---
name: "Martial Law"
mana_cost: "{2}{W}{W}"
cmc: 4
type_line: "Enchantment"
colors: ["W"]
color_identity: ["W"]
keywords: ["Detain"]
set: "RTR"
set_name: "Return to Ravnica"
collector_number: "14"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Tyler Jacobson"
oracle_id: "dfcf9f38-eb26-4033-b7c0-45ed29417aa5"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/martial-law-rtr"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Martial Law
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{W}{W}` (CMC: 4)
- **Type:** Enchantment
- **Keywords:** Detain

## Oracle Text
At the beginning of your upkeep, detain target creature an opponent controls. (Until your next turn, that creature can't attack or block and its activated abilities can't be activated.)

> *"The good of society matters much more than the inconvenience of a few."
—Agmand Sarv, Azorius hussar*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Isperia's Skywatch](/printing/isperias-skywatch-rtr.md) — Creature — Vedalken Knight
2. [Archon of the Triumvirate](/printing/archon-of-the-triumvirate-prtr.md) — Creature — Archon
3. [Lyev Skyknight](/printing/lyev-skyknight-rtr.md) — Creature — Human Knight
4. [Azorius Justiciar](/printing/azorius-justiciar-clu.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
5. [Azorius Arrester](/printing/azorius-arrester-rtr.md) — Creature — Human Soldier
6. [Azorius Traffic Enforcement](/printing/azorius-traffic-enforcement-unk.md) — Creature — Human Soldier

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Return to Ravnica (RTR) #14
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Tyler Jacobson
- **Total Printings:** 11 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`