Quiet Contemplation MTG Card


Quiet Contemplation - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Number50
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMagali Villeneuve

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables card advantage by turning noncreature spells into hand filtering and opponent disruption tools.
  2. Instant-speed capability of Quiet Contemplation allows reactive strategies to flourish during gameplay.
  3. Its ability to tap creatures enhances control and disrupts opponents, essential in spell-heavy decks.

Text of card

Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, you may pay . If you do, tap target creature an opponent controls and it doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you engage in a match, maintaining a steady flow of options is key. Quiet Contemplation proves its worth by enabling repeated filtering of your hand, transforming noncreature spells into potential scouting tools, tapping down threats or key blockers, all the while digging you deeper into your library for the resources needed to claim victory.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping up your mana, this enchantment effectively accelerates your board presence by slowing down opponents’ strategies. Each spell you cast can stymie an opposing creature, subtly shifting the game’s tempo in your favor and allowing you to deploy your threats with less interference.

Instant Speed: Quiet Contemplation’s ability shines at instant speed, allowing you to adapt to the ebbs and flows of the game’s pace. This reactive flexibility is a hallmark of strategic play, enabling you to best decide during your opponent’s turn how and when to utilize this enchantment’s tactical advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Quiet Contemplation is its need for constant inputs – it triggers upon casting a noncreature spell, necessitating a steady stream of these spells which could strain your hand size over time.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a blue mana symbol in its casting cost, Quiet Contemplation inherently favors blue-centered decks or those with hefty mana-fixing capabilities, potentially narrowing its versatility in a varied metagame.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana to deploy and one additional mana to activate for each triggering spell, Quiet Contemplation may be considered somewhat mana-intensive compared to other enchantments with similar or more immediate impact on gameplay.


Reasons to Include Quiet Contemplation in Your Collection

Versatility: Quiet Contemplation adds a layer of utility to any deck that aims to cast a multitude of noncreature spells. It can fit seamlessly into control or tempo decks, helping to slow down opponents with its tap-down ability.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with decks that utilize a high volume of cheap cantrips or instants, enabling multiple triggers in a single turn for maximum board control. Coupled with untap mechanics, it can be a lynchpin in a powerful lockdown combo.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where creature-based strategies dominate, Quiet Contemplation can provide a significant edge by keeping key creatures tapped and thwarting aggressive plays, aligning perfectly with a meta that favors spell-heavy builds.


How to beat

Quiet Contemplation is a nuanced enchantment that can impact the tempo of a Magic: The Gathering match substantially. With its ability to tap potential attackers or blockers every time you cast a noncreature spell, it introduces a control aspect that can be quite challenging to navigate. However, one effective way to outmaneuver Quiet Contemplation lies in removing the enchantment itself. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can be key as they directly destroy target enchantments, taking Quiet Contemplation out of the picture swiftly.

Alternatively, centering a strategy on creatures with haste or utilizing instants that can be cast after the Quiet Contemplation trigger resolves allows flexibility in circumventing its effect. Moreover, playing spell-heavy decks could inadvertently play into your opponent’s strategy. Therefore, leaning towards a creature-focused lineup can minimize the number of times Quiet Contemplation can be used against you. They can’t tap what you don’t cast, after all.

Overall, a blend of enchantment removal, judicious spell casting, and adapting your deck to be less reliant on noncreature spells can turn the tables against a Quiet Contemplation strategy. Keeping these tips top of mind will help maintain the upper hand, even when faced with this contemplative conundrum.


Cards like Quiet Contemplation

Quiet Contemplation in MTG serves as an intriguing option for those looking to disrupt opponents’ strategies while developing their own board state. In comparison to other enchantments that tap creatures, it holds a unique position due to its trigger condition – casting a noncreature spell. Icy Manipulator is a piece that shares the functionality of manipulating opponents’ permanents but without the same triggering mechanism, requiring a manual activation instead.

Another enchantment that echoes the tactical advantages of Quiet Contemplation is Sleep. Though it doesn’t offer the same repeatability, it impacts all opponent’s creatures at once, setting the stage for a potent one-time effect. Frost Breath also falls in line as a once-off impact spell freezing opponents’ assets, yet lacks the repeated use that Quiet Contemplation provides. Moreover, unlike Quiet Contemplation, these spells don’t allow for the same level of strategic planning or the synergy with spells-oriented decks.

To sum up, Quiet Contemplation offers a refined tool for those who seek continual control throughout the game. Its synergy with spell-slinging strategies and the ability to methodically tap opposing forces place it in a favorable light among MTG players looking for an enduring tactical advantage.

Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Sleep - Magic 2010 (M10)
Frost Breath - Magic 2012 (M12)

Cards similar to Quiet Contemplation by color, type and mana cost

Feedback - MTG Card versions
In the Eye of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Undertow - MTG Card versions
Mana Vortex - MTG Card versions
Energy Flux - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Trance - MTG Card versions
Soul Barrier - MTG Card versions
Puppet Master - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
Equilibrium - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Checks and Balances - MTG Card versions
Douse - MTG Card versions
Charisma - MTG Card versions
Traveler's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Shifting Sky - MTG Card versions
Threads of Disloyalty - MTG Card versions
Pemmin's Aura - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Study - MTG Card versions
Memory Erosion - MTG Card versions
Feedback - Fifth Edition (5ED)
In the Eye of Chaos - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Undertow - Legends (LEG)
Mana Vortex - The Dark (DRK)
Energy Flux - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Mesmeric Trance - Ice Age (ICE)
Soul Barrier - Ice Age (ICE)
Puppet Master - Chronicles (CHR)
Intruder Alarm - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Equilibrium - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Mana Breach - Exodus (EXO)
Checks and Balances - Unglued (UGL)
Douse - Urza's Saga (USG)
Charisma - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Traveler's Cloak - Invasion (INV)
Shifting Sky - Planeshift (PLS)
Threads of Disloyalty - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Pemmin's Aura - Scourge (SCG)
Rhystic Study - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Memory Erosion - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Quiet Contemplation MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Quiet Contemplation and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Quiet Contemplation has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-09-20 The ability can target a creature that’s already tapped. It still won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
2014-09-20 The ability 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.
2014-09-20 You decide whether to pay as the triggered ability resolves.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks