Cowardice MTG Card


Cowardice allows for strategic creature control, forcing opponents to reconsider spell casting or abilities. It’s a powerful inclusion in blue control decks, providing consistent battlefield advantage against creature-heavy strategies. Cowardice can be a deck centerpiece, synergizing with cards designed to target creatures and trigger its effect.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Whenever a creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, return that creature to its owner's hand.

Gerrard was the Mercadian soldiers' greatest hero; they followed him blindly. When he left, they stumbled around blindly.


Cards like Cowardice

Understanding the strategic breadth of MTG decks involves a keen analysis of the nuanced differences between similarly themed cards. When we zoom in on the Blue colour field, Cowardice is one incredible card that stands out. But let’s also consider cards with similar effects.

Take Dismiss into Dream, for instance, which like Cowardice alters the mechanics of target selection. Although it destroys the targeted creatures, its 7-mana cost makes it more burdensome than the 5-mana costed Cowardice. Also, Interdict, another blue card, mirrors the targeted prevention aspect of Cowardice, although it’s focused primarily on activated abilities.

Similarly in play impact yet distinct in details; we find Willbreaker. This 5-mana costed card enables you to control any creature that becomes the target of a spell you cast. As such, it shares Cowardice’s disruptive capabilities, though involving a more explicit power shift.

While every card holds its unique niche, understanding such comparisons can bring out the full arsenal of possibilities within your MTG game. Cowardice, in itself, is a great deterrent tool, yet understanding its alternatives provides a more well-rounded approach to one’s game strategies.

Dismiss into Dream - MTG Card versions
Interdict - MTG Card versions
Willbreaker - MTG Card versions
Dismiss into Dream - MTG Card versions
Interdict - MTG Card versions
Willbreaker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cowardice by color, type and mana cost

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Honden of Seeing Winds - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions
Psychic Allergy - MTG Card versions
Power Struggle - MTG Card versions
Duplicity - MTG Card versions
Dream Halls - MTG Card versions
Bureaucracy - MTG Card versions
Treachery - MTG Card versions
Heightened Awareness - MTG Card versions
Sunken Hope - MTG Card versions
Ice Cave - MTG Card versions
Persuasion - MTG Card versions
Telekinetic Bonds - MTG Card versions
Reflections of Littjara - MTG Card versions
Mind Control - MTG Card versions
Future Sight - MTG Card versions
Curse of Surveillance - MTG Card versions
Dispersing Orb - MTG Card versions
Wrath of Marit Lage - MTG Card versions
Shared Fate - MTG Card versions
Honden of Seeing Winds - MTG Card versions
Battle of Wits - MTG Card versions

Pros of Cowardice

Card Advantage: Cowardice ensures continuous flow of creatures back to your opponent’s hand whenever targeted by spells or abilities, effectively maintaining your dominance on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By outpacing opponents’ resources, it accelerates your control in the game. With every creature replayed, opponents exhaust their mana resources, keeping them on the backfoot, which propels you ahead in the game’s curve.

Instant Speed: Cowardice’s effects apply at instant speed. This feature allows you to react to an opponent’s actions during their turn, disrupting their strategies and enhancing your control over the game’s flow.


Cons of Cowardice

Discard Requirement: With Cowardice, you need to factor in that this enchantment card will automatically bounce any creature that has been targeted by your spells back to their owner’s hand. This can be a disadvantage if your deck relies on creature-oriented battle strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The cost of casting Cowardice is heavy on blue mana, needing four of them along with two colorless mana. This could limit its inclusion to more dominantly blue decks or ones that offer a solid mana base with blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost of six, some may find Cowardice a costly addition to their decks. In a game where speed and efficiency can often dictate the flow of battle, there might be alternatives that provide better effects at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Cowardice in Your Collection

Versatility: Cowardice is a beneficial addition, mainly due to its capacity to fit into a wide variety of deck types. Being a blue enchantment card, it works well in decks that leverage control or disruption strategies.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities. The potential for using its ability, which returns target creature to owner’s hand when it becomes a target of spell or ability, presents a multitude of tactical moves and synergies that could turn the tide of the match in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Cowardice shines. It can disrupt opponents’ plans by forcing their creatures back to hand. This means it can limit the opponents’ field while further strengthening your board position.


Similar Cards

Understanding the strategic breadth of MTG decks involves a keen analysis of the nuanced differences between similarly themed cards. When we zoom in on the Blue colour field, Cowardice is one incredible card that stands out. But let’s also consider cards with similar effects.

Take Dismiss into Dream, for instance, which like Cowardice alters the mechanics of target selection. Although it destroys the targeted creatures, its 7-mana cost makes it more burdensome than the 5-mana costed Cowardice. Also, Interdict, another blue card, mirrors the targeted prevention aspect of Cowardice, although it’s focused primarily on activated abilities.

Similarly in play impact yet distinct in details; we find Willbreaker. This 5-mana costed card enables you to control any creature that becomes the target of a spell you cast. As such, it shares Cowardice’s disruptive capabilities, though involving a more explicit power shift.

While every card holds its unique niche, understanding such comparisons can bring out the full arsenal of possibilities within your MTG game. Cowardice, in itself, is a great deterrent tool, yet understanding its alternatives provides a more well-rounded approach to one’s game strategies.


How to beat Cowardice

Cowardice is an engaging blue enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, known to send creatures back to the hand whenever targeted. It’s a game-controlling card that can deter opponents from casting spells, however, it can be mitgated or even leveraged.

An ideal tactic to suppress Cowardice’s disruptive power involves leveraging spells or abilities that don’t target. Board wipe spells like Wrath of God or Cyclonic Rift, being non-targeting, ensure clearing of the field without triggering Cowardice. Moreover, in a multi-player game, capitalize on Cowardice’s global effect, knowing that your targeted spells will likely return creatures to all players’ hands.

To take advantage, pair Cowardice with cards like Riptide Chimera or Capsize to trigger the bounce effect repetitively, disrupting opponent strategies. Just be mindful, with Cowardice in play, make sure your own deck isn’t full of targeting spells.

So, in essence, thwarting or harnessing Cowardice’s power depends on smart deck building and strategic gameplay, enhancing your arsenal while sidestepping potential disruption in Magic: The Gathering.


Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the realms of Magic the Gathering is both an art and a science requiring deep understanding and clever gameplay. With cards like Cowardice that can turn the tides of a match, every player has the opportunity to harness the power of intricate mechanics and strategies. Elevate your gameplay by assimilating knowledge, improving tactics, and accumulating key cards that can make all the difference. As you continue your journey to become a formidable MTG player, we welcome you to further your adventure with us. Discover advanced strategies and rare gems in the MTG universe to sharpen your skills and triumph in your next duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cowardice MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Eighth Edition, 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 Cowardice and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cowardice Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 701997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 712003NormalWhiteScott M. Fischer
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 71★2003NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 702003NormalWhiteMichael Sutfin
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 70★2003NormalBlackMichael Sutfin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cowardice has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal