Curfew MTG Card


Curfew enables board control and strategic advantage with its instant speed and unique disruption capabilities. Demands careful play due to its specific mana needs and potential card disadvantage impact. Despite its restrictions, Curfew’s utility in tactical deck builds makes it a valuable collector’s choice.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Each player chooses a creature he or she controls and returns it to owner's hand.

". . . But I'm not tired!"


Cards like Curfew

The card Curfew in Magic: The Gathering presents an intriguing parallel to its counterparts in creature bounce spells. One card that resonates with Curfew’s effect is Unsummon. Both cards allow players to return creatures to their owner’s hand. Yet, Unsummon is targeted and can be used on any creature, whereas Curfew applies to all players but is limited to one creature each, leading to a forced choice that affects the entire board.

Resembling Curfew in scope, there’s also the card Evacuation which cranks the effect up to a full board sweep. Evacuation returns all creatures to their owners’ hands, not just one per player, drastically altering the game state. Comparatively, Curfew serves as a more subtle tactic, allowing for strategic plays without completely resetting the playing field. Another similar card is Peel from Reality, although it also lets a player choose the creatures affected, it requires one of their own to be bounced as well, providing a two-for-one value that can be both a downside and an upside depending on the situation.

Evaluating these similarities and differences, Curfew has its own niche within the bounce spell category due to its unique equalizing effect on the game, proving to be a tactical asset in the right deck and scenario in Magic: The Gathering.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Peel from Reality - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Peel from Reality - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Curfew by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Curfew. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet FaeriesIzzet Faeries PauperIzzet FaeriesPauper League 2023-11-29
Rogue DecklistsRogue Decklists PauperIzzet FaeriesNacional Pauper 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Curfew is particularly sharp in bouncing key creatures back to the owner’s hand, disrupting the opponent’s board presence and potentially giving you a card advantage if you manage the situation cleverly.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, Curfew can contribute to resource acceleration by clearing the board of blockers or threats, thereby facilitating your game plan and progression on the board.

Instant Speed: The strength of Curfew is amplified by its instant speed. This allows a player to wait until the most opportune moment, such as the beginning of the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s spell, to cast Curfew and maximize its strategic impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Curfew is the necessity for players to discard a card to utilize its effect. This can pose a significant drawback, especially in situations where hand advantage is critical, and every card in hand matters greatly for maintaining the player’s strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Curfew demands a particular mana arrangement for casting, specifically blue mana. This requirement can impede its inclusion in multicolored decks that might struggle with consistent blue mana availability or strategies that do not prioritize blue mana in their construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Curfew’s effect can be impactful, its mana cost can be a point of contention. Given other options in the game that can offer similar or better board control at a lower or more flexible cost, Curfew can sometimes be overshadowed by these alternatives, making its comparatively high mana cost a stumbling block for deck builders seeking efficiency.


Reasons to Include Curfew in Your Collection

Versatility: Curfew is a card that offers great flexibility in various deck archetypes. Its low cost allows it to be easily slotted into control, tempo, and even some aggro decks that aim to reuse their own creatures’ enter-the-battlefield effects.

Combo Potential: This card can be part of strategies that necessitate returning creatures to the owner’s hand, whether to save them from removal, to reuse their abilities, or to inconvenience opponents by forcing them to return their most dangerous creatures. The tactical advantages it brings can often turn the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the board state can often become cluttered with powerful creatures, Curfew allows players to reset the playing field. This can be particularly effective in metagames where creature-based strategies dominate, and the ability to remove a key creature from the board, even temporarily, can be crucial.


How to beat

Curfew is a unique control card in the realm of MTG designed to disrupt opponents by enforcing a mutual sacrifice. This can be particularly challenging when you’re facing a deck that thrives on keeping specific creatures on the battlefield. To effectively counter Curfew, consider timing and the current board state. Implementing creatures that generate tokens or have enter-the-battlefield effects can mitigate Curfew’s impact on your side while still forcing your opponent to make a tough decision. Furthermore, saving instant-speed removal or other bounce spells to respond to Curfew can preserve your more valuable creatures. It’s also worth looking into cards that can grant indestructibility or have the ability to sacrifice themselves for a greater benefit, turning a momentary setback into an advantage.

Strategically, patience plays a key role against Curfew. By not overcommitting to the board and maintaining a reserve of creatures in your hand, you avoid giving Curfew a target-rich environment. Always be mindful of the possibility of this card in matchups where it’s likely to be played and plan your creature deployment accordingly. This ensures that when Curfew hits, it will be more of a nuisance than a catastrophe, allowing you to rebound and retain a strong presence in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Curfew MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Curfew and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Curfew Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 1999-11-12. Illustrated by Randy Gallegos.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 681997NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
21999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 171997NormalWhiteRandy Gallegos

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Curfew has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal