Ensnaring Bridge (Original Sketch)

Ensnaring Bridge is an artifact that costs 3 colorless mana and was originally printed in the Stronghold set. As long as your hand size is small or empty, you deny your opponent’s ability to attack with large creatures. It is often used in control/prison style decks that intend to stall the opponent’s combat pressure. Due to its affective lock down potential this can give players time to execute their slower game plan or assemble their combo or win condition without getting attacked. It has been played mostly in Legacy prison decks such as the classic Dragon Stompy (Mono Red Stompy) or Imperial Painter lists. These decks often won by locking out the opponent and then finishing the game, either with various Planeswalkers or by combo finish (e.g. Painter’s Servant / Grindstone). In the current legacy format, Ensnaring Bridge is mostly played as a one-off in the sideboard. Decks like Mystic Forge or 12-Post/Cloudpost use this card as a toolbox option they can get from the sideboard with Karn, the Great Creator. In Modern, Ensnaring Bridge is also played as a tutor target with Karn in UrzaTron or in various UB Mill decks. Ensnaring Bridge also sees play in Vintage Golos MUD decks and various cEDH / Commander decks. It is not on the Reserved List and has been reprinted in newer sets (Double Masters, Masters 25...).