Breath of Dreams MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep |
| Released | 1995-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ice Age |
| Set code | ICE |
| Number | 62 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Phil Foglio |
Text of card
Cumulative Upkeep: o U Green creatures each require an additional Cumulative Upkeep: o1.
"Get up, blast you! They're attacking! Why are you all so slow?" —General Jarkeld, the Arctic Fox
Cards like Breath of Dreams
In the realm of mana acceleration and card advantage, Breath of Dreams holds a specific niche within Magic: The Gathering. It harkens to the green spell Verdant Haven, which also remedies a player’s mana by providing an extra color upon land tapping. However, Breath of Dreams carves its unique path by offering card draw whenever you play a creature spell, coupling mana fixing with an engine for drawing cards.
Bordering the same territory is Karametra’s Acolyte, that may provide a plentitude of mana based on your devotion to green, yet it falls short in hand replenishment. Whereas Urban Evolution offers a similar card draw advantage and an additional land play, unmatched by Breath of Dreams. It does so, however, at a higher mana cost and as a one-time effect, potentially leaving Breath of Dreams as a preferred ongoing source of utility.
Analyzing the landscape of similar spells, Breath of Dreams manages to find a balanced spot among its peers. Through its synergy with creature-heavy strategies, it provides enduring value that can underpin a dominant board presence over several turns.
Cards similar to Breath of Dreams by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Delving deep into the power of dreams, Breath of Dreams rewards strategists by allowing for an additional draw during the draw step. This pulls more options into your hand and keeps you ahead on resources.
Resource Acceleration: Not only does this enchantment bolster your card flow, but it also accelerates your mana production. By untapping all green creatures during the untap step, it effectively multiplies your mana availability, enabling bigger plays sooner.
Instant Speed: While Breath of Dreams isn’t cast at instant speed itself, it sets the stage for instant-speed action. By untapping your green creatures, you can be deceptive, leaving mana open to respond to your opponent’s moves with threats or answers that were out of sight just a turn before.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To harness the power of Breath of Dreams, players must discard a card upon casting. This condition can be burdensome when options are scarce, potentially setting you back in card advantage against opponents.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked behind a precise mana alignment, Breath of Dreams demands both green and blue mana. This strict requirement narrows deck compatibility, exclusively fitting into green-blue decks and potentially hampering your mana base’s flexibility in multicolored builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: A casting cost of four mana places Breath of Dreams on the higher end of the curve for ramp spells. When mana efficiency is key, other options may expedite your game plan more swiftly, leaving this spell overshadowed in competitive scenarios where every mana point counts.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Breath of Dreams offers a unique advantage for decks that seek to leverage green’s creature-based ramp. This card can synergize with a broad range of green creatures, particularly those with flying, making it a versatile addition to different deck archetypes focusing on creature strategies.
Combo Potential: Breath of Dreams can be a lynchpin in combos that exploit the untap step or those that need consistent mana acceleration. With the right setup, it has the potential to unlock explosive plays, ensuring your mana reservoirs are fully primed for your next big move.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where acceleration and board presence are critical, Breath of Dreams holds its ground. It’s particularly effective in environments where green decks with flying creatures are prominent, complementing the presence of these decks in your local meta and potentially giving you an edge over the competition.
How to beat
Breath of Dreams is a card that truly captures the imagination of green ramp players in Magic: The Gathering. Not only does it offer an accelerated mana advantage to cast those immense creatures or game-altering spells earlier, it also conditionally draws cards, filling a player’s hand with even more options. Its potential to swing the game in favor of anyone who wields it is undeniable.
One effective method to counteract this card is to prioritize removal spells that can target enchantments, such as Disenchant, or creatures if Breath of Dreams is attached with an aura. Another strategy is to employ countermagic, shutting down Breath of Dreams before it ever hits the board. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, depending on the format you’re playing, can be essential tools in your arsenal. Additionally, using discard effects to force the card out of your opponent’s hand before it’s played could cripple their strategy; Thoughtseize and Duress are prime examples of such pre-emptive measures.
Ultimately, while Breath of Dreams can be a powerful asset for any player, timely responses and a well-curated deck can ensure that the enchantment’s dream of victory doesn’t become your nightmare on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Breath of Dreams MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Breath of Dreams 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Breath of Dreams 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 Breath of Dreams card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If a permanent has multiple instances of cumulative upkeep, each triggers separately. However, the age counters are not connected to any particular ability; each cumulative upkeep ability will count the total number of age counters on the permanent at the time that ability resolves. |