Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 23s
2023-04-21 - Number 23
2023-04-21 - Number 8
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Enchantment Creature — God |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Ephara, Ever-Sheltering has lifelink and indestructible as long as you control at least three other enchantments. Whenever another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, draw a card.
When the sun falters and the seas disperse, when the wilds wither and the forges go cold, when death itself succumbs, she endures.
Cards like Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering
Ephara, Ever-Sheltering is a unique card that provides a protective umbrella for your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. In essence, Ephara stands out by making your creatures indestructible during your turn, a trait that shares similarities with cards like Selfless Spirit, which also grants temporary invulnerability but requires a sacrifice. However, Ephara’s advantage lies in its repeatability and the fact that it doesn’t require a one-off sacrifice, making your forces formidable turn after turn.
Another card in similar territory is Avacyn, Angel of Hope, a legendary staple that gives all your permanents indestructibility, not just creatures. The main difference is that Avacyn’s protective power is active on both players’ turns; however, it comes with a substantially higher casting cost. Then we have Heroic Intervention, a single-use instant that not only grants indestructibility but also hexproof, providing a brief yet powerful shield for all your permanents at a critical moment.
Gauging the value that Ephara, Ever-Sheltering brings to the table, it becomes clear that while other cards offer comparable effects, it is Ephara’s consistent turn-based creature protection that cements its place as a formidable option in the MTG defender arsenal.
Cards similar to Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Ephara, Ever-Sheltering you get access to consistent card draw. Every turn where a creature enters the battlefield under your control triggers her ability, replenishing your hand and keeping the flow of options available.
Resource Acceleration: Catering to savvy gameplay, Ephara facilitates resource acceleration by allowing you to capitalize on the casting of creatures. This streamlined synergy energizes your board presence while sustaining momentum.
Instant Speed: Ephara’s influence isn’t limited to your turn. Her ever-watchful nature operates at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react and strategize with precision, responding adeptly to the ever-changing landscape of an MTG match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This mechanic can hinder your strategy, especially when playing Ephara, Ever-Sheltering. Discarding a card can put you at a disadvantage if it depletes vital cards from your hand that are necessary for upcoming plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Ephara, Ever-Sheltering requires white and blue mana, restricting it to Azorius or multicolor decks. Players running other color combinations cannot incorporate Ephara without modifying their mana base, which could disrupt the deck’s consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and one white/blue hybrid mana, Ephara, Ever-Sheltering may arrive on the battlefield later than other protective options. Players might opt for cards with lower mana costs that can be played earlier in the game to gain a quicker advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ephara, Ever-Sheltering excels in its ability to adapt to various deck archetypes, making it a solid pick for players seeking to protect their creatures while maintaining card advantage.
Combo Potential: Ephara’s ability to draw you an extra card at the next upkeep whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control combines well with flicker and creature token strategies, enabling powerful and potentially game-winning interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board wipes and removal are prevalent, Ephara provides a way to shield your key creatures from such disruption. Her enduring presence on the battlefield can give you a consistent edge in attrition-based matches.
How to Beat Ephara, Ever-Sheltering
Ephara, Ever-Sheltering takes the battlefield with unique abilities that pose a challenge to any MTG player. As an entity that grants indestructible to your other permanents during your turn, overcoming this card requires strategic planning. Cycling through your deck to find direct answers such as board wipes that function during your own turn is crucial. Since Ephara doesn’t grant indestructibility during your opponent’s turn, this is the window of opportunity to utilize spells like Doom Blade or Murder.
Alternatively, employing counter magic when Ephara is cast can save you from dealing with her abilities altogether. Cards with exile effects are also efficient, as they can sidestep the indestructibility by removing Ephara from the game entirely. Additionally, employing spells that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can bypass indestructibility since the mechanic does not protect from this kind of removal.
Understanding the timing and sequencing of your play is essential. Be vigilant about leaving mana open for removals and counters. Ephara’s power lies in protecting, not aggression, so maintaining control over the board state is the key to tipping the scales in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Promos and March of the Machine Art Series, 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 Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Johan Grenier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Promos | PMOM | 23s | 2015 | Transform | Black | Johan Grenier | |
| 2 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 8 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Johan Grenier | ||
| 3 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 23 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Johan Grenier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.” |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters. |
| 2023-04-14 | As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector. |
| 2023-04-14 | Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | Damage dealt to Ephara is tracked even if Ephara has indestructible. For example, if Ephara is dealt what would be lethal damage and later loses indestructible (perhaps because you lose control of some enchantments), it will be destroyed the next time state-based actions are performed. However, the check for whether a creature dealt damage by a source with deathtouch is destroyed happens only the first time that state-based actions are performed after that damage-dealing event. |
| 2023-04-14 | Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it. |
| 2023-04-14 | If Ephara enters the battlefield under your control at the same time as other enchantments, its last ability will trigger for each of those other enchantments. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below). |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. |
| 2023-04-14 | In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal. |
| 2023-04-14 | Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it. |
| 2023-04-14 | Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.” |