Paralyze MTG Card


Offers board control by disrupting opponents and conserving player resources for future plays. Instant speed casting provides tactical advantages during crucial game phases. Requires careful usage to avoid negation by opponents’ mana investments.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Target creature is not untapped as normal during untap phase unless 4 mana are spent. Tap target creature when Paralyze is cast.


Cards like Paralyze

Paralyze is an intriguing control spell, making it a staple in many blue decks. It’s akin to other classic cards like Frost Breath that also seek to neutralize opponents’ threats. Paralyze differs by targeting a single creature and imposing a cost on its controller if they wish to untap it. In contrast, Frost Breath can temporarily freeze two creatures but doesn’t provide the ongoing dilemma Paralyze offers.

Frost Lynx offers a similar effect by entering the battlefield and tapping a creature, yet it does not carry the enduring tax that Paralyze can potentially enforce on opponents. Meanwhile, Ice Over is reminiscent of Paralyze’s ability to lock down creatures, but it lacks the financial sting of the activation cost required to free the creature from its icy grip. Ice Over completely cuts off the tapped creature unless the enchantment is dealt with.

In essence, while Paralyze shares functionality with these controls, it stands out due to its unique combination of immediate and lasting control, at the cost of an economical investment from the adversary every turn. This trait places Paralyze in a distinctive position within the realm of MTG control cards.

Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions
Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Paralyze by color, type and mana cost

Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Cursed Flesh - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Some Disassembly Required - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Cursed Flesh - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Some Disassembly Required - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Paralyze may seem like a simple control spell, but it plays a strategic role in disrupting your opponent’s pace, potentially leading to an advantageous board state. By tapping an opponent’s creature, you curb their plans and keep your hand prepared for future plays.

Resource Acceleration: While Paralyze doesn’t directly increase your mana resources, it helps in resource acceleration by conserving your defenses, preventing you from having to cast additional spells to deal with an immediate threat. This indirect resource conservation can be pivotal in the mid to late game.

Instant Speed: The capability to cast Paralyze at instant speed allows for significant tactical flexibility. You can respond swiftly to threats or changes in the game state, managing the battlefield effectively and disrupting your opponent’s combat strategies at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Paralyze doesn’t require the discard of a card to be played, its effect may force you to sacrifice a later advantage. When you tap the opponent’s creature, they can simply pay four mana and untap, effectively negating the paralysis during a crucial moment in the match.

Specific Mana Cost: Paralyze necessitates a single black mana, which can be restrictive. It aligns strictly with black mana-centric or compatible decks, thus potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of control cards, one mana might seem minimal at first glance. However, considering that the creature can be untapped by its controller for just four mana, there might be more effective ways to utilize that initial mana investment, especially when tempo and resource management are pivotal to winning the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Paralyze is a flexible card, suitable for a variety of decks that aim to control the battlefield. Its ability to tap an opponent’s creature and keep it from untapping provides a strategic advantage in both tempo and control schemes.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with tap and untap mechanics, acting as a piece in locking down key threats from opponents. It pairs well with other cards that capitalize on opponents having tapped creatures, amplifying its control capabilities.

Meta-Relevance: Particularly in formats where tempo plays a crucial role, Paralyze can disrupt opponents’ strategies. Its low mana cost makes it a timely response to early threats, maintaining its relevance in metagames where keeping pace is vital.


How to beat

Paralyze is a classic control spell from the early sets of Magic: The Gathering, granting players a tactical advantage by temporarily neutralizing opponent’s threats. This card essentially taps a creature and prevents it from untapping during the next untap step, imposing a one-time payment to free the creature from its constraints.

To play around Paralyze, seasoned MTG players recommend strategies that emphasize mana efficiency and patience. One approach is to bait out the Paralyze on less critical creatures, preserving key attackers or defenders for crucial game moments. Additionally, utilizing instant-speed untapping spells or abilities can instantly counteract the effects of Paralyze, allowing your creature to participate in combat or activate abilities as if it were never targeted.

Having a robust removal suite also plays a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of Paralyze. By eliminating potential targets before Paralyze can be cast or by using direct removal spells on your paralyzed creature, you can mitigate the tempo loss and keep the board state in your favor.

Ultimately, understanding the limitations and manageability of older control cards like Paralyze can be the deciding factor in many MTG matches. By making informed plays and conserving crucial resources for the right moment, you can effectively neutralize the disruption caused by such spells and maintain control over the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Paralyze MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Paralyze and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Paralyze Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1191993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1201993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1201993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1201993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1201993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1211993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1211993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1211993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1511993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1511993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1851997NormalWhiteRon Spencer
122007-09-10Masters EditionME1 801997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
132014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1322015NormalBlackRon Spencer
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1162015NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
152022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4131997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Paralyze has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Paralyze card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 Paralyze can be cast targeting a creature which is already tapped.
2004-10-04 Paying the cost is optional.
2004-10-04 The creature can only be untapped using Paralyze once per turn.
2004-10-04 Two Paralyzes are not cumulative. Paying either one will untap the creature.
2007-09-16 This is a change from the most recent wording. As was the case in the past, Paralyze itself has the last triggered ability, rather than granting that ability to the enchanted creature.