Some cards' fame is relatively fleeting - the
ones that dominate a Standard season or a
limited environment sometimes get a lot less
attention once new sets come out. But some go on
to be legends, having entire categories of
design named after them or evoking shudders of
fear years or decades later. We have some real
legends lined up for review today, starting with
one of the most feared spells of all time in
Capsize.
All you have to do is get enough mana, and your
opponent stays static or behind on tempo
forever. Doesn't sound that easy, you say?
Tempest also brought us cards like Ancient Tomb,
along with an on-theme "finisher" in Tradewind
Rider - and was adjacent in time on both sides
to support cards like Quirion Ranger and
Deranged Hermit. This fact was largely
responsible for buyback being as feared (and
thus as infrequently revisited) as it is. It
even works in multiplayer - Heartbeat of Spring,
Mana Reflection, and the like can easily let you
bounce an entire table's worth of permanents in
one or two turns.
Today's card of the day is Capsize which is a
three mana Blue instant with Buyback for three
that returns a permanent to hand. With six mana
available this locks down an opponent
effectively unless they can draw into two
threats to play at the same time before you draw
other countermagic. The mana cost with
Buyback is a bit too much for faster formats,
but in Commander this can be extremely
effective. It can also recycle beneficial
enters or leaves play effects, though that
requires additional mana or time. Overall a
powerful card when it came out and still strong
in the right setting as it can react to any
permanent.
In a Limited format with this it can derail
nearly any threat and control the game for a
prolonged period of time as mana should be
available to maintain the effect. A great
second or third pick in Booster after a Blue
rare and even with the double Blue in the cost
it adds sustained value with flexibility to a
Sealed build.
