Ethereal Guidance MTG Card


Boosts board presence significantly, giving your entire field an edge during pivotal combat moments. Instant speed means flexible play, allowing for surprising combat trickery or end-of-turn plays. White-mana cost limits its use but makes it a substantial inclusion in mono-white or white-inclusive decks.
Ethereal Guidance - Shadows over Innistrad
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2016-04-08
Set symbol
Set nameShadows over Innistrad
Set codeSOI
Number18
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBen Maier

Text of card

Creatures you control get +2/+1 until end of turn.

"The call of the Blessed Sleep is not so strong as the call to protect those in need." —Saint Traft


Cards like Ethereal Guidance

Ethereal Guidance stands out as a dynamic spell choice for players who are looking to bolster their armies in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes other spells in the realm of creature enhancement, such as Glorious Anthem. However, Ethereal Guidance offers a temporary boost, increasing creature power and toughness until end of turn, which can be pivotal during a critical combat phase. Glorious Anthem, in contrast, provides a permanent boost but with a higher mana cost.

Another comparable card is Inspired Charge, which also grants your creatures a bonus to their power and toughness. The significant difference is that Inspired Charge costs one extra mana than Ethereal Guidance. This mana efficiency could be the deciding factor in a tightly contested game where speed is essential. Rally the Peasants is similar as well, offering an effect that overlaps with Ethereal Guidance, but with the added advantage of flashback, granting a second usage from the graveyard at an increased investment.

Identifying the best spell for a particular situation involves measuring the costs and benefits of each. Ethereal Guidance’s modest mana requirement and instant speed capability make it a formidable option for swift and unexpected plays during battles in Magic: The Gathering.

Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ethereal Guidance by color, type and mana cost

Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Repentance - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Command - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Excommunicate - MTG Card versions
Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Repentance - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Command - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Excommunicate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ethereal Guidance can significantly bolster your forces, potentially turning the tide in a game where board presence is a key to victory. By providing a blanket buff to your creatures, it effectively magnifies the value of each individual card you have in play.

Resource Acceleration: Though Ethereal Guidance doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, it acts as a form of resource acceleration by elevating the power of your existing army. This increase in strength can lead to more efficient trades or hasten your opponent’s defeat, saving you turns and indirectly accelerating your victory.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Ethereal Guidance’s instant speed should not be underestimated. It permits reactive play during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, leaving you flexible to respond to threats and opportunities as they arise. Being able to instantly enhance your creatures right before damage is assigned can turn potential losses into surprise wins.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Ethereal Guidance provides a temporary boost to your creatures, this card doesn’t require a discard. It focuses solely on bolstering your strike force during a critical turn.

Specific Mana Cost: As a spell with a white mana cost, Ethereal Guidance confines its playability predominantly within mono-white or multicolored decks that support white mana. This requirement can restrict its utility in decks that don’t converge on white mana strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana to cast, this card may compete with various other three-mana spells that could provide longer-lasting effects or more significant immediate impact on the game state. While the card grants an across-the-board power and toughness boost, the mana investment might detract from playing other vital spells or developing your board further.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ethereal Guidance offers a cost-effective way to bolster the strength of your creatures across the board. Due to its low mana cost, it’s easy to weave into a variety of deck types that aim to create substantial creature-based board presence.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that capitalize on creature synergies and can be the linchpin in executing surprise combos, substantially enhancing infect or token swarm strategies during a pivotal turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards aggressive strategies, Ethereal Guidance provides a cheap and efficient way to turn the tide of battle. Similarly, in a limited format, it can elevate your creatures above the combat curve, making it a valuable addition to draft and sealed decks.


How to beat

Ethereal Guidance is a card that, when played smartly, can swing the game significantly by boosting the power and toughness of creatures you control just in time for a decisive attack. However, like any impactful spell, it’s not unbeatable. Playing around Ethereal Guidance involves smart planning and holding back key resources until the right moment. Since it’s a sorcery, you can anticipate its play during your opponent’s main phases. Having removal spells or effects that can clear the board or neutralize threats in response to Ethereal Guidance can turn the tide back in your favor. Board-wiping spells or ones that can deal damage or apply -X/-X effects to multiple creatures are particularly effective countermeasures to this mass pump spell.

It’s also advisable to apply pressure early on, reducing the likelihood that your opponent can safely set up for the Ethereal Guidance play. This way, even if they do cast it, their battlefield might not be well-developed enough for the spell to have a major effect. Lastly, counterspells are your direct line of defense against Ethereal Guidance, so having one in hand when your opponent reaches the necessary mana to cast it can save the game for you.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ethereal Guidance MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Ethereal Guidance and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ethereal Guidance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-04-08 The set of creatures affected by Ethereal Guidance is determined as the spell resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +2/+1.