How Does Orim’s Chant Work in MTG?

Orim’s Chant might look like a simple one-mana trick, but it can wreak havoc on your opponent’s plans in ways that sometimes feel a little unfair. You pay one white mana. Then you say, “Nope, you’re not casting any spells this turn.” And if you throw in another white mana for the kicker, you get the added bonus of shutting down all attacks. That’s a lot of control for just two mana in total.

Here’s how it works: Orim’s Chant is an instant, so you can cast it whenever you want. If you want to lock your opponent out of sorcery-speed spells, cast it during their upkeep or draw step. Yes, they can still respond to Orim’s Chant if they have an instant in hand, but once it resolves, that’s it for them. No more spells this turn. And if you kicked it, no creatures get to attack, which might cause mild frustration for anyone relying on an all-out swing to push damage through.

Combos and Strategies

One of the well-known combos involves Isochron Scepter. You imprint Orim’s Chant onto the Scepter, and suddenly you can keep chanting every turn (assuming you have enough mana to pay for it each time). It’s a bit like repeatedly telling your opponent, “Sorry, you can’t play magic.” I admit, I once almost gave up trying to pull this off because tapping and untapping the Scepter got repetitive, but when it works, it’s devastating. Another use is as a tempo play: you cast Orim’s Chant at the right moment—maybe right before your opponent’s big turn—to buy yourself some breathing room. It’s like freezing them in place just long enough to gain a foothold.

In my opinion, Orim’s Chant also shines in combo decks. If you’re about to deploy your grand plan, you don’t want your opponents messing around with counterspells or instant-speed removal. Throw a Chant at them, kick it if you can afford the extra mana, and go off safely. Aggro decks can use it too, especially to prevent opponents from casting defensive spells or dropping blockers during their turn, leaving the battlefield wide open for an all-out attack. learn more.

Is It Worth Using?

So, is Orim’s Chant worth a spot in your deck? It could be. It’s cheap, it’s annoying to face, and it offers multiple ways to disrupt your opponent. You might surprise yourself with how often it wins games just by stopping a key spell or preventing a lethal counterattack. If you haven’t tried it, you might want to give it a shot. Just don’t blame me when your friends roll their eyes every time you tap one white mana and say, “I cast Orim’s Chant.”