5 Blue Enter the Battlefield Effects That Will Make You Win

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When a creature enters the battlefield, it triggers a special ability that can have a variety of effects. These abilities are called “enter the battlefield” (ETB) effects. Some of the best ETB effects in Magic: The Gathering give you card advantage, create tokens, or deal damage to your opponents. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best blue ETB effects and discuss how you can use them to your advantage.

One of the most iconic blue ETB effects is Brainstorm. This card allows you to draw three cards and then put two cards from your hand back on top of your library in any order. This is a great way to smooth out your draws and find the cards you need to win the game. Another classic blue ETB effect is Counterspell. This card allows you to counter any noncreature spell, which can be a huge tempo swing in your favor. Finally, we have Jace, the Mind Sculptor. This planeswalker has a powerful ETB effect that allows you to draw three cards and then put two cards from your hand back on top of your library in any order. This is a great way to get card advantage and set up your future turns.

These are just a few of the many great blue ETB effects available in Magic: The Gathering. By using these cards, you can gain a significant advantage over your opponents and improve your chances of winning the game. So next time you’re building a blue deck, be sure to include some of these powerful ETB effects.

Tidal Wave of Dominance: Blue Creatures Overwhelm the Field

Waking the Wave: Enduring Archetype

Blue’s affinity for controlling the battlefield is epitomized by its wealth of powerful creatures that enter the battlefield with game-changing effects. These creatures’ abilities to manipulate the board, grant card advantage, and establish early dominance make them formidable opponents in any format.

8. Snapcaster Mage: Timeless Versatility

As one of the most iconic blue creatures, Snapcaster Mage’s ability to flashback an instant or sorcery is unparalleled. This versatility allows players to disrupt opponents’ strategies, protect their own creatures, or simply gain an advantage at the perfect moment.

With its 2/1 power and toughness, Snapcaster Mage is often a target for removal. However, its low cost and the potential value it represents make it a must-have inclusion in many blue decks.


Card Name	Snapcaster Mage
Mana Cost	{1}{U}{U}
Power/Toughness	2/1
Effect	When Snapcaster Mage enters the battlefield, you may cast a target instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard.

Sapphire Supremacy: Blue Creatures Dominate the Battlefield

Revealing Cards from Both Decks: Delver of Secrets and Its Progeny

Since its debut, Delver of Secrets has been a cornerstone of blue aggro decks. Its ability to check an opponent’s hand and potentially reveal important cards has put opponents on the backfoot from the get-go. Other cards like True-Name Nemesis and Monastery Swiftspear have inherited this ability, providing blue decks with an ongoing advantage.

Neutralizing Threats: Counterspells Keep Opponents in Check

Counterspells have long been synonymous with blue. Counterspells like Force of Will and Counterspell neutralize opposing threats, allowing blue decks to control the pace of the game. The abundance of counterspells in blue’s arsenal keeps opponents on edge, as they’re never sure when a potentially game-changing move will be thwarted.

Card Draw: Blue Delves into the Depths of Knowledge

Blue is renowned for its card draw capabilities. Cards like Brainstorm and Ponder allow blue players to sift through their decks and find the cards they need. This ability to manipulate their own library gives blue decks a significant edge in the long run.

Manipulating Opponents’ Libraries: Preordain and Its Successors

Preordain and its similar effects allow blue players to look at their opponents’ hands and rearrange the top cards of their libraries. This disruption is a double-edged sword, as it can both hinder opponents’ plans and reveal valuable information to blue players.

Stifling Aggro: Spellstutter Sprite and Its Conundrums

Spellstutter Sprite is a formidable blue creature that checks aggro decks. Its ability to counter spells played when it enters the battlefield can seriously slow down aggro strategies and give blue decks time to stabilize.

Exploiting Instant Spells: Vendilion Clique and Snapcaster Mage

Vendilion Clique and Snapcaster Mage exploit blue’s affinity for instant spells. Clique can exile cards from opponents’ hands, while Snapcaster Mage can flashback spells from the graveyard. These abilities disrupt opponents’ plans and give blue players a significant advantage in the late game.

Winning with Illusions: Phantasmal Image and its Duplicity

Blue’s ability to create illusions is a powerful tool on the battlefield. Phantasmal Image and similar cards allow blue players to copy other creatures, effectively doubling their strength and posing a constant threat to opponents.

Adaptive Creature Removal: Vapor Snag and Its Versatility

Vapor Snag is a versatile removal spell that can bounce creatures or deal damage. Its adaptive nature makes it a potent tool against a variety of threats, giving blue decks flexibility in dealing with opponents.

The Power of Cloning: Clone and Its Various Iterations

Clone and other copying effects in blue have long been a staple in the format. The ability to duplicate opposing creatures gives blue decks access to a wide range of strategies, from copying powerful threats to disrupting opponents’ plans.

Stalling Tactics: Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast

Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast are blue sideboard options that can completely shut down red-based burn decks. These cards give blue players a decisive advantage in the matchup by neutralizing the opponent’s primary win condition.


Card Name	Effect	Uses
Delver of Secrets	Reveals card from opponent’s hand	Aggro, tempo
True-Name Nemesis	Reveals card from opponent’s hand, cannot be countered	Control, midrange
Monastery Swiftspear	Reveals card from opponent’s hand, prowess	Aggro

Blue Cards with the Best “Enter the Battlefield” Effects

Blue is a color in Magic: The Gathering known for its control and card advantage strategies. Many blue cards have powerful “enter the battlefield” (ETB) effects that can disrupt your opponents’ plans or advance your own. Here are some of the best:

Counterspell: This iconic card simply counters any noncreature spell, making it one of the most versatile and powerful ETB effects in the game.
Mana Leak: Counters a noncreature spell unless the opponent pays 3 mana, effectively preventing your opponents from playing their best spells early in the game.
Force of Negation: Counters a noncreature spell for free when it is countered by another spell, allowing you to protect your Counterspells from being countered.
Brainstorm: Draws two cards and shuffles two cards from your hand back into your library, allowing you to filter your hand and improve your deck’s consistency.
Venser, Shaper Savant: A Planeswalker that blinks a permanent when it enters the battlefield, allowing you to reset ETB effects or remove threats.