapping your attacking creature, it effectively negates the need for a defensive card, maintaining your hand while disrupting the opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana, Maze of Ith fits into plays that involve resource acceleration by freeing up your mana. You can commit to aggressive mana plays knowing that Maze of Ith will protect your assets on the field with no mana cost.

Instant Speed: Maze of Ith’s ability functions at instant speed, meaning you can untap targeted creatures at any point during combat. This flexibility allows you to adapt on the fly to the changing battlefield, keeping your opponents guessing and making it a versatile tool in any match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Maze of Ith doesn’t directly have a discard requirement, its absence of mana generation may force players to opt for resources they might otherwise need to discard. This can put a strain on a player’s hand, especially in decks that rely on card quantity.

Specific Mana Cost: Though this landmark card does not demand specific mana colors to activate its ability, its placement in a land slot can affect the color balance of your mana base. This consideration becomes critical in multi-colored decks where each land’s potential for color generation is vital.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Maze of Ith does not have a mana cost but takes up a valuable land spot on the battlefield. In decks where mana development is key, using a land slot for Maze of Ith can slow down your ability to cast spells with heavy color requirements or simply reduce the speed of play.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Maze of Ith stands out for its ability to adapt to various in-game situations. Whether you’re up against aggressive creature strategies or looking to protect your valuable creatures, this card provides utility without occupying a spell slot in your deck.

Combo Potential: This card offers synergistic opportunities with abilities that trigger upon becoming untapped or that require tapping creatures without attacking. It is an enabler in multiple combo setups that exploit tapping and untapping mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that often features creature-centric decks, Maze of Ith holds its ground by effectively rendering an opponent’s attacker harmless for a turn. Its enduring presence in several formats keeps it as a relevant and powerful tool for control and combo decks alike.


How to Beat

Mastering the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering involves not only using your cards effectively but also countering your opponent’s strategies. The Maze of Ith is a land card that can be a real thorn in a player’s side, removing creatures from combat and negating potential damage without costing any mana.

To successfully navigate around the Maze of Ith, consider using land destruction spells or abilities to remove it from the battlefield. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can target and eliminate the Maze, mitigating its defensive utility. Another approach is to employ effects that limit the activation of abilities or deny untapping, rendering the Maze inert. Pithing Needle, for instance, can prohibit the activation of the Maze’s ability by naming it specifically.

In summary, while Maze of Ith can be a strong defensive card, its power is not absolute. Using targeted land destruction or ability-denying effects can effectively neutralize the Maze, ensuring that your creatures can continue their assault unhindered and maintain the momentum of your gameplay strategy.


Cards like Maze of Ith

Maze of Ith stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a land card with the unique ability to untap target attacking creature and prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by that creature. Its nearest counterpart is arguably Mystifying Maze, which similarly removes creatures from combat. However, Mystifying Maze’s effect comes with a four-mana activation cost, which can be a significant disadvantage compared to the free activation of Maze of Ith.

Another card that presents a similar control over combat is Kor Haven. While it shares the combat-damage prevention function, it adds a colored mana requirement and an activation cost, which can limit its application in certain decks. Ice Floe also offers control over creatures, but it only affects creatures without flying, making Maze of Ith more versatile and applicable to a wider range of situations.

In examining various options, Maze of Ith maintains a solid position as a non-mana-producing land card due to its cost-free activation and the strategic advantage it can provide by effectively neutralizing a threat each turn without additional resource expenditure.

Mystifying Maze - MTG Card versions
Kor Haven - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Mystifying Maze - Magic 2011 (M11)
Kor Haven - Nemesis (NEM)
Ice Floe - Ice Age (ICE)

Cards similar to Maze of Ith by color, type and mana cost

Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Zoetic Cavern - MTG Card versions
Grixis Panorama - MTG Card versions
Rupture Spire - MTG Card versions
Terramorphic Expanse - MTG Card versions
Tectonic Edge - MTG Card versions
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Wasteland - MTG Card versions
Eldrazi Temple - MTG Card versions
Homeward Path - MTG Card versions
Arid Mesa - MTG Card versions
Field of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Cathedral of Serra - Legends (LEG)
Mishra's Factory - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Griffin Canyon - Visions (VIS)
Ice Floe - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Ghost Town - Tempest (TMP)
Urza's Mine - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
City of Brass - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Bloodstained Mire - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Zoetic Cavern - Future Sight (FUT)
Grixis Panorama - Commander 2013 (C13)
Rupture Spire - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Terramorphic Expanse - Commander 2018 (C18)
Tectonic Edge - Zendikar Expeditions (EXP)
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx - Theros (THS)
Buried Ruin - Commander 2014 (C14)
Wasteland - Zendikar Rising Expeditions (ZNE)
Eldrazi Temple - Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi (DDP)
Homeward Path - Judge Gift Cards 2017 (J17)
Arid Mesa - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Field of Ruin - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Maze of Ith MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Magic Online Promos, 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 Maze of Ith and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Maze of Ith Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 7 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 1171993normalblackAnson Maddocks
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 361702003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32009-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2009G09 22003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42011-01-02Legacy ChampionshipOLGC 2020C2015normalblackMilivoj Ćeran
52011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 2461997normalblackAnson Maddocks
62012-08-31From the Vault: RealmsV12 102003normalblackYeong-Hao Han
72016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 2412015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 3222015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2502015normalblackYeong-Hao Han
102023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3981997normalblackYeong-Hao Han
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4562015normalborderlessMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Maze of Ith has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 Maze of Ith can target an untapped attacking creature. It will still prevent the combat damage it would deal and be dealt.
2022-12-08 Maze of Ith doesn’t have a mana ability. It doesn’t tap for colorless mana.
2022-12-08 The creature isn’t removed from combat; it just has its damage prevented. It’s still an attacking creature until the combat phase is complete.
2022-12-08 You can activate Maze of Ith’s ability targeting an attacking creature you control during the combat damage step or the end of combat step, even though it will already have dealt combat damage. This will untap the creature. The damage it dealt will be unaffected.

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