Grasp of Phantoms MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 58
2017-03-17 - Number 41
2019-11-07 - Number 394
2020-09-26 - Number MM3-41
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Flashback |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage by delaying threats, allowing for strategic draws and potential game swings.
- Flashback ability adds value, makes it a flexible spell capable of surprising opponents at crucial times.
- Demands careful play due to specific mana requirements and potential suboptimal tempo alignment.
Text of card
Put target creature on top of its owner's library. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grasp of Phantoms creates strategic card advantage by effectively delaying an opponent’s significant threat. This temporary removal can allow you to draw into answers or swing the game state in your favor, without losing card equity.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Grasp of Phantoms can buy you crucial time to develop your mana base or deploy your resources more effectively, leveling the playing field against faster-paced decks.
Instant Speed: Although Grasp of Phantoms is a sorcery, its relevance to instant speed comes into play with its flashback ability. Being able to cast it a second time at a potentially pivotal moment can catch an opponent off-guard, disrupting their tempo just at the right time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grasp of Phantoms does not pose a discard requirement itself, but having a card like this often necessitates holding onto cards to respond correctly, which can inadvertently lead to a less efficient usage of your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: With its mana requirement demanding two blue mana, deck flexibility is reduced. This can be a hindrance for multicolor deck strategies that may struggle with color consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four total mana, including a double blue mana cost, Grasp of Phantoms may not always align with the pace of your game. There are instances where other cards could offer more immediate board impact or control effects at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grasp of Phantoms offers flexible gameplay, capable of fitting smoothly into decks that prioritize control and delaying opponent strategies. Its ability to put a creature on top of its owner’s library can disrupt your opponent’s next draw, buying you crucial time.
Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations with mill or bounce strategies, where recasting creatures becomes more taxing for your opponent. Its potential to set up advantageous board states for recurring creature removal or exploiting enter-the-battlefield effects is notable.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where formidable creatures or combo pieces dominate play, Grasp of Phantoms becomes a powerful tool to slow down your competitors. It’s particularly useful when you need to address immediate threats without expending permanent removal resources.
How to beat
Grasp of Phantoms is a blue spell that can temporarily clear the way by putting an opponent’s creature on top of their library. This disrupts their tempo, but it’s not an insurmountable hurdle. To effectively counter this card, playing with decks that have numerous low-cost creatures can dilute Grasp of Phantoms’ impact, as it can only target one creature at a time and does so at four mana.
Another strategy is using creatures with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects. This turns a potential setback into an advantage because recasting the creature provides value. Additionally, including instant-speed removal or counterspells can help protect your key creatures from being targeted or disrupt the spell before it takes effect.
Lastly, always be aware of open mana from a player using blue. This can signal potential control spells, so playing around such strategies by not over-committing to the board or keeping mana open yourself for reactive plays can help maintain control of the game and mitigate the tempo loss caused by Grasp of Phantoms.
Cards like Grasp of Phantoms
Grasp of Phantoms creates strategic plays in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, holding a kinship with other bounce spells that temporarily remove creatures from the battlefield. A close relative in functionality is Griptide, which also puts a creature on top of its owner’s library, but unlike Grasp of Phantoms, it doesn’t have the option to be flashed back for repeated nuisance. Grasp of Phantoms presents players with this additional flexibility, allowing for extended control over how the game unfolds.
In the realm of delaying opponents’ threats, there’s also Into the Roil. While it returns a permanent to its owner’s hand rather than the top of their library, the kicker mechanic offers the bonus of drawing a card, which can be a valuable trade-off. Up next, we can consider Temporal Eddy as part of this comparison. This spell similarly places a creature on top of its owner’s library, yet it lacks the potential for reuse that Grasp of Phantoms’ flashback provides.
When evaluating bounce spells, Grasp of Phantoms stands out for its ability to disrupt opponents over multiple turns. Its place in MTG deck-building strategies caters to those wishing to capitalize on time as a resource, making it a noteworthy choice for control aficionados.
Cards similar to Grasp of Phantoms by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grasp of Phantoms MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Grasp of Phantoms and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Grasp of Phantoms Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Izzy.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 58 | 2003 | normal | black | Izzy | |
| 2 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 41 | 2015 | normal | black | Izzy | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 394 | 2015 | normal | black | Izzy | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | MM3-41 | 2015 | normal | black | Izzy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grasp of Phantoms has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
