Snap MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Snap offers board control and strategic flexibility by allowing creature reusage and opponent disruption.
  2. The ability to untap lands with Snap enables accelerated gameplay and potent spell combinations.
  3. Instant-speed versatility allows players to adapt swiftly to dynamic in-game situations, optimizing turn efficiency.

Text of card

Return target creature to owner's hand. Untap up to two lands.

Good riddance.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Snap allows players to return a creature to its owner’s hand, effectively removing an opponent’s threat or reusing one of your own creatures with a valuable enter-the-battlefield effect. This can tilt the balance of the game by disrupting your opponent’s board presence and bolstering your own strategy.

Resource Acceleration: In addition to the control element, Snap untaps two lands upon casting. This clever mechanic can be utilized to ramp up your resources, granting the opportunity to cast further spells in a single turn, effectively accelerating your gameplay and leading to potentially game-winning sequences.

Instant Speed: The fact that Snap can be played at instant speed enhances its strategic utility. It permits players to wait until the most opportune moment during the opponent’s turn before deciding the best course of action, be it countering a spell, casting another instant, or simply using the ability to optimize one’s board state without falling behind on resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Snap card obliges a player to discard two other blue cards or pay its mana cost, which can be a strategic setback during crucial game moments when hand presence is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: Snap demands two blue mana as part of its casting cost, thereby constraining its inclusion strictly within blue-based or two-colored decks that can consistently provide the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an alternative cost that can be steep, certain game situations may render Snap comparatively less efficient than other instant-speed interaction options available within the same mana range.


Reasons to Include Snap in Your Collection

Versatility: Snap provides dual utility by not only returning a creature to its owner’s hand but also untapping up to two lands. This is incredibly useful in decks that leverage instant-speed spells or require high amounts of mana to activate abilities.

Combo Potential: This card can become a key piece in intricate combos, particularly in decks that focus on casting multiple spells in a single turn. By untapping lands, Snap potentially allows the casting of additional spells, aiding in achieving swift combo executions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive creature strategies, Snap can serve as an efficient temporary removal while simultaneously ramping. This flexibility makes it a strong choice against a variety of popular decks, keeping your plays reactive and fluent throughout the game.


How to beat

Snap is a unique and potent card that not only unsummons a creature but also untaps up to two lands. This dual functionality can give players a mana advantage while setting back the opponent’s board presence. To effectively counter this card, consider strategies that minimize the benefits Snap offers.

Employing instant-speed removal can be a smart move against Snap. This allows you to take out a threat before your opponent has the chance to return it to their hand, rendering Snap less beneficial. Additionally, utilizing creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects can also turn Snap’s advantage on its head, as replaying these creatures can offer you additional value.

Another tactic is to prioritize non-creature strategies which reduce Snap’s impact. By focusing on enchantments, planeswalkers, or spells that don’t rely on creatures, you limit the targets Snap can effectively interact with. Therefore, through thoughtful deck construction and strategic play, mitigating the advantages Snap provides is well within reach for resourceful players.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depths of MTG never cease to amaze, and a card like Snap exemplifies the nuanced play that defines the game. Understanding the pros and cons of any card is crucial in piloting your deck to victory. Snap, with its dual functionality, stands out as a card to consider for its disruptive capacity and unexpected mana ramp. For players eager to maintain board control while keeping options open, Snap provides tactical flexibility at instant speed. Curious about integrating Snap into your blue-centered strategies or devising counters to this tricky spell? Dive deeper with us and master the ebb and flow of MTG gameplay.


Cards like Snap

Snap is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of mana-efficient spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to cards such as Unsummon for its ability to return creatures to their owner’s hand. However, Snap is unique with the added advantage of untapping up to two lands, which can be a significant tempo play. Unsummon doesn’t provide this additional perk, focusing solely on the creature bounce mechanic.

Contrasting Snap with Into the Roil reveals another layer of similarity and divergence. Both serve to disrupt opponents by bouncing permanents, but Into the Roil offers a kicker cost that allows card draw, elevating its potential impact in the game. Yet Snap’s appeal lies in its land-untapping mechanic, which essentially makes the spell free to cast if the lands untapped can produce at least two mana.

Evaluating these nuances reveals Snap’s strengths within the tempo-control strategy of Magic: The Gathering. Its cost-effectiveness and the indirect ramp it provides position it as a versatile spell in decks looking to maintain momentum and resource advantage.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Into the Roil - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Into the Roil - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Snap by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Updraft - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Commander Masters (CMM)
Hurkyl's Recall - Antiquities (ATQ)
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Lat-Nam's Legacy - Alliances (ALL)
Flash - Mirage (MIR)
Boomerang - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Updraft - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rebound - Stronghold (STH)
Memory Lapse - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Hoodwink - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Tidal Bore - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Accumulated Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Aether Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Impulse - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Cyclonic Rift - Commander Masters (CMM)
Thassa's Intervention - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Metamorphose - Scourge (SCG)
Flash Counter - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Echoing Truth - Modern Masters (MMA)
Early Frost - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Snap MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Magic Online Promos, 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 Snap and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Snap Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 431997normalblackMike Raabe
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 624412015normalblackVéronique Meignaud
32017-03-31Duel Decks: Mind vs. MightDDS 102015normalblackVéronique Meignaud
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4982015normalblackVéronique Meignaud
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4122015normalborderlessRorubei
62020-09-26The ListPLST DDS-102015normalblackVéronique Meignaud
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 662015normalblackMike Raabe
82023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1102015normalblackMike Raabe

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Snap has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 You choose which lands to untap as the spell resolves. They aren't targeted, and they don't have to be lands that you control.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks