Cerulean Wisps MTG Card


Allows for instantaneous resource acceleration by untapping mana-producing creatures. Enhances flexibility and surprise tactics with its ability to be cast at instant speed. Can lead to a strategic edge but may be less effective without creatures to untap.
Cerulean Wisps - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Number31
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJim Nelson

Text of card

Target creature becomes blue until end of turn. Untap that creature. Draw a card.

"If you see ghostly lights by the river, eat three twigs of marshroot to ward off kelpies." —Kithkin superstition


Cards like Cerulean Wisps

Cerulean Wisps represents an intriguing niche in the instant spells of Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the capacity of Opts and Quicken, which both allow a player to draw a card. However, Cerulean Wisps brings its own flair to the table by also granting a targeted creature the ability to evade blockers with temporary blue coloring and untapping it for an additional surprise factor in a turn.

Another related spell, Expedite, confers haste rather than blue identity, but shares the card drawing and untapping potential with Cerulean Wisps. Both cards cost a single red mana, making them efficient choices for a quick strategy shift. Peek also deserves a mention here with its ability to offer insight into an opponent’s hand along with the card draw, though it lacks the untapping utility of Cerulean Wisps.

In summary, while all the discussed spells provide card draw benefits, Cerulean Wisps stands out for its unique blend of tactical advantages – it not only adds to hand resources but also helps in executing unexpected plays by freeing up a creature for another round of action.

Quicken - MTG Card versions
Expedite - MTG Card versions
Peek - MTG Card versions
Quicken - MTG Card versions
Expedite - MTG Card versions
Peek - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cerulean Wisps by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cerulean Wisps. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
5c Ascendancy Combo5c Ascendancy Combo ModernJeskai Ascendancy ComboModern Preliminary 2023-12-08 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cerulean Wisps offers the subtle benefit of replacing itself in your hand by allowing you to draw a card. This handy feature ensures you don’t lose card quantity while utilizing the spell’s effects.

Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t generate mana like traditional ramp spells, Cerulean Wisps can effectively untap a creature that produces mana. This can ramp you indirectly, giving you a temporary boost in resources to utilize within the turn.

Instant Speed: The versatility of being able to cast Cerulean Wisps at instant speed is significant. It allows players to react during the opponent’s turn, untap a potential blocker, or enable surprise interactions in a complex game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cerulean Wisps has no inherent discard requirement, its usage can sometimes result in an unintentional card disadvantage. This is particularly true if you’re attempting to draw cards but have no means to capitalize on the untap ability it provides.

Specific Mana Cost: Cerulean Wisps’s mana cost is specific to blue. It’s a single blue mana requirement, which does streamline its inclusion in mono-blue or blue-focused decks but does limit its flexibility in multicolored decks that may not always have blue mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering Cerulean Wisps’s primary function is to untap a creature and draw a card, some players might find its cost a bit steep when compared to other cantrips or untapping options. While one blue mana is not exorbitant, in a game where efficiency is key, there are other spells that might offer similar benefits without taking up a card slot or mana on your turn.


Reasons to Include Cerulean Wisps in Your Collection

Versatility: Cerulean Wisps is a handy card due to its ability to untap creatures and can seamlessly fit into a variety of blue decks. Not only does it offer a surprise blocker or an additional attacker, but it also draws a card, keeping your hand replenished.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combo-oriented decks and can be particularly potent in triggering inspired mechanics or with creatures that have tap abilities. The untap effect can enable multiple uses of such abilities in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where instant speed can make all the difference, Cerulean Wisps provides a swift and low-cost option. It allows for reactive play and keeps blue players always ready to respond to an ever-evolving battlefield.


How to beat

Cerulean Wisps is an intriguing instant in MTG that grants a creature +1/+0 and the ability to untap it, while also drawing a card. This trifecta of an ability boost, instant speed, and card draw makes Cerulean Wisps a versatile tool, useful for both offensive and defensive maneuvers. It can quickly become a nuisance when leveraged to repeatedly untap creatures with tap abilities or to facilitate combo plays.

To effectively counteract Cerulean Wisps, priority should be on denying the untap potential. Utilizing cards that restrict the targeting capabilities of spells or that keep creatures tapped down diminishes Cerulean Wisps’ effectiveness. Likewise, playing low-cost counterspells when the opponent is aiming to unleash a combo can disrupt their strategy. Having instant speed removal on hand to react to the targeting of Cerulean Wisps ensures the creature does not get to utilize the temporary buff or untap effect, ultimately turning their play into a mere card draw with no additional benefits.

Relying on these strategies can help tilt the scales in your favor against decks that capitalize on the agility that Cerulean Wisps provides. By staying one step ahead and thwarting the key actions that your opponent relies on, you can maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic intricacies of MTG by optimizing your deck with versatile spells like Cerulean Wisps. Its ability to untap creatures and draw cards at instant speed makes it a jewel in the crown for blue players. Whether you’re building a combo-centric deck or seeking that meta-relevant card with swift action potential, this spell could be your game-changer. Eager to uncover more hidden gems or refine your MTG expertise? Extend your knowledge and enhance your gameplay as you explore the wealth of resources we offer. Navigate the vibrant realm of MTG with us and harness the power of Cerulean Wisps to its fullest.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cerulean Wisps MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Cerulean Wisps and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cerulean Wisps has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cerulean Wisps card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-05-01 An effect that changes a permanent’s colors overwrites all its old colors unless it specifically says “in addition to its other colors.” For example, after Cerulean Wisps resolves, the affected creature will just be blue. It doesn’t matter what colors it used to be (even if, for example, it used to be blue and black).
2008-05-01 Changing a permanent’s color won’t change its text. If you turn Wilt-Leaf Liege blue, it will still affect green creatures and white creatures.
2008-05-01 Colorless is not a color.