"Enslave" is a black enchantment spell printed as an uncommon for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Planar Chaos." So far, this is the black mana answer to the blue enchantment spell known as "Control Magic." However, it seems that Enslave seems to be superior over Control Magic. While it is originally printed in Planar Chaos, it would be reprinted in the special set known as "Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana."

The converted mana cost for Enslave is six. You will need two black mana and four colorless mana to play Enslave. For what Enslave can do, the casting cost seems to be worth it. This is due to Enslave having something that Control Magic does not offer. Keep in mind that Enslave is an enchantment spell. It means that Enslave is susceptible to anything and everything that affects enchantment spells.

What does Enslave do in the first place?

To start things off, this is an aura enchantment meant for a creature. Keep in mind that you cannot enchant Enslave on a creature with either Shroud or Protection from Black. Other creatures are fair game. Like Control Magic, "Mind Control," or "Persuasion," Enslave takes control of the enchanted creature. Control Magic, Mind Control, and Persuasion simply allow you to take control of the creatures they respectively enchant. Enslave does the same but gives an additional bonus.

At the beginning of your upkeep, the enchanted creature deals one point of damage to its owner. While you take control of the respective creature, the owner ends up suffering one point of damage. While you control the creature, you do not own it. Because of this ability, Enslave is an excellent card to have in a control deck that uses plenty of black cards.

In this respect, Enslave seems to be better than Control Magic. Ironically, it seems that Enslave should be printed as a rare. Persuasion and Mind Control are printed as rare; plus, they both cost two blue mana and three colorless mana. While Enslave costs one colorless mana more, it allows you to directly deal a point of damage to the creature's controller at the start of your upkeep.

A good combination would be Enslave and "Wound Reflection." You can double the damage points to two. That point of damage the enchanted creature deals to the opponent would get doubled to two at the end via Wound Reflection.

Overall, Enslave is a great card to have in a black control deck for the most part. You get to take control of a creature and further torment the opponent that it belongs to. Being able to take control of creatures is always a good thing.

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