Many time he save ma a*s and then I won. Stop the opponents attack, or make my attack clean. One of the most usable card in my old deck.

  -- By Marek from Prague, Czech Republic on June 17, 2009

Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited versions are NOT better. They are a "mono" artifact, which means that they could only be used once per turn. I do like the aesthetics better on the older versions though...

  -- By Luna from So Cal, USA on March 23, 2009

Icy Manipulator is absolutely the best for tapping your serra angel on cold nights.

  -- By Michael from Shangrala on January 24, 2008

Just want to clarify one thing regarding a previous comment on this item (even though it was posted about 2 years ago). Alpha, Beta, Unlimited versions clearly state that this item needs to tap after use. It's a "Mono Artifact", meaning ability causes artifact to tap when used.

  -- By BlackandBlue from CA on June 13, 2007

One of the greatest artifacts in Magic. Add some royal assassins with these for a great 1-2 punch.

  -- By Bill Jubinville from Redlands, CA on June 30, 2006

Dtto to all of the other reviews above. This card is all that and some change. It's just a good, classic, and all around fun card. Oh how I love to use it to just have fun with opponents... or even slap down a blind with anger and have even more fun. It's just oodles of fun to tap your opponents best card, then when they think it's safe to attack with any other creatures they have, blind with anger drops a jaw or two. lol... hehehe... mistaaa!

  -- By Lonnie from Cali on February 05, 2006

get the vastly superiour artwork and old school acumen of the 'beta' version over this upstart pretender............

  -- By Anonymous from gainesville, FL USA on March 09, 2005

Very understated ability. With Royal Assassin, can allow you to kill any creature on the board. With Winter Orb, it allows your opponent to suffer the effects, while you still escape. Affects everything, lands, creatures, and artifacts, which is much broader than most, for just 1.

  -- By Sean Ollech from Vancouver, BC on February 17, 2005

Oracle has changed the text of the alpha and beta icy manipulators to be the same as the current ones. Even though they say one thing, they must tap in order to use their ability, like the ice age or mirrodin ones. Still a useful card though.

  -- By Anonymous from Wisconsin, USA on January 04, 2005

This is a very good card, but Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited versions are better. In those versions you still have to pay the one colorless mana, but you dont have to tap it. You can have only one Icy Manipulator in play and do more with it than if you had four of the Mirrodin or Ice Age ones in play. Overall the card is good but if you want to play with one, spend a little extra money and buy an Alpha, Beta, or an Unlimited one.

  -- By Ryan from San Diego, CA USA on December 23, 2004

I keep this in my deck not only to add to my Nim creatures but its just fun tapping someones big nasty creature he was just waiting to smack me with.

  -- By DarKlown from tx on August 28, 2004

Ice Manipulator is by far my #1

  -- By some M.T.G. player from CT u.s.a. on November 23, 2003

Very good card considering it can stall for you if your opponent controls one or two creatures because it allows you to keep on tapping them. This card isnt great but it can be very productive at times.

  -- By Anonymous from california on November 14, 2003

Ah, nostalgia for those olden times isn't entirely misplaced when looking on the lightning enhaloed silvery globe. God! this card looked awsome, not to mention its ability wasn't too shabby either. My first good deck had this in it.

  -- By from gainesville, FL USA on December 18, 2002

This card is a great way to knock off creatures when paired up with either Norritt or Nettling Imp, both have the same ability, Nettling Imp costs one less to play though. Use Icy Manipulator tap target creature then use Nettling Imp or Norritt to force that creature to attack, if it can't attack, at the end of turn, the creature dies. Since the creature can't attack because it's tapped due to Icy Manipulator, it shall be dead at the end of turn. All you have to pay is one colorless for Icy's activation cost. The only draw-back is that only one creature per turn can be destroyed because you have to tap Norrit/ Imp and Icy to use their abilities.

  -- By StevenJ from Florida, USA on December 08, 2002

Great card! Combine 4 of these with 4 rings of Gix and you can make your friends hate you for life.

  -- By Tom Burton from Maebashi, Japan on November 13, 2001

Fun to have, horrible at the recieving end, please don't hate me for this, this card is so great!

  -- By ryan vargovich from iron river on April 25, 2001