Spectral Steel MTG Card


Spectral Steel recovers enchantments, preventing loss of card advantage during play. Instant-speed retrieval adds flexibility and surprise elements to strategies. Though powerful, its usage is limited by mana demands and discard costs.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2. , Exile Spectral Steel from your graveyard: Return another target Aura or Equipment card from your graveyard to your hand.


Cards like Spectral Steel

Spectral Steel enhances the armory of aura spells in Magic: The Gathering much akin to its predecessors. It’s akin to the likes of Ethereal Armor, which also boosts a creature’s power and toughness. However, Spectral Steel provides an additional utility by allowing you to return an aura or equipment card from your graveyard to your hand, a versatility that Ethereal Armor lacks. Both cards resonate with players who favor bolstering their creatures on the battlefield.

Another peer in its class is Hyena Umbra. This card not only increases a creature’s might but also offers the crucial first strike ability and has the totem armor perk, which protects the enchanted creature from destruction once. In contrast, Spectral Steel’s secondary ability caters to recurring strategic artifacts, potentially offering repeated value over time. Despite this, Hyena Umbra’s immediate defensive benefits cannot be overlooked.

In the realm of aura spells, Spectral Steel stands out through its balance between enhancing battle capabilities and furnishing long-term strategic advantages, securing its place as a versatile option in players’ decks.

Ethereal Armor - MTG Card versions
Hyena Umbra - MTG Card versions
Ethereal Armor - MTG Card versions
Hyena Umbra - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spectral Steel by color, type and mana cost

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Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Sacred Ground - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Sacred Ground - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spectral Steel enhances card advantage by returning to your hand from the graveyard. This feature is valuable for recovering important enchantments and ensuring you aren’t falling behind in the resource game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Spectral Steel can accelerate your game plan. By equipping swiftly at a low cost, it helps you press the advantage with a minimal investment, effectively giving you more resources to deploy other strategies.

Instant Speed: The ability to retrieve Spectral Steel at instant speed is a crucial aspect of its playability. It provides flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s moves by setting up a defensive posture or preparing for a counterattack without needing to commit during your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to leverage Spectral Steel’s secondary ability, you must discard another card. This can create a disadvantage, especially during late-game scenarios where your hand may be running low on cards, reducing your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: As with many aura spells, Spectral Steel demands white mana. This requisite confines the card primarily to white or mixed decks that can consistently provide white mana sources, potentially excluding it from other deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of casting Spectral Steel, while not exorbitant, is worth noting. At two mana, you are required to weigh the aura’s benefits against other staple cards in the two mana range that may provide more immediate board presence or card utility. This evaluation is critical in deck building to ensure you’re maximizing the impact of your mana expenditure each turn.


Reasons to Include Spectral Steel in Your Collection

Versatility: Spectral Steel is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of decks, particularly those centered around Auras or Equipment. Its ability to attach to creatures seamlessly makes it a valuable addition for boosting your forces on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This enchantment shines in synergistic interactions, offering the potential for powerful combinations with cards that benefit from Equipment or that retrieve cards from the graveyard, amplifying the dynamic play options available within your game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where control and creature strategies are prevalent, Spectral Steel provides resilience against removal and recurring value, ensuring that it remains a pertinent choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Spectral Steel is an intriguing aura in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to beef up creatures and offer late-game utility by retrieving it from the graveyard. Overcoming a card as versatile as Spectral Steel requires thoughtful play. Firstly, consider using enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize to directly remove Spectral Steel from the creature it’s enchanting. This not only diminishes your opponent’s offensive capabilities but also ensures that they don’t get the chance to benefit from its secondary ability later on.

Another strategy involves countering Spectral Steel when it’s first cast. This prevents the card from impacting the board altogether. Counterspells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto are perfect for this, as they are specifically designed to deal with noncreature spells. Moreover, if you expect to face decks that utilize Spectral Steel or similar auras, include instant speed removals and counterspells in your deck to swiftly address these threats when they arise on the battlefield.

Lastly, manage your resources wisely and anticipate the retrieval of Spectral Steel from the graveyard. Plan ahead and have graveyard hate cards ready; cards like Scavenger Grounds or Bojuka Bog can exile Spectral Steel before your opponent has the chance to use it again, thereby limiting their options and keeping you one step ahead in the duel.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG comes down to understanding every card’s strengths and weaknesses, and Spectral Steel is no exception. Elevate your gameplay by integrating Spectral Steel’s versatility and combo potential into your deck tactics. If you thrive on strategic deck building and enjoy a gameplay rich in interactions, this card could be a significant asset. Navigating gameplay dynamics and ensuring your collection includes meta-relevant cards is crucial, and Spectral Steel fits the bill. Learn more with us as you aim to outmaneuver your opponents and craft a deck that stands the test of any battle.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spectral Steel MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim and Jumpstart 2022, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Spectral Steel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spectral Steel Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Johannes Voss.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-02-05KaldheimKHM 302015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 2472015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 752015NormalBlackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spectral Steel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal