Paralyze
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
When this Aura enters, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature's controller, that player may pay 
. If the player does, untap the creature.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Limited Edition Alpha
- Price
- $23.87
- EDHREC rank
- #20078
Paralyze taps a creature and keeps it tapped — the controller pays 4 each upkeep to untap it, which most players won't. For one black mana, that's a near-permanent lock on any single threat.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Paralyze is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, and Oathbreaker. In Commander it's a niche choice — one mana is efficient, but enchantment-based removal is fragile against the format's ubiquitous enchantment removal and doesn't actually kill the creature. Pauper is where Paralyze has the most historical relevance, slotting into black control shells as a cheap way to neutralize early threats. Legacy and Vintage have enough fast mana and powerful threats that a conditional tap effect rarely warrants a slot.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Budget Alternatives
Cheaper options that do most of the same work
Paralyze's effect is narrow enough that straightforward creature removal often serves better at a fraction of the price — Ulcerate or Snuff Out answer the creature outright rather than leaving it on board to be recurred or untapped. If the enchantment-on-a-creature angle matters, Singing Bell Strike does nearly the same job and costs pennies.
Price Context
Current price
$23.87 premium tier
At $23.87, Paralyze sits at a premium price driven almost entirely by age and scarcity rather than competitive demand. The effect doesn't justify the cost in any current format, so this is a collector's card first and a playable second.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.