Bathe in Light MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 2
2011-06-17 - Number 9
2017-06-09 - Number 6
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Radiance |
Text of card
Radiance Choose a color. Target creature and each other creature that shares a color with it gain protection from the chosen color until end of turn.
"Truth shines even in darkness. Those who march on the side of truth walk always in righteous light."
Cards like Bathe in Light
Bathe in Light is an enchanting choice within the expansive arsenal of protection spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card is akin to spells like Gods Willing, which provides protection to a single target creature from the color of your choice for a turn, and also lets you scry, fine-tuning your next draw. Bathe in Light is unique with Radiance, a keyword that extends protection to all creatures that share a color with your target, potentially altering the battlefield in your favor in one sweeping motion.
Considering other related cards, Brave the Elements is a notable comparison. It shields all your white creatures from a color, fortifying your board against an array of threats. Although it doesn’t offer the selective advantage that Bathe in Light does, being able to target creatures of any color you control. Valorous Stance is another parallel, capable of defending creatures from danger or taking down formidable foes, offering flexible utility at a similar two-mana cost.
What makes Bathe in Light stand out, however, is its ability to affect multiple creatures across the entire field, not just your own. This broad application can change the dynamics of multiplayer games, making it a strategic choice for players seeking to shield their army or disrupt opponents’ plans.
Cards similar to Bathe in Light by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bathe in Light can protect multiple creatures with the same color, essentially negating opposing sweepers or targeted removals. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, maintaining your board presence effectively keeps cards in your hand by not having to redeploy threats.
Resource Acceleration: This card indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by safeguarding your mana investments on the battlefield. Keeping your creatures alive means you can invest future mana into playing additional threats or activating abilities rather than recovering from a setback.
Instant Speed: Bathe in Light’s instant speed grants the flexibility to choose the most opportune moment to disrupt an opponent’s strategy. You can wait until the last possible moment before committing this spell, preserving the element of surprise and making it a powerful tool for both offensive and defensive plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While “Bathe in Light” does not explicitly demand the discard of a card, it’s vital to acknowledge the indirect requirement it might impose. Holding this card until the right moment often means forgoing other potential plays, thus indirectly costing you card advantage if held for too long without use.
Specific Mana Cost: “Bathe in Light” asks for a specific split of mana – one white and one of any color. This can somewhat limit its inclusivity, particularly in multicolored or non-white-centric decks, possibly affecting its versatility and integration into a diverse range of strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing two mana might not seem steep, but in the fast-paced world of MTG, the cost is indeed significant for an effect that offers protection rather than board development. Considering its utility primarily in combat scenarios, there might be cases where “Bathe in Light” represents a costlier choice compared to other spells that could prevent damage or provide more flexible protection at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Bathe in Light is a flexible card that can be a game-changer in many deck builds, notably those centered around creature protection and combat strategies. Its ability to grant protection from the color of your choice can safeguard key creatures during critical turns.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with strategies emphasizing targeted protection or spellslinger tactics. It works exceptionally well with heroic and multicolored creatures, potentially enabling powerful combos that can swing the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta that often includes decks laden with removal spells, Bathe in Light holds a valuable place. It can discreetly counter popular removal spells, ensuring the sustainability of your creatures on the battlefield and maintaining board presence against control decks.
How to beat
Bathe in Light is a notable card in MTG that offers temporary but valuable protection, giving creatures protection from the color of your choice until the end of the turn. This protective veil can be a real obstacle for opponents aiming to deal with your threats on the board. To counter this spell, players should consider the timing of their removal or damage spells carefully. Waiting out the turn to let the protection fade before launching your attacks or casting your spells is a common strategy.
Alternatively, employing colorless damage sources, such as artifacts or those with devoid, can circumvent Bathe in Light’s protection. Since colorless is not a color, these sources remain unaffected. Moreover, using spells or abilities that don’t target, such as those inflicting damage to all creatures or altering the rules of combat, can effectively sidestep the protections granted by Bathe in Light. Board wipes or global effects ensure that even though single-targeted spells are thwarted, you’re not left entirely without recourse.
Ultimately, recognizing Bathe in Light’s potential and preparing versatile responses in your deck can neutralize the advantage it provides. It’s all about maintaining adaptability and having the foresight to hold back when needed, making it a challenging but manageable card to play against in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bathe in Light MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Commander 2011, 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 Bathe in Light 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 Bathe in Light Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Alex Horley-Orlandelli.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 2 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alex Horley-Orlandelli | |
| 2 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 9 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alex Horley-Orlandelli | |
| 3 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alex Horley-Orlandelli |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bathe in Light has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bathe in Light card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-10-01 | A creature “shares a color” with any creature that is at least one of its colors. For example, a green-white creature shares a color with creatures that are green, white, green-white, red-white, black-green, and so on. |
| 2005-10-01 | All creatures that share a color are affected, even your own. |
| 2005-10-01 | If it targets a colorless creature, it doesn’t affect any other creatures. A colorless creature shares a color with nothing, not even other colorless creatures. |
| 2005-10-01 | Only one creature is targeted. If that creature leaves the battlefield or otherwise becomes an illegal target, the entire spell doesn’t resolve. No other creatures are affected. |
| 2005-10-01 | The color you choose as the spell resolves has nothing to do with the color or colors shared by the affected creatures. |
| 2005-10-01 | You check which creatures share a color with the target when the spell resolves. |