Static Orb MTG Card


Card advantage via resource control is subtle yet impactful, disrupting opponents’ gameplay significantly. Resource acceleration can occur in decks built to exploit the Orb, turning a hindrance into a benefit. Instant speed synergy is apparent, making Static Orb a powerful companion to the right cards and strategies.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Players cannot untap more than two permanents during their untap phases.

Time passes, time crawls; Time doesn't move at all.


Cards like Static Orb

Static Orb is an iconic piece in the puzzle of controlling decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to limit untapping to only two permanents per turn is closely mirrored by Winter Orb, a card that restricts each player to untap only one land during their untap steps. Winter Orb’s effect is somewhat less restrictive since it doesn’t affect all permanents, highlighting Static Orb’s broader impact on gameplay.

Further comparative analysis leads us to Tangle Wire, another perennial control favorite. Tangle Wire may tap down fewer permanents initially, but its fading mechanic ensures that the effect will diminish over time, whereas Static Orb maintains a consistent level of disruption. Nonetheless, Tangle Wire’s immediate impact can be more disruptive and it affects play directly upon entering the battlefield.

Assessing these cards reveals the nuanced choices available to control strategists within Magic: The Gathering. While each card has distinct features that can influence the flow of the match, Static Orb stands out for its potential to command the pace of an entire game, serving as a keystone in decks designed to dominate through denial of resources.

Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Tangle Wire - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Tangle Wire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Static Orb by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Static Orb might not directly offer card draw, but its ability to freeze opponents’ lands and resources can effectively translate into card advantage. By limiting opponents’ ability to utilize their cards fully, you subtly gain upper hand as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: In decks designed to work around the Orb’s restrictions, such as those containing artifacts that can untap permanents or cards that benefit from being tapped, Static Orb can inadvertently serve as a resource accelerator. It compliments strategies that are unaffected by its symmetrical effects or can selectively break the symmetry.

Instant Speed: Although Static Orb itself is not an instant, it can be incredibly synergistic with cards that operate at instant speed. By leaving your resources untapped until the very last moment before your turn begins, you can navigate around the hindrance it imposes on yourself, effectively functioning like a card that operates at instant speed through thoughtful gameplay.


Card Cons

The Static Orb presents a set of challenges that players must navigate to make the most out of its disruptive abilities. Below we explore the drawbacks that come with incorporating this artifact card into your deck.

Discard Requirement: While the Static Orb itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its restrictive nature on untapping can lead to scenarios where you’re pressured to discard due to an overcrowded hand. As the Orb limits actions, players often end up with more cards in hand than the game state allows them to play, creating a bottleneck effect.

Specific Mana Cost: Static Orb has a relatively flexible colorless mana cost, but its type as an artifact mandates a certain mana structure within your deck. Decks without adequate means to produce or retrieve colorless mana may struggle to get Static Orb on the field when it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana might not seem excessively high at a glance, but for a card that doesn’t affect the board immediately or provide a direct advantage, it can be a steep price. Considering other artifacts or spells at similar or lower cost brackets offer immediate impact or card advantage, the Orb can feel less efficient in comparison.


Reasons to Include Static Orb in Your Collection

Versatility: Static Orb is a classic card with the power to influence the game no matter what the board state. Its ability to freeze game dynamics by limiting the number of untapped permanents can be strategically utilized in various decks, especially those focused on control tactics.

Combo Potential: This card is notorious for its combo potential with cards like Teferi, Temporal Archmage, or Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, where you can selectively untap your own permanents while keeping your opponents’ locked down. This interaction creates lopsided scenarios in your favor, giving you a clear edge in the game.

Meta-Relevance: Within the shifting landscapes of competitive play, the Static Orb maintains its relevancy. It acts as a strong counterbalance to fast-paced, creature-heavy decks, slowing down opponents and providing you the time needed to execute your game plan.Exceptionally in metas that are creature-heavy or combo-reliant, having a Static Orb can turn the tides and provide strategic control at crucial moments.


How to beat

Static Orb is known for its potent ability to control the flow of the game in Magic: The Gathering. Essentially, it limits each player to untapping only two permanents during their untap step. This can seriously hamper a player’s momentum, resembling effects from other notorious cards like Winter Orb. To tackle this obstacle, one should consider employing cards that can bypass this restriction or outright remove the Orb from play.

Cards such as Nature’s Claim or Disenchant are straightforward solutions, as they can destroy Static Orb for a minimal mana cost. Artifact creatures, like Manifold Key, can prove incredibly useful by allowing you to untap another target artifact or creature, essentially nullifying the Orb’s influence for a crucial permanent. In addition, cards that change the rules of the game, like Seedborn Muse or Quest for Renewal, can provide an advantage by allowing you to untap all your permanents during each player’s untap step, which is incredibly potent when Static Orb is on the field.

While Static Orb poses a unique challenge in MTG, a strategy that incorporates artifact removal, selective untapping, or rule-changing permanents can effectively neutralize its impact, ensuring your game plan flows unhindered.


BurnMana Recommendations

Static Orb’s strategic depth in MTG can be quite the puzzle, and building around its strengths requires finesse. Remember, integrating disruptive cards like Static Orb into your deck opens up avenues for creative gameplay and control over the match’s tempo. Whether you’re throttling the speed of competitive metas or crafting synergy with untapping mechanics, mastering the Orb tremendously rewards your strategic acumen. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to command the pace of play and potentially pivot the game in your favor. Dive in deeper to discover more tactics, deck builds, and ways to optimize your MTG experience with Static Orb. Embrace the challenge and refine your control strategy with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Static Orb MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Seventh 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 Static Orb and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Static Orb Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2016-09-30. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 3101997NormalBlackDermot Power
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 319★1997NormalBlackTerese Nielsen
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 3191997NormalWhiteTerese Nielsen
42001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab3191997NormalGoldTerese Nielsen
52016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 262015NormalBlackTommy Arnold

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Static Orb has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Static Orb 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 If there are two of these on the battlefield, they do not add together. The result is that only two permanents can be untapped.