Force Bubble MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Number | 14 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Alan Pollack |
Text of card
If damage would be dealt to you, put that many depletion counters on Force Bubble instead. When there are four or more depletion counters on Force Bubble, sacrifice it. At end of turn, remove all depletion counters from Force Bubble.
Cards like Force Bubble
Force Bubble is a unique protective enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, offering a shield-like effect for its controller. Similar cards such as Ghostly Prison also manipulate combat by imposing costs on attackers, though it doesn’t absorb damage in the same way as Force Bubble. Ghostly Prison requires attackers to pay mana, which can be a strong deterrent, but lacks the direct damage prevention mechanism.
Another contender in this sphere is Sphere of Safety, which also imposes a cost on attackers based on the number of enchantments you control. While it can scale to a more prohibitive cost than Ghostly Prison, it doesn’t offer the ‘bubble’ of protection from all damage sources that is the hallmark of Force Bubble. Additionally, Solitary Confinement offers damage prevention and additional benefits such as immunity to being targeted and discarding cards for privacy, but it comes at the cost of skipping your draw step if you can’t feed it with extra cards.
Ultimately, Force Bubble stands out in its ability to protect a player from a multitude of damage sources, serving as an enchantment-based safeguard that can potentially thwart a variety of threats on the battlefield, setting it apart within its niche in MTG.
Cards similar to Force Bubble by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Force Bubble offers a unique form of card advantage by effectively blanking multiple damage sources from an opponent. By preventing all damage that would be dealt to you, it neutralizes an array of attacks and spells without expending multiple cards, preserving your hand while limiting your opponent’s.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in the traditional sense of providing mana, Force Bubble can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by saving mana that would be spent on damage prevention or life gain spells, allowing you to allocate that mana towards developing your game plan further.
Instant Speed: Force Bubble is not an instant, but its impact on the game has a similar defensive versatility. It can be activated as a form of reaction during your opponent’s turn, much like an instant, offering a strategic layer of protection when most needed during the course of play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: If you’re considering adding Force Bubble to your MTG deck, keep in mind there’s a trade-off with its shield ability. To activate the safeguard against damage, you’re required to remove a fade counter, which can exhaust the card’s capabilities and leave you defenseless if you lack alternative protection.
Specific Mana Cost: A perfect fit for white color focused decks, Force Bubble’s specific mana cost may not align with multicolored or off-theme decks. Its requirement for two white mana in its casting cost demands a dedication to white mana resources, potentially limiting its flexibility in various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that tallies up to four mana, Force Bubble’s offering of protection might come at a steep price compared to other cards. Players need to weigh the cost against other potential prevention or control cards that could serve similar functions for less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Force Bubble in Your Collection
Versatility: Force Bubble is an enchantment that can be an asset to various deck archetypes, particularly those seeking defensive measures or focused on enchantment synergies. Its ability to absorb damage can protect your life total in critical moments or uphold enchantments-based strategies.
Combo Potential: With its capacity to prevent damage, Force Bubble pairs well with cards designed to manipulate counters, allowing it to persist longer and outlive its standard use. It can also serve as a deterrent, discouraging opponents from attacking or targeting you with damage-based spells.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where aggressive decks are prevalent, Force Bubble shines by effectively neutralizing big swings from opponents. Its relevance increases as it can be a hedge against burst-damage combos, ensuring you have a fighting chance in the face of overwhelming odds.
How to beat
Force Bubble is a unique enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering, heralded for its ability to absorb damage that would otherwise be detrimental to a player’s health points. Its protective bubble stores ‘shield counters’ that tick down with each incoming attack until depleted. Clearly, it forms a formidable barrier against direct damage strategies that rely on pummeling the opponent swiftly.
To effectively dismantle the protection that Force Bubble offers, one might consider strategic use of enchantment removal cards like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can directly target and destroy it. Additionally, one could exhaust the bubble’s resources by initiating multiple small attacks or using burn spells, ensuring that larger, more critical attacks go through. It’s essential to prioritize the removal of Force Bubble in decks that aim to win through direct damage or commander damage to maintain the momentum of their assault.
Ultimately, overcoming the defensive prowess of Force Bubble comes down to a timely and judicious use of removal spells or by incrementally wearing it down. This emphasis on strategic gameplay to counter such a resilient defense exemplifies the depth and complexity that Magic: The Gathering cards like Force Bubble contribute to the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Force Bubble MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Force Bubble and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Force Bubble has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Force Bubble card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If you control more than one, each time you take damage you can decide which one replaces the damage, and that one replaces all of the damage. You can’t split the damage between them. You decide each time you take damage. Note that damage from multiple sources that happens at one time (such as combat damage) gives one choice, not one per source. |
| 2004-10-04 | If you take 6 damage at once, it will replace all 6 damage and put 6 counters on it. Then the second ability will trigger. Any additional damage you take before this ability resolves also results in counters, but once the ability resolves, this card is sacrificed. |
| 2004-10-04 | The effect does not prevent damage, it replaces it so the damage is neither dealt or prevented. |