Chain of Silence MTG Card


Chain of Silence - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Number12
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRandy Gallegos

Key Takeaways

  1. Chain of Silence offers card advantage by disrupting opponents without losing hand economy.
  2. Instant speed casting of Chain of Silence allows for flexible, strategic game control.
  3. Its utility might be restricted due to specific white mana costs and discard requirements.

Text of card

Prevent all damage target creature would deal this turn. That creature'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: With Chain of Silence, you can disrupt your opponent’s board presence, effectively turning their development into an advantage for yourself without sacrificing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or tokens, Chain of Silence can indirectly accelerate your resources by saving mana for more impactful turns or preserving your creatures from being blocked or removed.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Chain of Silence at instant speed gives players the flexibility to strategize and respond to an opponent’s actions on their turn, which can be crucial in maintaining control of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Chain of Silence often entails a discard from your hand, which might deplete valuable cards from your resources and potentially disrupt your strategic plans.

Specific Mana Cost: Chain of Silence’s mana cost is exclusively white, necessitating a dedicated color commitment that could potentially constrict deck-building flexibility and impair its integration into more colorful strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in with a mana value that may be perceived as onerous for the silence effect it procures, players may find themselves deliberating over its viability when other alternatives possibly provide more impactful board presence or disruption at a similar, if not lesser, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Chain of Silence in Your Collection

Versatility: Chain of Silence can seamlessly adapt to various deck types, aiding control decks with its silencing capabilities or supporting aggressive strategies by removing blockers for a turn.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that exploit tapping and untapping mechanics, or where the silence effect can be used strategically to prevent opponents from casting spells on key turns.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where instant-speed spells or creature abilities are prevalent, the ability to preemptively stop an opponent’s actions with Chain of Silence gives it significant relevance in the current competitive landscape.


How to beat

Chain of Silence might initially appear as a simple deterrent in Magic: The Gathering – a tool to silence an opponent’s creature and prevent them from casting spells for a turn. At first glance, this might seem manageable; however, its ability to disrupt your strategy must not be underestimated. To counteract this interruptive card, smart deck building and strategic play are key. Inclusion of instant-speed removal or abilities that can be activated anytime can soften the impact of Chain of Silence, ensuring that your turn is not entirely lost. Moreover, cards that grant hexproof or use counters to negate spells can be pivotal to protect your creatures from being targeted by such controlling tactics.

Another effective strategy is to bait out Chain of Silence. Playing less pivotal creatures first or those with enter-the-battlefield effects can force your opponent to make difficult decisions about when to utilize their card. Alternatively, waiting for a turn where you don’t plan to cast spells can render Chain of Silence less effective. By staying one step ahead and understanding when to commit your crucial spells and creatures to the board, you can avoid falling into the silent trap that this card lays out.


Cards like Chain of Silence

Chain of Silence is a card that deserves attention when assessing interruption tactics in Magic: The Gathering. It finds kinship with cards like Silence, which also prevent players from casting spells. While Silence stops opponents from casting spells for a brief period, Chain of Silence takes this a step further by targeting a single creature and prohibiting its controller from casting spells if that creature tries to attack.

Circling around to comparisons, we can look at Frost Breath. Although not identical in effect, Frost Breath also influences combat by freezing opponents’ creatures and stopping them from untapping during the next untap step. Chain of Silence shines in its ability to disrupt strategic attacks or spell casting plans, albeit targeting a single creature compared to the broader impact of Frost Breath. Yet another analog would be Ethersworn Canonist, which limits the number of nonartifact spells that can be played, indirectly controlling the game’s tempo much like Chain of Silence does in more targeted scenarios.

To sum up, Chain of Silence holds its own among cards designed to disrupt and control the battlefield. Its unique effect can be a game-changer in the right circumstances, distinguishing itself amongst both broad and pinpointed tactical MTG cards.

Silence - MTG Card versions
Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Ethersworn Canonist - MTG Card versions
Silence - Magic 2010 (M10)
Frost Breath - Magic 2012 (M12)
Ethersworn Canonist - Shards of Alara (ALA)

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

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - 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
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
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 - 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)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chain of Silence MTG card by a specific set like 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 Silence and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chain of Silence has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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