Ana Sanctuary MTG Card
2001-06-04 - Number 74
2019-11-07 - Number 1118
2020-09-26 - Number APC-74
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control a blue or black permanent, target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If you control a blue permanent and a black permanent, that creature gets +5/+5 until end of turn instead.
Cards like Ana Sanctuary
Delving into the domain of enchantments within Magic: The Gathering, Ana Sanctuary commands attention for its conditional power boost. Much like the card Seedborn Muse, which increases the potency of your turns by untapping all your permanents, Ana Sanctuary increases a creature’s strength during your turn but under a specific condition – holding the domain over at least one of each basic land type. The similarity lies in the theme of gaining an upper hand during your turn.
Another enchantment, Khalni Heart Expedition, operates under a land-related trigger mechanism. It fosters ramp capabilities by allowing you to place additional lands on the field, indirectly bolstering your creatures and spells. Though not directly enhancing creature power as Ana Sanctuary does, its function in land mechanics presents a parallel. In contrast, Mirari’s Wake is an exemplary counterpart that offers a more comprehensive benefit. It provides a direct stat boost to your creatures and doubles the mana of your lands, yet it demands a steeper mana investment than Ana Sanctuary.
While comparing these strategy enhancers, it’s evident that Ana Sanctuary holds its ground in MTG decks that capitalize on land diversity and turning the tide during one’s own turn with incremental power boosts.
Cards similar to Ana Sanctuary by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ana Sanctuary increases the potential for card advantage as your creatures receive a boost each turn if you control a creature of each color. This persistent enhancement means you’re gaining more value from your creatures every cycle without expending additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: Although Ana Sanctuary itself does not directly produce additional mana or tokens, the strength it adds to your creatures can lead to accelerated board presence, thereby indirectly contributing to enhanced resource control through more powerful attacks and defenses.
Instant Speed: While the sanctuary’s ability is not at instant speed, the benefits it provides can complement instant speed interactions. With stronger creatures, your in-turn responses can become more potent, allowing you to outpace opponents and leverage your improved creatures to react or threaten more effectively during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One limitation of Ana Sanctuary is that it necessitates a mindful strategy around discard. Players must carefully consider their deck composition and ensure they have an ample hand size to gain the benefits the card provides.
Specific Mana Cost: Ana Sanctuary has a somewhat restrictive mana cost that includes both green and blue mana, which may not align seamlessly with all deck types. This requirement might impede its integration in decks not specifically designed to generate these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher end for its effect, players may find that Ana Sanctuary competes for a slot against other enchantments or spells with more immediate impact or lower cost, potentially affecting its play frequency in decks.
Reasons to Include Ana Sanctuary in Your Collection
Versatility: Ana Sanctuary can adapt to various deck styles, particularly those that revolve around multicolor cards. Its ability to incrementally boost a creature’s power and toughness each turn makes it a useful addition in decks that aim to maintain a constant board presence.
Combo Potential: The strength of this card shines in decks that focus on synergistic creature combinations. When paired with creatures that have tap abilities or those that gain benefits from increased stats, Ana Sanctuary can serve as a catalyst to turn ordinary creatures into significant threats.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Ana Sanctuary can elevate the performance of your deck. It seamlessly blends into the current meta, enhancing your creatures’ combat effectiveness and providing an edge against opponents playing creature-heavy decks.
How to beat Ana Sanctuary
Ana Sanctuary thrives in a deck densely populated with multicolored spells, rewarding players who weave a kaleidoscope of mana. Against this versatile buff, the most effective strategy is disruption. Removing multicolored cards from play or your opponent’s hand will thwart Ana Sanctuary’s potential. Creature control, such as spot removal spells or universal “board wipes” that clear the entire tableau, can dismantle the synergy that Ana Sanctuary players rely upon.
Additionally, countering the player’s multicolored spells as they cast them can prevent Ana Sanctuary from ever becoming a threat. This can be achieved through cards that specifically counter multicolored spells or traditional counterspells that disrupt any type of spell. Moreover, enchantment removal spells are a precise way to address Ana Sanctuary directly. By returning it to the player’s hand or exiling it outright, you can nullify its bonuses, leaving your opponent without their foundational support.
Ultimately, while Ana Sanctuary can provide a significant power boost within a dedicated deck, by capitalizing on interaction and key rare disruptive plays, opponents can effectively neutralize its benefits and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ana Sanctuary MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Mystery Booster, 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 Ana Sanctuary and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Ana Sanctuary Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Rob Alexander.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-06-04 | Apocalypse | APC | 74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1118 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | APC-74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ana Sanctuary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ana Sanctuary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The creature either gets +1/+1 or +5/+5, never +6/+6. |