Harmless Offering MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Turns drawbacks into assets by donating your problematic permanents to opponents.
  2. Enables intricate deck-building strategies with its unique donation mechanic.
  3. Requires meticulous timing and mana management for optimal play.

Text of card

Target opponent gains control of target permanent you control.

"Such an adorable face!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Harmless Offering introduces a strategic twist to card advantage, effectively turning your drawbacks into a resource by donating them to an opponent. This can be particularly potent when combined with detrimental permanents in your control, resulting in a shift of balance in your favor without losing card quantity.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, this card enables creative deck builders to exploit permanents with cumulative upkeep costs or downsides, which can otherwise hold back their own game plan. Implementing such a transfer leaves more room for plays that can speed up reaching your win conditions.

Instant Speed: Harmless Offering operates at sorcery speed, which requires a more planned approach rather than the flexibility of instant speed responses. However, its timing can be as critical as any instant, requiring precision and foresight to optimally disrupt your opponent’s strategy or to surprise them with a sudden liability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In card play, strategy is king, and unfortunately, Harmless Offering requires players to give their opponent a permanent they own. This stipulation can be a double-edged sword if not timed perfectly or if options are limited, potentially discarding a valuable asset from your arsenal.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for decks with a red mana base, Harmless Offering demands a specific color alignment that can be restrictive. It’s not just any mana that will do but a red and two other mana, which might not always align with your deck’s mana curve or color scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, this spell’s expense is hefty when stacked against other options in the game. While the effect is unique, savvy players often weigh the potential opportunities lost by allocating that much of their mana pool to a card that doesn’t directly disrupt the opposing side or provide a substantial advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Harmless Offering presents a level of flexibility that allows for creative play in various deck builds. It’s an unconventional tool that can turn the tide by gifting detrimental permanents to your opponent or even contribute to friendlier multiplayer interactions.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with unfavorable conditions or “cursed” objects. Imagine coupling it with Demonic Pact after using its beneficial modes or donating a Grid Monitor to lock an opponent’s mana capabilities. It’s a centerpiece in strategies that aim to capitalize on controlled risk.

Meta-Relevance: In any given MTG environment where games often pivot on a single intriguing play, Harmless Offering has the potential to exploit interactions that many players may not anticipate, maintaining its relevance as a surprise asset in both casual and more competitive scenes.


How to beat Harmless Offering

Harmless Offering is a unique card in the MTG universe, one that can catch an unprepared player by surprise. This red sorcery allows players to donate one of their own permanents to an opponent. It’s a card that thrives in environments where you can gift a detrimental permanent to the opponent, like Demonic Pact without its last deadly ability remaining.

To counteract the possible setbacks of Harmless Offering, it’s essential to have tactics at the ready. Cards with sacrifice mechanics can dispose of an unwanted gift before it turns into a liability. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells can interrupt combos by targeting key components before the exchange is made. Always keep an eye on your opponent’s strategy, as a well-timed Counterspell can prevent Harmless Offering from ever resolving.

In summary, effective countermeasures against Harmless Offering involve being proactive and tactical, with the correct response cards in your deck. With careful observation and timely responses, you can mitigate the impact of this quirky offering and maintain control over the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the strategic depths of MTG can take your gameplay to new heights, and cards like Harmless Offering can be pivotal. These cards provide unique interactions, opening a realm of inventive plays that can astound opponents and lead you to victory. The right combination of creativity and timing makes these spells powerful tools in your deck. If you’re eager to experiment with innovative strategies or refine your tactical approach to advanced play, adding such complex cards to your collection can prove invaluable. Ready to discover more game-changing tactics and enhance your MTG expertise? Continue your journey with us for insights and guidance that can transform your play experience.


Cards like Harmless Offering

Harmless Offering, a curious spell in the realm of MTG, finds its peers in cards like Donate and Bazaar Trader. Like Harmless Offering, Donate is all about giving — specifically, transferring your own problematic permanents to your unsuspecting opponents. The difference lies in their mana costs and color requirement, with Donate asking for both more mana and a splash of blue. On the flip side, Bazaar Trader enables you to give away control of any permanent you own, not just cards in play, which introduces flexibilities and a permanence to the exchanges performed.

Another related card is Zedruu the Greathearted, a creature that thrives on donating cards and provides you with life and card draw in return. Unlike Harmless Offering, Zedruu requires a sustained presence on the battlefield and a setup worth the multicolored mana investment. Plus, its benefits accumulate over time, contrasting with the immediate, one-time effect of Harmless Offering.

In the landscape of giving away not-so-favorable gifts, Harmless Offering stands out for its straightforwardness and potential for surprise plays in red decks, making it a unique tool in a player’s strategic arsenal.

Donate - MTG Card versions
Bazaar Trader - MTG Card versions
Zedruu the Greathearted - MTG Card versions
Donate - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Bazaar Trader - Worldwake (WWK)
Zedruu the Greathearted - Commander 2011 Oversized (OCMD)

Cards similar to Harmless Offering by color, type and mana cost

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Game of Chaos - Ice Age (ICE)
Evaporate - Homelands (HML)
Pillage - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Goblin War Cry - Portal Second Age (P02)
Steam Blast - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Goblin Offensive - Urza's Saga (USG)
Desert Sandstorm - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Arc Lightning - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Search for Survivors - Prophecy (PCY)
Panic Attack - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Searing Rays - Invasion (INV)
Rupture - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tundra Fumarole - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Browbeat - Masters 25 (A25)
Anger of the Gods - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Erratic Explosion - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Threaten - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sizzle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hammer of Bogardan - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Harmless Offering MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon Promos and Eldritch Moon, 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 Harmless Offering and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Harmless Offering Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2016-07-22. Illustrated by Howard Lyon.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 131s2015normalblackHoward Lyon
22016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 1312015normalblackHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Harmless Offering 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 Harmless Offering card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-07-13 Your opponent can’t refuse your generous donation.

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