This card is pretty good. I used to play mono-white before going mono-blue, and honestly, I find it to be a good tradeoff. Sure, the opponent can easily eliminate the hold, but played early, it's great! Plus, it works with blue's mantra: low cost trip-up spells. Look at Essence Scatter and Negate. They cost the same. This card's use is incapacitating a creature you couldn't catch with either of those and opening the opponent to attack. Of course, I prefer to use Unsummon, but that's just personal preference.
Posted By:
darkerthought7
(8/2/2009 7:08:03 PM)
This card really should read, "If creature is dealt damage, destroy Ice Cage." Would make a lot more sense, considering the cage being made out of ice and all (and a Volcanic Fallout or Firespout would result in said cage being melted).
Posted By:
Statix
(9/18/2009 2:28:56 AM)
Seems a bit underpowered, assuredly. It does a nice job of locking someone up for a turn, but you could simply Boomerang them for about the same cost, or unsummon them for 1 less.
It is a little stronger than Pacifism since it stops activation abilities, although neither presents static effects like a boost from Death Baron for example. Pacifism is also a hell of a lot harder to get rid of.
I'd say this card is somewhat usable in limited formats, but just barely as an early stopper.
2/5
Posted By:
Gaussgoat
(4/21/2010 11:59:06 AM)
Well... the art is kind of cool.
Posted By:
RafiqTheMiststalker
(4/30/2010 6:42:02 PM)
I run a few of these in a fun ninja deck. It actually more often than not sticks around for 2 or more turns, and lets me get in with a throat slitter to take it out anyway.
Posted By:
Maximillini86
(5/27/2010 12:56:09 AM)
Ice Cage {1}{U}
Enchantment -- Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
When any player looks at Ice Cage funny, destroy Ice Cage.
Posted By:
Ideatog
(2/9/2012 6:12:53 PM)
A poor man's Pacifism - more easily gotten rid of, but stopping abilities is definitely useful. If, by some chance, your opponent's deck doesn't have anything that targets (unlikely, but possible), then you're in reasonably good shape, but otherwise, BOO.
Posted By:
RobinHood3000
(8/6/2009 6:40:47 PM)
Comparing Oblivion Ring to Ice Cage is somewhat illogical. Oblivion Ring is white and three costing. What about mono-blue decks? What if you need a two costing card to disable a blocking/attacking creature?
Saying this card is garbage is not only illogical, but ridiculous, because you fail to provide any reason for your statement and take account of special circumstances. If you get your kicks by trash-talking cards, go talk about Squire, not Ice Cage.
I give Ice Cage a 3. Getting rid of the card via abilities uses up an opponents ability on one of his or her own creatures, so that's not a terrible drawback in most situations. The card itself is a little more flexible than it's white counterpart, Pacifism, which makes it feel a little more blue. If you base your whole game plan on Ice Cage crippling your enemy and winning the game, its going to disappoint you. If you need a solid blue card to stop a pesky creature for a couple of turns, its a good card for two.
Compl... (see all)
Posted By:
Beargh
(8/2/2009 10:18:22 AM)
Oblivion Ring is still far superior to this card. First of all, Oblivion Ring can target any nonland permanent (including Planeswalkers), not just creatures. Second, for an opponent to get his creature back, he has to take out the ring, not just pump his own creature.
@gellar76:
It seems that you are imagining that if the enchanted creature would be destroyed, destroy Ice Cage instead, which isn't the case at all. Ice Cage does nothing to protect creatures from removal. It is fragile removal in itself; nothing more.
Posted By:
Vinifera7
(9/15/2009 9:15:23 PM)
Should have cost only U, its an average card
Posted By:
OutlawD1
(10/8/2009 8:01:35 AM)