Freeze
| Freeze | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mechanic | |
| Introduced | Homelands |
| Last used | Final Fantasy |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Freeze is a slang term used by Magic R&D to describe spells that tap a target permanent and prevent untapping during its controller's next untap step, or put stun counters on them.[1] This mechanic is represented in art as ice or coldness (e.g. Crippling Chill).
Description
- "Freezing" creatures is a primary blue ability that R&D has grown fond of in recent years.[1]
- "Freezing" land was a primary red ability, they have been experimenting as a "land destruction lite" [1], which was abandoned after Aether Revolt due to unpopularity.[2]
Some cards also apply freeze effects to themselves as a downside, such as the mechanic of Exert.
The use of the "doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step" has been phased out since 2022, and the new templating is through the use of Stun counters, which freeze for as many counters as are on the card. This gave another development tweak for tempo tap spells, as "draw a card" as a rider meant all blue decks would have a reason to take it.
Dehydration
If an enchanted creature doesn't untap so long as it's enchanted, it is called Lockdown or Dehydration. This is one of Blue's primary creature answers in Limited. It's used almost solely on Auras.[1][3] Some higher rarity creatures lock down creatures for as long as they are controlled, like Dungeon Geists.
It is named after the eponymous Dehydration-spell. Older Auras only added the "doesn't untap" aspect, but as Limited developed and its weaknesses became apparent, tapping the target, having Flash, removing abilities and being cheaper were added on. Dehydration-like spells are often combined with set-specific mechanics.
Orochi ability
The Orochi ability is a slang term used by Magic R&D for "when this creature damages another creature tap that creature, it doesn't untap during it's controller's next untap step". The triggered ability was used to define the Orochi snake people of the Kamigawa block
According to Mark Rosewater, "[t]he Orochi ability started from the flavor. We wanted the snake people (who made sense in green) to have the ability to reflect their venomous attacks. The tap-down ability felt like something that would happen if someone bit you with a poison bite. Traditionally, the ability to tap down creatures rests in white and blue, but green has dabbled with the ability (on cards such as Tangle and Elvish Hunter). In addition, the fact that this ability only worked through creature combat helped give the ability a green feel."[4]
The ability was unused for many years until it returned in 2019 with Frostwalk Bastion in Modern Horizons and Queen of Ice in Throne of Eldraine, this time as an ice-themed ability.
References
- ↑ a b c d Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2021). "Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-10-18.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 15, 2021). "Odd & Ends: Kaldheim, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (December, 2005). "Ask Wizards - December 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23.