Ensnaring Bridge – Double Masters MTG Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

Ensnaring Bridge is the kind of superficially symmetrical card that control decks generally like to break. What kind of control deck doesn’t like having cards in its hand? you might ask. It turns out that’s not as hard as you might first guess. There are unconventional prison decks that drop everything on the table early and kill with repeatable damage or other non-combat-based effects. Some decks like Modern Burn that often end up with empty hands can use also use the Bridge defensively against certain matchups.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
Multiplayer: 3/5
Commander: 3/5

Ensnaring Bridge has been a classic since Stronghold, a way to keep big creatures in check with the ability to scale if you have an emptier hand. It’s a unique effect that hits all players (though, as always, symmetries in Magic largely exist to be broken), and the ability to shut down attacking creatures gives this a home in decks that want lots of space to do their thing, like Modern’s 8-Rack. There are ways around it, but it’s definitely a card that needs to be played around if you’re staring one down.

Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3
Limited: 2.75
Multiplayer: 4
Commander: 4.25