Arcane Lighthouse MTG Card
2014-11-07 - Number 59
2018-06-08 - Number 233
2023-08-04 - Number 985
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , : Until end of turn, creatures your opponents control lose hexproof and shroud and can't have hexproof or shroud.
Cards like Arcane Lighthouse
Arcane Lighthouse is a unique utility land in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a strategic advantage by removing hexproof and shroud from your opponents’ creatures until end of turn. Similar to Detection Tower, which provides a nearly identical effect, the decision between these two lands hinges on the minute details. Detection Tower allows you to target creatures with your spells and abilities for the turn, broadening your tactical options.
Another comparable card is Shadowspear, an equipment that permanently strips creatures of hexproof and indestructible, as long as it’s attached. While it demands an initial investment to cast and then equip, the constant threat it poses can alter your opponents’ game plans significantly. Comparatively, Glaring Spotlight is an artifact that similarly removes hexproof, but it also gifts your creatures unblockable until end of turn when sacrificed, shifting the focus towards a more aggressive strategy.
When evaluating utility options, Arcane Lighthouse’s land-based nature means it doesn’t take up slots in your spell lineup, deserving consideration for a spot in any commander deck susceptible to elusive creatures. It certainly proves its worth against decks that rely heavily on hexproof strategies.
Cards similar to Arcane Lighthouse by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: As a land, Arcane Lighthouse doesn’t impact your hand size directly, but it provides significant tactical advantage on the board. Its ability to strip creatures of hexproof and shroud ensures your targeted removal spells get their intended targets, effectively increasing your usable hand options against elusive threats.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a source of acceleration, it seamlessly integrates into your mana base without sacrificing tempo. Its utility can be considered a form of resource acceleration in that it allows your removal spells to work unhindered, potentially saving you turns and mana otherwise spent dealing with protected creatures.
Instant Speed: The power of Arcane Lighthouse comes from its ability to be activated at instant speed. This ensures maximum flexibility, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment during an opponent’s turn to render their creatures vulnerable to spells and abilities, thereby altering the course of the game without any delay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Arcane Lighthouse doesn’t require discarding cards, the need to maintain card advantage is vital and using a land slot for a situational effect may not always be optimal for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Even though Arcane Lighthouse can be activated with generic mana, its activation cost of {1} and tap can be a downside when facing tight mana situations where every resource counts.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Arcane Lighthouse’s ability to make creatures lose hexproof and shroud until end of turn can be game-changing, the setup cost and activation can be steep compared to other utility lands which could potentially provide immediate value without any mana investment.
Reasons to Include Arcane Lighthouse in Your Collection
Versatility: Arcane Lighthouse is an ideal inclusion for any deck looking to overcome strategies reliant on hexproof or shroud abilities. Its ability to strip creatures of those protections each turn ensures your removal spells and abilities always have a clear path.
Combo Potential: This land synergizes with cards and strategies that take advantage of targeting opponents’ creatures. Pair it with control elements or removal spells to maintain a dominant board presence and turn your opponents’ defenses against them.
Meta-Relevance: With pervasive use of hexproof abilities in competitive circles, Arcane Lighthouse stands as a powerful sideboard choice or even a main deck piece in certain metas. Its utility in disrupting opponents’ plans cannot be overstated, making it a valuable asset in a variety of game formats.
How to beat Arcane Lighthouse
Arcane Lighthouse is a land card that holds strategic utility in MTG. It renders elusive creatures targetable by removing hexproof and shroud until the end of the turn. This card can be particularly challenging to overcome when your strategy relies on creatures with those abilities to provide a protective edge.
To counteract the Arcane Lighthouse, consider using cards that limit your opponent’s ability to tap their lands or neutralize the Lighthouse itself. Pithing Needle, for example, can prevent Arcane Lighthouse from being activated without affecting your mana base. Instant-speed land destruction cards can also provide a timely answer to the Lighthouse’s activation, dismantling your opponent’s strategy before they can utilize its ability.
Strategic play is key when facing this card. Anticipate the turn your opponent might activate Arcane Lighthouse and prepare to protect your creatures or adjust your approach. This could mean keeping mana open for instant-speed responses or setting up your board to not rely solely on hexproof or shroud. Knowing when to hold back or advance can make all the difference when dealing with utility lands such as Arcane Lighthouse.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arcane Lighthouse MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014 and Commander Anthology Volume II, 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 Arcane Lighthouse 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 Arcane Lighthouse Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-11-07 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 59 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 2 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 233 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 3 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 985 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arcane Lighthouse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arcane Lighthouse card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-11-07 | After the second ability resolves, continuous effects generated by the resolution of spells and abilities that would give hexproof or shroud to one of the affected creatures aren’t created. For example, after the second ability resolves, a spell cast by an opponent that gives creatures they control hexproof wouldn’t cause the creatures to have hexproof. (If that spell has additional effects, such as raising the power of the creatures, those effects will apply as normal.) |
| 2014-11-07 | Continuous effects generated by static abilities (such as an Aura that grants hexproof to a creature) will not apply during the turn, but will resume applying once the turn ends. |
| 2014-11-07 | The second ability applies only to creatures controlled by your opponents when it resolves. Creatures that enter the battlefield or come under an opponent’s control later in the turn won’t be affected. |