Grip of the Roil MTG Card

Grip of the Roil - Oath of the Gatewatch

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Surge
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Number	56
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Volkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

Thrives in blue decks, offering both a tactical stall and immediate card draw in one cast.
Instant speed play allows flexibility and surprises during crucial combat phases.
Manages board tempo against aggressive strategies while replenishing hand resources.

Text of card

Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.) Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step. Draw a card.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grip of the Roil shines by offering the dual benefit of neutralizing an opponent’s threat while simultaneously providing card draw. This pairing is key for staying ahead in the ongoing contest of resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in the typical sense, the card helps maintain tempo, keeping you on par or ahead of your opponent. By stalling their advances and drawing a card, you effectively speed up your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The real strength of Grip of the Roil lies in its instant speed, allowing for reactive play during an opponent’s turn. This keeps them guessing and permits strategic deployment, whether that’s during their end step or in response to combat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Grip of the Roil does not require a discard upon casting. However, it’s important to consider its surge ability, which can only be activated if you or your teammates have cast another spell this turn, potentially necessitating an additional card from your hand to be used prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: Grip of the Roil has a specific mana requirement of two blue and one generic, which may not be ideal for decks that aren’t heavily invested in blue mana or those that prefer a more flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, and considering its surge cost which reduces it by one generic mana, Grip of the Roil’s ability to tap a creature and draw a card might still be seen as a high mana investment. Players might look for lower-cost alternatives that offer similar control effects or card draw potential.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grip of the Roil is a flexible card, smoothly slotting into any deck that prioritizes instant-speed interaction. Its ability to tap a creature and draw a card ensures that it serves a dual purpose of both disruption and card advantage, making it a valuable tool in various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card’s synergy with Surge mechanics and its natural fit in spell-heavy decks mean it can play a key role in enabling combos or supporting strategies that revolve around casting multiple spells in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame filled with aggressive creature-based strategies, Grip of the Roil stands out by offering a tempo swing. Being able to thwart an attacker while refilling your hand helps maintain parity on the board and can be crucial in turning the tides of a game.

How to beat

Grip of the Roil is a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering that can disrupt opponent strategies. This card’s power lies in its ability to tap a creature and draw a card, especially when cast during the surge cost, also allowing a scry 2 effect. This unexpected tempo loss can pose challenges, but there are ways to circumvent its impact.

Counterplay against Grip of the Roil involves strategic deck building and understanding the timing of your plays. Since it is an instant, players should be cautious about extending too many creatures onto the battlefield without protection. Utilizing cards with hexproof or shroud can prevent Grip of the Roil from targeting your key creatures, thus maintaining your board state. Additionally, having instant-speed creature removal or counterspells as a response can negate the spell’s effect, keeping your creatures free to attack or block as needed.

Ultimately, while Grip of the Roil is capable of disrupting your rhythm, careful play and incorporation of protective measures can protect against it. Understanding your opponent’s deck and managing resources efficiently sets you on a favorable path to outmaneuvering this control spell and maintaining momentum on the battlefield.

Cards like Grip of the Roil

Grip of the Roil is a standout card when it comes to utility and control in MTG. It’s similar to other spells like Frost Breath and Unsummon, which also temporarily disable your opponent’s creatures. Frost Breath, though, can freeze two creatures but doesn’t offer the same card draw feature. Grip of the Roil offers that extra incentive by allowing the player to draw a card, making it a more versatile option.

Comparably, Into the Roil is another familiar spell, closely related to Grip of the Roil with its Kicker cost and ability to return a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. However, it does not tap the creature or draw a card unless the Kicker cost is paid. This presents Into the Roil as a less restrictive choice for when you need immediate board impact without the card draw.

Although there are a plethora of options in the realm of blue control spells, Grip of the Roil’s unique blend of creature disruption and card advantage deserves acknowledgment as a solid choice in decks focusing on tempo and control. Its synthesis of offensive and defensive capabilities puts it in a favorable spot among conditional creature control spells.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grip of the Roil MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Grip of the Roil and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grip of the Roil has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-01-22	Casting a spell for its surge cost doesn’t change its mana cost or its converted mana cost.
2016-01-22	For some cards, surge represents only an alternative cost, a discount that applies if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn. Other cards, like Reckless Bushwhacker, have additional abilities or effects if you paid the surge cost to cast the spell.
2016-01-22	Grip of the Roil can target a creature that’s already tapped. It still won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
2016-01-22	Grip of the Roil tracks the creature, but not its controller. If the creature changes controllers before its first controller’s next untap step has come around, then it won’t untap during its new controller’s next untap step.
2016-01-22	If an instant or sorcery spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.
2016-01-22	The other spell that you or a teammate cast can be one that’s resolved, one that was countered, or (for instants with surge) one that’s still on the stack.