Curator's Ward MTG Card


Grants hexproof and card advantage by protecting vital permanents and rewarding you if they’re destroyed. It advances your game plan through strategic defense and resource allocation, despite its limitations. Hexproof protection and card drawing make it valuable against targeted removal and for combo plays.
Curator's Ward - Dominaria
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2018-04-27
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria
Set codeDOM
Number49
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJosu Hernaiz

Text of card

Enchant permanent Enchanted permanent has hexproof. When enchanted permanent leaves the battlefield, if it was historic, draw two cards. (Artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic.)


Cards like Curator's Ward

Curator’s Ward is a unique enchantment in MTG that offers a blend of protection and card advantage. Comparable to cards like Indestructibility, which also grants indestructibility to a permanent, Curator’s Ward adds a twist by targeting only historic permanents—a category including artifacts, legendaries, and sagas. Unlike Indestructibility, Curator’s Ward also triggers a card draw ability if the enchanted permanent leaves the battlefield.

When exploring analogous options, one might consider Shielded by Faith. This enchantment offers indestructible to any creature, not just historic ones. However, it lacks the additional benefit of drawing cards, which is a strategic advantage of Curator’s Ward. Another similarity can be found in Darksteel Plate, which grants indestructible to equipped creatures. While it’s a reusable equipment, it doesn’t affect enchantment removal or the card advantage provided by Curator’s Ward.

In summary, while other cards offer the durability of indestructibility, Curator’s Ward stands out among MTG cards for protecting and leveraging historic permanents, with the bonus effect of card draw being a noteworthy differentiation that can sway a player’s preference in deck building.

Indestructibility - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Indestructibility - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Curator’s Ward enhances your grip on the game by granting an additional layer of protection to a permanent you control. If that permanent you’ve safeguarded with the Ward is sent to the graveyard, you’re rewarded with a much-appreciated boon of drawing two cards, keeping your hand filled and your strategies flowing.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration in the traditional sense, Curator’s Ward can indirectly influence resource management. By protecting a high-value asset on the battlefield, it secures your investments and potentially saves the mana you would have spent recasting those key pieces, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.

Instant Speed: As an aura with enchantment capabilities, Curator’s Ward does not operate at instant speed itself. However, its intrinsic value comes from the potential to be used in tandem with instants or flash-bearing creatures in your repertoire, creating unexpected defensive maneuvers that can cause your opponent to miscalculate their attacks or removal strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Card does not involve an inherent discard mechanic but can still be subject to negative effects if an opponent targets the enchanted permanent or if it becomes beneficial to move the enchantment to a more valuable asset on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Curator’s Ward requires both generic and blue mana to cast, which can potentially restrict flexibility for decks that are not heavily invested in blue mana sources or that operate with a more diverse color palette.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including one blue, Curator’s Ward’s investment might be seen as steep for the protection it offers. When considering deckbuilding, one might look for alternatives that protect a wider range of cards or offer additional benefits for a similar, if not lesser, investment.


Reasons to Include Curator’s Ward in Your Collection

Versatility: Curator’s Ward can be a crucial addition to decks that focus on protecting key permanents. Its ability to grant hexproof means that any important creature, artifact, or even lands can be shielded from targeted removal, which is prevalent in various formats.

Combo Potential: This enchantment shines in scenarios where you’re looking to establish a formidable board presence with high-value permanents. Should the enchanted permanent leave the field, Curator’s Ward allows you to draw cards, potentially giving you the pieces needed to execute game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control and maintaining an advantage are vital, Curator’s Ward offers a layer of resilience against the host of removal spells circulating in the current meta. This sort of protection can be the difference between victory and defeat in tightly-contested matches.


How to beat Curator’s Ward

Curator’s Ward stands out in MTG as a protective enchantment that guards permanents against most forms of removal. When coupled with high-value artifacts or creatures, it can be a real thorn in the side of opponents looking for a clear board. Nonetheless, to overcome this powerful aura, focus on utilizing board wipes such as Wrath of God or Cyclonic Rift that don’t target individual cards. These circumvent the hexproof shielding bestowed by Curator’s Ward.

Another tactic involves forcing opponents to sacrifice permanents, regardless of their protective enchantments. Think along the lines of cards like Liliana’s Triumph or Diabolic Edict which can be incredibly effective since they do not target a specific permanent, thus bypassing the Ward’s hexproof protection. Additionally, consider exploiting counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to prevent the Ward from ever attaching to a threat in the first place. Understanding and anticipating when to disrupt your opponent’s play sequence is crucial for maintaining control of the game.

By employing these strategies, you’ll be adept at dismantling the defenses that Curator’s Ward aims to establish, ensuring that no permanent remains out of reach for your removal tools. Careful planning and the right choice of spells can nullify even the most robust barriers.


BurnMana Recommendations

The versatility of Curator’s Ward in MTG game strategy cannot be understated. Whether fortifying your battlefield presence or seeking to outmaneuver removal tactics, this card offers compelling benefits. Protection for historic permanents and potential card draw provides a tactical edge, crucial in both casual and competitive play. As you refine your deck’s defense and adapt to the shifting meta, consider how Curator’s Ward could bolster your strategy. Continue to broaden your collection, understand the meta, and integrate cards like this to enhance your gameplay experience. Dive deeper into strategy and optimization with us and strengthen your position in the MTG arena.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Curator's Ward MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Curator's Ward and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Curator's Ward has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-04-27 A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t.
2018-04-27 If Curator’s Ward is attached to a historic permanent you don’t control, you draw two cards when that permanent leaves the battlefield, not that permanent’s controller.
2018-04-27 If you give hexproof to an opponent’s permanent, such as by enchanting it with Curator’s Ward, that player can still target that permanent, but you can’t.