Chilling Grasp MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Madness
Released	2016-07-22
Set symbol
Set name	Eldritch Moon
Set code	EMN
Number	50
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Seb McKinnon

Key Takeaways

Instant speed allows disruption of opponents’ attacks, providing a tactical advantage during their turn.
Requires a deck with discard mechanics to utilize its full Madness potential, limiting versatility.
Can be a strategic sideboard card in a meta dominated by aggressive creature strategies.

Text of card

Tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Offers the ability to tap two target creatures, effectively limiting your opponent’s moves and potentially swinging the momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Chilling Grasp doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly aid you by keeping your opponent’s threats at bay, giving you more time to build up your board and mana availability.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Chilling Grasp can be utilized on your opponent’s turn, right before they declare attackers, catching them off guard and preserving your life total. This flexibility can be crucial in the timing of your plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Chilling Grasp doesn’t require a discard outright, its Madness ability only becomes advantageous if you are discarding it as a cost. Without a deck tailored to take advantage of discard mechanics, you might be missing out on the full potential of this card.

Specific Mana Cost: Chilling Grasp’s specific mana cost demands two blue mana, which can be restrictive. Decks that don’t generate blue mana consistently may find it hard to cast this spell when needed most, limiting its viability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two that are color-specific, Chilling Grasp is considered expensive for the temporary freeze effect it provides. Other spells in the format may offer more impactful board control or card advantage for a similar or lower cost, making them potentially more attractive options for deck builders.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chilling Grasp finds its way into a variety of blue-based decks, offering a unique type of control to stall opponents. Its ability to freeze multiple creatures can swing games in your favor, particularly in tempo or midrange decks that need to clear a path for crucial attacks.

Combo Potential: This spell can work wonders with cards that care about tapping or untapping creatures. For instance, it can unexpectedly synergize with cards that benefit when your opponents’ creatures become tapped, or in conjunction with untap mechanics for a satisfying combo play.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy aggro strategies often populate the meta, Chilling Grasp serves as an effective tool to slow down these aggressive decks. Its usefulness in delaying your adversary’s board development cannot be overstated, making it a strategic sideboard option or even a main deck surprise.

How to beat

Chilling Grasp is a crowd control sorcery in the Magic: The Gathering universe that allows players to tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don’t untap during their controller’s next untap step, which can be quite disruptive. To effectively play against Chilling Grasp, consider using creatures with vigilance, as they don’t need to tap to attack and hence remain unaffected by the card’s tap effect. Moreover, cards that can untap your creatures, like Vitalize or Dramatic Reversal, can counteract the frozen state Chilling Grasp imposes.

Maintaining a diversified strategy is also key. Incorporate instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can still be activated even if your creature is tapped. This maintains your board’s functionality despite the sorcery’s interference. Lastly, having countermeasures in your deck, such as counterspells like Negate or Dispel, can prevent Chilling Grasp from resolving in the first place, keeping your board state in full swing and ready for action.

Owning the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering often boils down to anticipating opponent moves and having a well-rounded defense. With the right mix of vigilance, untap capabilities, and strategic counters, emerging victorious against the icy grip of Chilling Grasp becomes a reality.

Cards like Chilling Grasp

Chilling Grasp has its distinct place in the arsenal of control spells in Magic: The Gathering, having similarities with cards designed to delay the opponent’s forces. One could liken it to Frost Breath, which also temporarily freezes two creatures, preventing them from both attacking or blocking. However, Chilling Grasp offers a slight advantage with its madness cost, enabling players to cast it for a different cost if it’s discarded.

Another card, Sleep, takes this concept even further by tapping all creatures the opponent controls and ensuring they remain so for their next untap step. This broader effect does come at a higher mana cost compared to Chilling Grasp. Yet, it still doesn’t have the madness mechanic, which can give Chilling Grasp that extra element of surprise and flexibility during the game.

Pondering options for control in the game, Chilling Grasp holds value for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s tempo. It fits particularly well in a deck built around the madness mechanic, offering control and surprise in ways that similar spells cannot. As a result, Chilling Grasp demonstrates a unique strategic niche within Magic: The Gathering’s vast gallery of control magic.

Cards similar to Chilling Grasp by color, type and mana cost

Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chilling Grasp MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon, 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 Chilling Grasp and other MTG cards: