Overburden MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	39
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Matson

Key Takeaways

Thrives in control decks, creating a land-creature play imbalance that pressures opponents constantly.
Works best when combined with cards that circumvent or exploit its unique land return effect.
Poses a symmetrical threat, requiring careful deck building to leverage its full potential.

Text of card

Whenever a player puts a creature card into play, that player returns a land he or she controls to its owner's hand.

The Kipamu League knew what Keld refused to acknowledge: the land could support no more.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When considering the ebbs and flows of a game, Overburden plays a pivotal role in controlling your opponent’s board state by forcing them to return a land to their hand whenever a creature enters the battlefield under their control. This disruptive capability can hamper not just their current turns but subsequent plays as well.

Resource Acceleration: Although Overburden may not directly generate additional mana, its influence is profound during gameplay by creating an asymmetrical effect. Deftly integrated into decks that circumvent its downside—such as those utilizing creatures that aren’t cast or creatures that bounce themselves for value—Overburden can propel your mana development ahead by indirectly slowing down your opponents.

Instant Speed: The continuous nature of Overburden’s effect operates much like an enchantment at instant speed. It activates whenever a creature hits the field, leaving opponents always cautious to summon their creatures. This in turn grants you the subtle advantage of affecting the board without using mana during your turn, keeping you flexible and responsive as the game progresses.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Overburden forces players to return a land to their hand whenever a creature enters the battlefield, disrupting mana bases and potentially setting back your own strategy if not played carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: Overburden’s blue mana requirement makes it exclusive to blue or multicolor decks, potentially excluding it from various mono-colored or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two mana, Overburden’s effect may seem steep compared to some other control options available to blue strategists, especially given the card’s symmetrical effect which also applies to the controller.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Overburden is a powerful card that can slide into numerous blue-based control or strategy decks. Its ability to return creatures to their owners’ hands upon being played puts a unique spin on the battlefield dynamic, making it a nuisance for opponents relying on creature-heavy decks.

Combo Potential: Used in conjunction with cards that penalize or limit land plays, Overburden can become a part of oppressive combos that hinder your opponents’ development while you advance your board state unimpeded.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, Overburden steps up as a significant disruptor. It can throw off your opponents’ pace and give you the upper hand in a meta that favors summoning multiple creatures.

How to beat

Overburden is a powerful enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that can significantly slow down opponents who rely on creature-heavy decks. When a player puts a creature onto the battlefield, Overburden requires that player to return a land they control to their hand. This effect can stifle the development of your opponent’s mana base, making it challenging for them to cast high-cost spells.

To successfully navigate around Overburden, consider utilizing creature spells that create tokens or do not require a traditional casting strategy. Lands’ returning to hand can be mitigated by using creatures that can be played at a reduced or alternative cost, such as through evoke or unearth abilities. Another strategy is to focus on non-creature spells or use creatures with hexproof or indestructible, diminishing Overburden’s impact. Landfall decks, which benefit from lands entering the battlefield repeatedly, can also turn the downside of Overburden into a strategic advantage of their own.

Ultimately, adapting your strategy to accommodate the presence of Overburden or using enchantment removals like Naturalize can effectively neutralize this card’s control, allowing you to maintain the tempo and keep your lands on the battlefield.

BurnMana Recommendations

Whether you’re fine-tuning a control deck or looking for that special card to tip the scales in your favor, Overburden has proven its worth. Its ability to interfere with your opponent’s land count can be instrumental in taking the upper hand in the game. If creature-focused decks dominate your playgroup, consider introducing Overburden into your arsenal for its unrivaled disruption potential. For those keen on optimizing their build or searching for innovative strategies to navigate the mana wars, Overburden may just open up new avenues of control. Dive deeper with us and discover ways to master your decks with this unique card.

Cards like Overburden

Overburden is a unique piece in the vast puzzle of control cards in Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment parallels with the card Kismet, which delays opponents by forcing their artifacts, creatures, and lands to enter the battlefield tapped. While Kismet affects the tempo, Overburden targets the land strategy by requiring players to return a land to their hand whenever a creature enters the battlefield under their control. The subtle yet powerful disruption can tilt the balance in games, especially in formats with numerous creature spells.

Propaganda is another card that often finds itself in control decks alongside Overburden. Though different in function—it charges a fee for creatures to attack—it shares the objective of controlling opponents’ resources. Overburden, however, can have a more overarching impact, subtly setting back opponents every turn. Lastly, there’s Mana Breach, another enchantment that returns lands to hands, but this occurs whenever any spell is cast, possibly causing a setback in both players’ developments. This makes Overburden a more strategic choice since its effect is solely focused on creatures, allowing you finer control over its activation.

Considering their effects on the board and opponents’ strategies, Overburden holds a place in MTG as a control card that smoothly integrates into decks designed to disrupt land plays and maintain player advantage throughout the game.

Cards similar to Overburden by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

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