Kindly Ancestor // Ancestor's Embrace MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 22
2022-01-28 - Number 289
2021-11-19 - Number 4
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant,Lifelink |
Key Takeaways
- Brings creatures back from graveyard to battlefield, preserving card advantage in your hand.
- Instant speed casting allows for strategic play and creates unexpected game state changes.
- Enhances resource acceleration by nullifying casting costs of resurrected creatures.
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has lifelink. If Ancestor's Embrace would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, exile it instead.
"Thank you, Grandmother. I love you too."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ancestor’s Embrace provides a significant edge by bringing a creature back from the graveyard directly to the battlefield. This resurrection effect not only recovers a key piece you might have lost earlier but also maintains your hand by not requiring you to draw and play another creature.
Resource Acceleration: Returning a creature to the fray can accelerate your resources by effectively bypassing cast costs, especially if the creature has an enter-the-battlefield effect that adds value or alters the board state favorably.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Ancestor’s Embrace at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment. Whether it’s in response to an opponent’s action or during their end step, the surprise factor can shift the momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To harness Ancestor’s Embrace, players must relinquish a card from their hand, which may not always be favorable, especially if that card could have been crucial in subsequent turns or interactions.
Specific Mana Cost: Ancestor’s Embrace calls for both white and black mana, making it exclusive to decks that can accommodate this color pairing, potentially limiting its inclusion in a player’s strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Ancestor’s Embrace may be considered steep when stacked against alternative enchantment options which could yield greater value or more versatile gameplay advantages.
Reasons to Include Ancestor’s Embrace in Your Collection
Versatility: Ancestor’s Embrace can be a flexible inclusion in various deck types, providing both lifelink and a boost in toughness which can swing games in your favor during critical moments.
Combo Potential: This card can complement strategies that involve creature survivability or those that take advantage of life gain synergies, setting the stage for powerful interactions and unexpected comebacks.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creature-based combat is prominent, Ancestor’s Embrace offers an edge by turning any creature into a more formidable blocker or attacker that can also pad your life total.
How to Beat
Ancestor’s Embrace presents a unique blend of protective and aggressive strategies in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Within its capacity, it closely mirrors mechanics found in cards such as Faith’s Shield or Mother of Runes, both famed for their protective prowess. Like these cards, Ancestor’s Embrace offers a lifesaving boost to health and durability for your creatures through its lifelink and indestructible mechanics, but it stands out due to its potential for switching the tide of combat.
Suffice it to say, overcoming the dual functionality of Ancestor’s Embrace requires strategic foresight. Utilizing effects that circumvent combat or targeted damage, such as exile or bounce abilities, can effectively nullify the card’s advantage. This includes leveraging instant-speed interactions, which bypass the indestructibility granted during your opponent’s turn. Cards that hold a similar role include Swords to Plowshares or Unsummon, which provide a practical solution for dealing with creatures buffed by Ancestor’s Embrace.
Essentially, the key to tackling an opponent’s use of Ancestor’s Embrace lies in preemptive measures and alternative removal strategies. By prioritizing timing and employing a diverse arsenal of removal spells, the resilience afforded by this card can be adeptly managed within Magic: The Gathering’s dynamic environment.
Discover the Power of Ancestors Embrace
Ancestor’s Embrace is a captivating addition to the library of aura spells in MTG. When considering cards of similar nature, a comparison with Spectra Ward is almost inevitable. Both cards provide valuable protection to creatures, but Ancestor’s Embrace offers the added boon of lifelink, enabling players to regain health as they deal damage. On the other hand, Spectra Ward’s ability to grant protection from all colors ensures that your creature becomes a formidable opponent against a wider variety of decks.
Cards like Kindly Ancestor // Ancestor's Embrace
Ancestor’s Embrace shares the battlefield with other protective auras like Shielded by Faith. This spell not only shields your creature from harm by granting indestructible, but its repeatability on subsequent creatures gives it a tactical flexibility that Ancestor’s Embrace doesn’t possess. Unquestioned Authority is another close relative, conferring protection from creatures and a card draw upon entry. While not offering the same lifelink benefit, this card can create a tactical edge through card advantage and unrestricted attack potential.
When looking across the range of MTG’s diverse auras, Ancestor’s Embrace sets itself apart with the synergistic blend of defense and lifegain. While other cards boast individual strengths, the balance and utility that Ancestor’s Embrace provides to creature-based strategies make it a compelling choice among MTG enchantments.
Cards similar to Kindly Ancestor // Ancestor's Embrace by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ancestor's Embrace // Ancestor's Embrace MTG card by a specific set like Crimson Vow Art Series and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Ancestor's Embrace // Ancestor's Embrace and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Ancestor's Embrace // Ancestor's Embrace Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Justyna Dura.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 4 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Justyna Dura | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 22 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Justyna Dura | |
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 289 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Justyna Dura |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kindly Ancestor // Ancestor's Embrace has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |