Ensnare MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Number	32
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gao Yan

Key Takeaways

Ensnare’s instant speed allows for surprise combat control and upkeep tactics.
The requirement to discard or return Islands can influence deck strategy.
Its flexibility and meta relevance make it a potent control card.

Text of card

You may return two islands you control to their owner's hand instead of paying Ensnare's mana cost. Tap all creatures.

Rootwater has become as dangerous to its denizens as to its enemies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ensnare provides a unique twist on card advantage by offering the potential to tap all creatures without paying its mana cost. This can be especially advantageous when your resources are low, or you need to respond to an opponent’s surprise attack without sacrificing your turn’s mana allocation.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, Ensnare enables resource acceleration by halting aggressive strategies from your opponent. This advantage can buy you the precious time needed to draw into more resources or set up your winning combo unfettered by attackers.

Instant Speed: The power of Ensnare largely comes from its instant speed. This allows players to dictate the flow of combat on an opponent’s turn, creating a surprise element that can swing the game in your favor. Instant speed also permits the strategical upkeep casting where you can decide during your opponent’s upkeep whether or not to return two Islands to your hand instead of paying its mana cost, thus keeping your defenses ready while still potentially disrupting their board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ensnare demands the player to pitch another card to the graveyard, which can be quite the setback when cards in hand are all key to your game plan. This adds a layer of strategy but can also backfire if you’re not able to maintain a comfortable hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This trap card requires not just any mana but specifically two blue mana points in its casting cost. This requirement can prove to be quite restrictive, locking it into decks that run heavily on blue or have a reliable mana-fixing base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ensnare’s ability may come in handy, but it sits at a higher rung on the mana ladder. Four mana to tie up potentially all creatures can hinder its playability, especially when you’re in a pinch and need to keep your mana open for other crucial plays.

Reasons to Include Ensnare in Your Collection

Versatility: Ensnare brings a level of flexibility rarely seen in control cards. It allows players to respond to threats even when tapped out, by tapping islands rather than paying the mana cost. This can be a pivotal move in both aggressive and defensive strategies, making it a suitable addition to various blue decks.

Combo Potential: This card can act as a surprise element to set up combos or disrupt your opponent during their turn. It partners well with cards that benefit from opponents’ creatures being tapped or can capitalize on the sudden shift in board state to swing the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures are king and combat can decide the winner, Ensnare remains relevant by halting opponent’s attacks or clearing the way for your own. Its ability to be used without available mana ensures it maintains a place in metas where instant-speed interaction is crucial.

How to beat

Ensnare is an intriguing control spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering the ability to tap all creatures your opponents control. It can be a game changer in a tense combat situation or when you’re trying to swing in for the win. To effectively navigate against Ensnare, flexibility in your strategy is key. Cards that grant creatures vigilance or untap your creatures can neutralize the impact of Ensnare, keeping your board position strong regardless of your opponent’s tricks.

In addition, since Ensnare can be cast using its alternative cost by returning two Islands you control to their owner’s hand, be mindful of your opponent’s untapped Islands and plan your moves accordingly. Deploying instant-speed removal or effects that can exile Ensnare in response to its casting can also be a savvy maneuver, ensuring your combat phase isn’t hindered. Careful observation of open mana and potential alternative costs is essential when predicting the presence of Ensnare in your opponent’s hand.

Ultimately, while Ensnare has the potential to disrupt your battlefield dominance, incorporating a mixture of vigilance-inducing cards, untapping abilities, and reactive control measures can help preserve your lead and outpace the ensnaring grasp of this formidable control spell.

Cards like Ensnare

Ensnare is an intriguing control option in the Blue spell arsenal of Magic: The Gathering. It stands alongside cards like Cryptic Command, which offers a variety of choices including the ability to tap all creatures your opponents control. Yet, Ensnare’s key feature, the option to cast it by returning two Islands you control to your hand instead of paying its mana cost, presents a tactical advantage particularly in a pinch or during an opponent’s surprise attack.

Comparatively, Sleep is another spell that taps creatures and prevents them from untapping during the next untap step. Though not as flexible as Ensnare, it’s similarly disruptive. It lacks the alternate cost option but is easier to cast with a fixed mana cost. Gridlock is a spell that can be scaled to tap a number of target nonland permanents based on the mana paid, which makes it somewhat customizable. Unlike Ensnare, Gridlock can target noncreature permanents, though it doesn’t offer the cost-free casting flexibility.

Decisively, when examining the utility and trade-offs, Ensnare holds a competitive position among tap-down spells, offering both a reactive surprise element and a strategic depth that can be pivotal in controlling the pace of the game.

Cards similar to Ensnare by color, type and mana cost

Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ensnare MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Ensnare and other MTG cards: