How do you properly use Silence?
General forum
Posted on July 13, 2014, 5:10 a.m. by UpperDeckerTaco
I am still unsure of the correct way to use Silence , I've been told time after time again that it is a good card, but how does it play out on the board, and when do you play it to most benefit you?
-MisterJ- is correct.
Note also that, as some people get this wrong, Silence can not be used in response to a spell to counter it, because by that point the spell has already been cast.
July 13, 2014 5:32 a.m.
As another addition, keep in mind that for certain decks such as affinity, you want to keep the opponents from playing certain permanents, such as artifacts. There may always be cards they can play without casting them, such as Ancient Den (which isn't a spell), or cards that put permanents on the battlefield without casting them, such as AEther Vial - both are unaffected by Silence .
July 13, 2014 7:16 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
You have to go through a filter page to ask a question in the Q&A. That page specifies that the Q&A is for rules questions only. Your non-rules question has been moved to the appropriate forum.
July 13, 2014 4:34 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #6
How to properly play Silence :
Read the fucking text that says "spells cast before this resolves are unaffected."
Find a better card to use.
July 13, 2014 5:05 p.m.
TurboFagoot says... #7
Silence is basically used in combo decks. In my upkeep, I cast Silence. I then combo on my turn, and win, because my opponent can't counter my combo.
If they have a counter spell, they have to counter Silence, and then have a second counter for my actual combo.
That is using Silence defensively, to force through your combo to win. Using Silence proactively, to "Time Walk" and opponent, is pretty useless, and should almost never be done.
July 13, 2014 5:24 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
@TurboFagoot I saw Stanislav Cifka do just what you recommended against doing in Round 16 of PT RTR. His opponent responded with his hand to win the game, but the goal of a proactive Silence is to stop your opponent from going off that turn if you think they will so that you can go off on your next turn.
July 13, 2014 5:42 p.m.
EmperorMarcelliusIX says... #9
You don't. You use Render Silent , which is a Cancel and a Silence . That way, you can do two things at once, and be mean about it.
July 13, 2014 6:18 p.m.
Dalektable says... #12
I know someone who played(s?) four copies of Silence mainboarded in esper control. He used it on your turn one / two ideally to basically develop some advantage over you before you can start playing spells he'll have answer to them like a counterspell or kill spell on the first turn you're able to cast it.
July 13, 2014 9:30 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #14
It really does, InconspicuousPotato.
No seriously. Here's the ultimate YOLO strat for Silence :
Stick an Elite Arcanist . Give it Hexproof or something. Then laugh as your opponent can't really play.
Obviously fragile and impractical. But, when it works, it's pretty neat.
July 14, 2014 1:38 a.m.
This site could use a lot less people like InconspicuousPotato.
July 14, 2014 4:02 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #17
Disagree. He's definitely playing the bad cop most of the time, but he cuts to the chase and he's usually right (and well-meaning). Besides, there are plenty of cheery folks on here to balance things out.
That, and potatoes are incredibly interesting. Especially the less conspicuous ones.
July 14, 2014 4:06 p.m.
Just because you understand the rules of the game doesn't mean you should be a jerk to those who need help and want to be certain of things. UpperDeckerTaco is only trying to understand the card more and how others' utilize the card. I find nothing worth putting him down for that. If you aren't going to try and help others on here with their decks and questions, why post at all?
July 14, 2014 4:12 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #19
I really don't think it was super malicious. Potato lets everybody know on his profile that he has a sarcastic streak. Even accounts for such and apologizes in advance.
Maybe his comment wasn't overly constructive here, but I'm sure that if UpperDeckerTaco tagged Potato and asked him for actual advice, Potato would have obliged, albeit with a dash of his trademark flippancy.
July 14, 2014 4:20 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #20
Took no hard feelings from it, Dreno33 stated exactly why I asked the question...to find out the best way to utilize the card. Thanks
July 14, 2014 5:37 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #21
Yeah, I'm kind of a sarcastic bastard. JakeHarlow pretty much said what I would have said here. Thanks bro.
July 15, 2014 1:12 a.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #22
Also, if you've seen me around the site Dreno33, you'll notice that when I'm the first to comment on something or I get excited about a deck, I'll have long constructive comments. When I'm not as interested and kind of want to see what other people think I'll just throw out the first opinion that comes to my head. Sometimes they're a bit rude... But my other option for that is to be boring, and I much prefer getting my point across with a bit of pizzazz .
-MisterJ- says... #2
What you would want to do is cast Silence during the upkeep phase (the most opportune) time if you want to keep them from playing spell.
Once you cast Silence the other player(s) will have until the spell resolves to respond to it (Instant spells and activated abilities specifically). Once it resolves on the other players turn they can play land, activate abilities, attack, and so on and so forth. Just not attempt to resolve an actual spell, like creatures, instants, sorceries, planeswalkers, enchantments or artifacts. If on your turn, they are pretty much hosed to only activating abilities and responding with instant speed spells before Silence resolves.
July 13, 2014 5:16 a.m.