Essence Filter MTG Card


Essence Filter enhances draw quality, offering strategic deck filtering at crucial moments. Instant speed casting of Essence Filter allows reactive plays and surprise tactics. This card requires careful hand management, given its discard and specific mana cost.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy all enchantments or destroy all non-white enchantments.

"Freyalise has cleansed our bodies and minds of the plagues of Kjeldor; all she asks in return is that we keep pure our newly given home in Fyndhorn." —Kolbjörn, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order


Cards like Essence Filter

Essence Filter emerges as a unique card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, sharing some similarities with other cards that offer mass creature buffs or conditional removal. Notably, it parallels with cards like Crib Swap for its ability to target creatures, albeit with a distinct approach. Where Essence Filter shines is in its flexible nature, allowing for both the bolstering of your own creature ranks or the weakening of your opponent’s, depending on the creatures’ color alignment.

Compared to an enchantment like Mass Calcify, which can serve as a hard removal for non-white creatures, Essence Filter provides a more tailored solution. It selectively buffs or de-buffs creatures and can be a pivotal swing in multi-color games. Another kindred spell could be Circle of Despair, which offers protection for specific colors, yet Essence Filter offers an offensive or defensive advantage dependent on the board state during your turn.

When evaluating the utility and versatility of Essence Filter, it becomes clear that it holds its own as both a deterrent and an enabler. It may not provide outright removal like some of its counterparts, but within multi-color strategies and games thick with synergy, Essence Filter has the potential to tip the scales in your favor.

Crib Swap - MTG Card versions
Mass Calcify - MTG Card versions
Circle of Despair - MTG Card versions
Crib Swap - MTG Card versions
Mass Calcify - MTG Card versions
Circle of Despair - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Essence Filter by color, type and mana cost

Ice Storm - MTG Card versions
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Renewal - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Innocence - MTG Card versions
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Wing Snare - MTG Card versions
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Recollect - MTG Card versions
Deconstruct - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Stomp and Howl - MTG Card versions
Thermokarst - MTG Card versions
Ice Storm - MTG Card versions
Tranquility - MTG Card versions
Renewal - MTG Card versions
Seeds of Innocence - MTG Card versions
Fallow Earth - MTG Card versions
Untamed Wilds - MTG Card versions
Wing Snare - MTG Card versions
Squall - MTG Card versions
Deep Reconnaissance - MTG Card versions
Far Wanderings - MTG Card versions
Long Rest - MTG Card versions
Rosethorn Acolyte // Seasonal Ritual - MTG Card versions
Cultivate - MTG Card versions
Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Pilgrimage - MTG Card versions
Recollect - MTG Card versions
Deconstruct - MTG Card versions
Kodama's Reach - MTG Card versions
Stomp and Howl - MTG Card versions
Thermokarst - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Essence Filter provides a nuanced form of card advantage, filtering through your deck to enhance the quality of your draws and increase the chances of finding key spells or creatures when you need them.

Resource Acceleration: By selectively removing less useful cards from your hand, Essence Filter accelerates your access to more impactful cards, effectively giving you a resource advantage over your opponent as you tailor your hand for the current game state.

Instant Speed: The fact that Essence Filter can be cast at instant speed allows for strategic play, such as responding to an opponent’s actions, optimizing the use of your mana each turn, and maintaining the element of surprise, all of which can be pivotal for controlling the flow of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Essence Filter card necessitates you to toss another card to utilize its abilities. This condition can backfire if your hand is already depleting, possibly leaving you at a disadvantage by diminishing your options.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Essence Filter requires a precise combination of mana types that might not seamlessly fit into every deck construction. Decks that don’t align with its color identity may find this card less flexible compared to more generic alternatives.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to bring Essence Filter into play is considerable. When evaluating cost versus impact, some players might find that other cards provide more value or impact on the game’s state for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Essence Filter is a card that can be a game-changer in decks focused on manipulating the graveyard. Its ability to selectively exile cards can be a strategic tool to disrupt opponents or to fine-tune your own graveyard for synergistic plays.

Combo Potential: The usefulness of Essence Filter grows exponentially when paired with cards that capitalize on graveyard strategies. It can be a crucial piece in a combo, setting the stage for powerful reanimation spells or enabling threshold abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard decks are prevalent, Essence Filter serves as both a tactical play and a defensive measure. Its utility in removing key cards from graveyards makes it a prized inclusion for those looking to maintain an edge in such environments.


How to beat

Essence Filter is a specialized card in the diverse universe of Magic: The Gathering, often finding its place in nuanced strategies and decks. To effectively counter Essence Filter, understanding and anticipation are key. This card thrives in environments that benefit from its unique ability to selectively remove creatures from the battlefield. Once you’ve identified its presence in your opponent’s game plan, it’s essential to adjust your strategy accordingly.

One efficient method is to maintain a diverse array of creature types within your deck, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a complete board wipe. Additionally, artifacts and enchantment-based strategies can typically sidestep the card’s impactful presence since Essence Filter specifically targets creatures. Lastly, keeping instant-speed removal or counterspells ready can disrupt your opponent’s timing and strategy, preserving your board state and keeping the momentum on your side. Always remember, versatility in your playstyle and adaptability to your opponent’s actions are invaluable tools in coming out ahead in any match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Essence Filter MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Essence Filter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Essence Filter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Rick Emond.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 2331993NormalBlackRick Emond
21996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC pp233sb1993NormalGoldRick Emond
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1601997NormalBlackRick Emond

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Essence Filter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal