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Moxonomy

Trapped in the Tower

Enchantment — Aura1 generic manaWhite mana

Pacifism has never quite been enough, and this is the fix that gets closest to full removal without leaving white's lane. The classic version stops attacks and blocks; the ground-creature version bites deeper by also switching off activated abilities, which is where the real threats hide: a mana dork, a tap-down machine, a creature that pings or draws or ramps. The trade for that extra clause is the enchant restriction. It can only land on a creature without flying, so it is a ground-huggers-only answer, blind to the very evasive threats that most want neutralizing. That restriction is the whole balancing act. It keeps the aura from being a strict upgrade to the two-mana pacify effects white has printed for decades, and it forces the sizing question onto the board rather than the card: this is the removal white gets when the problem is stuck to the ground. As a soft answer it stays vulnerable to any bounce or enchantment removal, and the enchanted creature is still alive, still a body taking up space, even if it can no longer swing or throw itself in front of an attacker. But against a ground-based engine (something that taps for value or activates for advantage), turning off the abilities as well as the combat is what separates this from the pure attack-and-block locks that came before it.

Trapped in the Tower (eld)
ELD · #33common
Pricing
Normal: $0.12
Foil: $0.16
Oracle Text

Rules text

Enchant creature without flying Enchanted creature can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
Legalities

Format Status

Standard
N/A
Pioneer
Legal
Modern
Legal
Legacy
Legal
Vintage
Legal
Commander
Legal
Pauper
Legal
Brawl
Legal
Historic
Legal
Alchemy
N/A
Timeless
Legal
Standard Brawl
N/A
More formats
Old School
N/A
Premodern
N/A
PreDH
N/A
Pauper Commander
Legal
Oathbreaker
Legal
Gladiator
Legal
Penny Dreadful
Legal
Duel Commander
Legal
Future Standard
N/A
COMPETITIVEBRAWL
Legal
TLR
Legal
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