Intimidation MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Number	142
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Intimidation’s unblockability secures consistent damage, often shifting opponents into a defensive role.
Resource investment and strategic play are crucial due to Intimidation’s discard requirement and mana cost.
In specific metas, Intimidation’s color-based unblockability can be pivotal in obtaining victory.

Text of card

Creatures you control can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and black creatures.

"If they move, kill them. In fact, kill one now to make sure the other understands."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Intimidation grants significant presence on the battlefield, indirectly contributing to card advantage. By negating the ability of your opponents’ creatures to block, Intimidation essentially turns your squads into unblockable threats, allowing you to chip away at the opponent’s life total with unchecked regularity.

Resource Acceleration: While Intimidation itself doesn’t generate additional resources in the form of mana or tokens, it enables a more aggressive deployment of your creatures. By safeguarding them from being blocked, Intimidation often forces a defensive stance from your opponent, causing a potential shift in resource allocation as they might have to invest in removals or creatures with reach or flying capabilities to counter the now unblockable army you control.

Instant Speed: Intimidation acts at sorcery speed, securing a seamless transition into the combat phase. Although not an instant, the permanence of the condition it applies ensures that each turn your creatures remain formidable, forcing constant pressure on your opponent’s strategy and making them reconsider their plays each step of the way.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Intimidation is that playing it mandates the player to discard a card, which can deplete your hand quickly, especially if the game drags on or your card draw is limited. Strategic hand management becomes crucial, as losing a key card could sway the match against you.

Specific Mana Cost: Restrictive mana requirements can be a hurdle, and Intimidation’s demand for black mana makes it less flexible, confining it predominantly to mono-black or two-colored decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at a notable five mana, Intimidation can be somewhat cumbersome to cast, particularly when you’re racing to establish board presence or respond to an opponent’s threats. There are other options in the MTG universe which may provide creature control or player influence at a more economical cost. Choosing Intimidation requires careful deck construction and play strategy to ensure that its benefits outweigh its higher casting price.

Reasons to Include Intimidation Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Intimidation is a powerful enchantment that can turn any of your creatures into significant threats by making them unblockable by a certain color. This flexibility allows it to fit seamlessly into a variety of deck archetypes, from aggressive strategies that want to push through damage to more controlling decks that need to ensure their key creatures can connect with the opponent.

Combo Potential: Alongside cards that benefit from dealing combat damage to a player, Intimidation can enable multiple triggers and effects. It pairs well with creatures that have ‘hit’ effects or with cards that capitalize on damage-based triggers, taking full advantage of its ability to let your creatures bypass blockers.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where certain colors dominate, Intimidation can be a game-changer. By rendering the most common color of creatures unable to block, it can dramatically shift the pace of the game and force opponents to find alternative answers, making it a valuable inclusion when the meta favors certain colors over others.

How to beat

Intimidation is a card that can pose a formidable challenge on the battlefield. Its ability to make creatures unblockable except by artifact creatures and/or those that share a color with it makes it a strategic tool for getting damage through. Despite its potential, there are still viable tactics to diminish its impact in your games.

Firstly, consider adjusting your deck to include a wider variety of colors in your creatures, increasing the chances of blocking an intimidator. Artifact creatures are also excellent counters, as their inherent properties make them impervious to Intimidation’s restrictions. Another effective strategy is to utilize removal spells or abilities to handle the threat before it becomes unblockable, or focus on controlling the board until you can set up a decisive turn. Additionally, effects that strip abilities from creatures can render Intimidation useless. Preventive measures, like counter spells, are also key in keeping this trick from hitting the table in the first place.

Mastering the timing and the mix of spells and creatures in your deck is the cornerstone of countering Intimidation’s power. Enhance your ability to respond and adapt, and no single card will dictate the pace of your play. It’s all about strategy, foresight, and a willingness to evolve your approach to each new challenge presented.

Cards like Intimidation

Intimidation is an intriguing magic card that weaves control into the tapestry of gameplay. It finds peers in cards such as Fear, which endows a creature with the ability to become unblockable except by black and artifact creatures. Despite their similarities, Intimidation enforces its own rule over the battlefield, granting this evasion to all creatures you control, not just one, imposing a much larger threat.

Another card worth mentioning is Cover of Darkness. Much like Intimidation, this enchantment brings an evasive quality to the creatures of your choosing. While Cover of Darkness allows for selectivity, focusing on a creature type with fear, Intimidation spreads its formidable influence across the board, regardless of creature types. There’s also Break Through the Line that allows for temporary unblockability for creatures with power 2 or less at a lower cost but lacks the sweeping, enduring presence offered by Intimidation.

Analyzing the nuances of evasion-enabling cards, Intimidation stands out with its broad application and force multiplication, positioning it as a powerful asset for players looking to dominate a game with an unassailable offensive approach.

Break Through the Line - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Intimidation by color, type and mana cost

Screams of the Damned - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Intimidation MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Intimidation and other MTG cards: