Seize the Soul MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Haunt |
| Released | 2006-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guildpact |
| Set code | GPT |
| Number | 61 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aleksi Briclot |
Key Takeaways
- Seize the Soul excels in control and versatility, effectively altering the board state at instant speed.
- Its haunt mechanic and spirit token generation offer unique combo and strategic options in gameplay.
- The card’s specific mana and discard requirements may limit its use, demanding deck adaptation.
Text of card
Destroy target nonwhite nonblack creature. Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play. Haunt When the creature Seize the Soul haunts is put into a graveyard, destroy target nonwhite nonblack creature. Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Seize the Soul offers a dual benefit by not only removing a creature from the game but also creating a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. This gives players the ability to strengthen their board presence while disrupting their opponent’s.
Resource Acceleration: This card includes the Haunt mechanic. When the card or the creature it haunts is put into a graveyard, you can destroy target nonwhite, nonblack creature. This powerful effect can lead to strategic resource acceleration by effectively handling future threats and maintaining board control.
Instant Speed: The capability to cast Seize the Soul at instant speed gives players a distinct tactical edge. It allows them to wait until the most opportune moment – such as during an opponent’s turn or in response to an action – to utilize their mana efficiently and surprise opponents with unexpected plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Seize the Soul comes with an additional cost that requires players to discard a card. This can be a significant drawback, especially in scenarios where hand advantage is crucial and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Seize the Soul necessitates a particular combination of mana, which includes black and white. This exacting requirement may restrict its inclusion to decks specifically tailored around these colors, potentially excluding it from a vast array of mono-colored or other multicolored strategies that cannot accommodate its mana needs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that is on the higher side for its abilities, Seize the Soul might not always be the most mana-efficient choice. In the realm of MTG where the pace of gameplay is crucial, other cards might provide similar or better effects without such a hefty mana investment, making them preferable in competitive settings.
Reasons to Include Seize the Soul in Your Collection
Versatility: Seize the Soul is a card that can seamlessly fit into various deck archetypes. Its capability to disrupt the opponent by exiling a creature and providing a Spirit token makes it an adaptable choice for both aggressive and control strategies.
Combo Potential: With the Spirit token it creates, Seize the Soul can easily synergize with decks that capitalize on token generation or sacrifice mechanics. This can set off powerful interactions or even enable game-winning combos in the right setup.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting landscape of the MTG metagame, a versatile removal card like Seize the Soul remains relevant, particularly in formats where creatures are key. Its instant-speed interaction allows players to efficiently handle threats and maintain board presence, which is crucial against a variety of decks.
How to beat Seize the Soul
Seize the Soul is a unique addition to the arsenal of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its distinct qualities lie in its split second and haunt mechanics. Unlike many removal spells, Seize the Soul doesn’t provide a simple point-and-shoot solution. It requires tactical awareness, as it can only target nonwhite, nonblack creatures, making creature color a key factor in its effectiveness.
Comparable spells include Path to Exile or Go for the Throat, which offer more straightforward creature removal without color restrictions. Path to Exile removes targets irrespective of color, giving your opponent a land but definitively handling the threat. Go for the Throat, while color-restricted, does not exclude as many targets as Seize the Soul and simplifies the board state without added complexities.
Overall, when confronted with Seize the Soul, consider diversifying your deck with multicolored creatures or those outside its color limitations. Leverage instant speed spells that can protect or regenerate your key creatures to stave off this enchanting threat. A strategic mix of creatures and responsive spells becomes essential in navigating around the challenges posed by Seize the Soul in your MTG matches.
Cards like Seize the Soul
Seize the Soul is an intriguing spell with removal and creature creation capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often likened to cards such as Afterlife, both featuring the ability to destroy a creature. Seize the Soul distinguishes itself through its “Haunt” mechanic, which allows for a repeat of its initial effect when the haunted creature dies, an attribute Afterlife lacks. Haunt provides a strategic advantage, offering potential disruption not once, but twice.
Reflecting on other analogous cards, we encounter Orzhov Euthanist, which also operates using the haunt mechanic. While Orzhov Euthanist requires a creature with power 2 or less for its sacrificial trigger, Seize the Soul exempts you from this limitation, enhancing its versatility in targeting creatures. In contrast to these haunted cards, Path to Exile also offers creature removal, but exchanges haunting for land ramp benefits to the opponent.
After evaluating their unique effects and gameplay implications, Seize the Soul stands out amongst its peers for its ability to influence the board state multiple times, making it a formidable inclusion for players seeking recurring control within their Magic: The Gathering decks.
Cards similar to Seize the Soul by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Seize the Soul MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact, 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 Seize the Soul 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Seize the Soul has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Seize the Soul card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-02-01 | A “nonwhite nonblack” creature is a creature that’s neither white nor black. It can be any other color or combination of colors, or it can be colorless. |
| 2006-02-01 | If you can’t choose a nonwhite nonblack creature to target when the haunted creature is put into a graveyard, or if the target becomes illegal, you don’t get a token. |
