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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!


Image from Wizards.com

Ice Cage
M10

Reviewed July 16, 2009

Constructed: 2.00
Casual: 2.50
Limited: 3.25
Multiplayer: 2.00

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

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Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Ice Cage

A blue Pacifism that can be smashed out of. Well, blue doesn't usually get removal aside from bounce, so if you don't want to play white, you can play this. Or black or red, for that matter. So, it's good for mono-blue decks and blue-green decks.

Constructed- 2
Casual- 2.5
Multiplayer- 2.25
Limited- 3.25

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Ice Cage

When I first heard about M10's emphasis on top-down design and flavor, I had a feeling there would be a non-white Pacifism in it; I'd thought Utopia Vow might make it, but Ice Cage is very cool too. Turning off activated abilities usually starts at three mana, and the escape clause is not as easy as it first looks - without Prodigal Pyromancer or a similar small but reusable effect, they run the risk of killing their own creature outright. Plus it shows a giant frozen spider. That's pretty neat.

Constructed: 2/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 3/5
Multiplayer: 2/5
Miguel

Thursday

7-16-09

 

Ice Cage

 

Constructed: A new Arrest for blue that is a lot cheaper. But like ice is very easy to break. There is a lot better creature control for Standard or any other format.

 

Casual & Multiplayer: I do not know if any locals will like this card or not. I think some will and others not.

 

Limited: This card is real good for draft and sealed. What blue cannot counter or bounce it can stop it with ice.

 

Overall a okay card with great flavor for blue.

 

Constructed: 2

Casual: 3

Multiplayer: 3

Limited: 4

 

Later

Miguel

 
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno Today's card of the day is Ice Cage. It is an aura that is pretty similar to several White spells Pacifism, Prison Term, Recumbent Bliss, and the hybrid mana Crystallization which are currently legal in Standard. Of those only Prison Term also prevents activated abilities.

Prison Term costs two White and a colorless, but also can be switched to another creature as they are played. Ice Cage includes a rather crippling weakness in that anything targeting the creatures causes it to break. At best this card is a mediocre addition to Blue's control theme and the standard bounce or counter strategy suits them well enough.

In Constructed I really think Blue will stick to what they do best and not risk the chance of the Cage being broken.

For Casual there isn't much to say as it is a fairly weak card in Blue when compared to their other choices and similar auras. If playing some kind of lockdown theme deck the other cards listed above are generally better.

Limited is the only place the card has much value. With the smaller pool of cards pulling this isn't bad as it can stop another creature when a more permanent counter isn't available. Also, options for targeting the creature to set it free are fewer. A solid Cancel or Unsummon are still better, but if you are running Blue already the card certainly deserves a slot.

Multiplayer takes the card's biggest weakness and makes it the focal point. Any player can just target the creature that concerns you and release it. This almost assures some kind of alliance against you, even if just temporarily, and doesn't benefit you nearly enough to play.

Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 1.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 1.0
Paul Magic The Gathering COTD: Ice Cage

Welcome back readers today’s card is blue and flavorful variant of Pacifism with an added bonus and an added liability. First the good, a blue version of Pacifism that stops activated abilities from being activated, the bad whenever the creature is a target of a spell or ability goodbye Ice Cage. Although its good to see a flavorful blue card card that stops creatures Ice Cage may fall short of playability in all formats but limited. You want a permanent answer to a creature problem correct? Not a partial fix but a solution. Ice Cage provides a temporary solution to what may be a permanent (creatures are permanents get it? It’s a joke!) Problem. In standard I don’t see play using this card until post rotation if even then. In extended and eternal formats no chance to see any play. In casual and multiplayer its Pacifism with an added perk and downside take it as you will. In limited this card shines as it is pseudo-removal quite a handy common. An unexciting yet flavorful card that may or may not find a niche for blue mages.

Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 2.5

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