Enthralling Hold is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Enchant creature You can't choose an untapped creature as this spell's target as you cast it. You control enchanted creature.
Complete guide
Enthralling Hold is a powerful blue Aura that allows you to permanently seize control of an opponent's creature. Unlike many other control effects, it comes with a specific condition: the creature must be tapped to be targeted during casting. Once attached, you command that creature for as long as the Aura remains on the battlefield.
Casting and Targeting
When you cast Enthralling Hold, you must target a creature that is currently tapped. This is a targeting restriction that applies only at the moment of casting. If the creature later becomes untapped while Enthralling Hold is still on the stack, the spell will still resolve normally. Furthermore, if you put Enthralling Hold directly onto the battlefield using an effect that bypasses casting, you can legally attach it to an untapped creature.
Taking Control
Once Enthralling Hold resolves, you gain control of the enchanted creature. Gaining control does not change who controls the Auras or Equipment already attached to that creature. The previous controller still owns those attachments, and they can move their Equipment to a different creature they control during their own main phase. You do, however, get to decide how the creature attacks and blocks, and you can activate its abilities.
Strategic Timing
The best time to cast Enthralling Hold is immediately after an opponent attacks you, as their creatures will be tapped and vulnerable to your theft. It is important to remember that because you control the creature, any effects that trigger when a creature 'you control' performs an action will now apply to you, not the original owner.
Interaction examples
Bident of ThassaIf your opponent is refusing to tap their best creature, you can use Bident of Thassa to force all their creatures to attack. Once they attack and become tapped, you can cast Enthralling Hold on your next turn to take control of their strongest unit.
Kindred DiscoverySuppose you control Kindred Discovery and have chosen 'Human'. If you cast Enthralling Hold on a tapped Human creature, you gain control of it as the spell resolves. However, Kindred Discovery will not trigger because the creature did not 'enter' the battlefield; it simply changed controllers while already on the battlefield.
After gaining control of a creature with Enthralling Hold, you can attack with it on subsequent turns. If you control Bident of Thassa, when that stolen creature deals combat damage to a player, you (the current controller) will be the one to draw a card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Enthralling Hold
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The middle ability of Enthralling Hold affects only the choice of target as the spell is cast. If the creature becomes untapped before the spell resolves, it still resolves. If a player is allowed to change the spell's target while it's on the stack, they may choose an untapped creature. If you put Enthralling Hold onto the battlefield without casting it, you may attach it to an untapped creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Gaining control of a permanent doesn't cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it. They'll remain attached, but an Aura's effect that affects “you” still affects its controller rather than you, the controller of an Equipment can move it during their next main phase, and so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Enthralling Hold
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.