Gleaming Barrier MTG Card
2018-01-19 - Number 178
2020-08-07 - Number 257
2022-12-02 - Number 768
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender,Treasure |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Defender When Gleaming Barrier dies, create a colorless Treasure artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
"Gold without freedom might as well be lead." —Angrath
Cards like Gleaming Barrier
Gleaming Barrier is a noteworthy inclusion in the roster of defensive artifacts within Magic: The Gathering. This card bears resemblance to other artifact creatures such as Wall of Razors which prioritize defense with a high toughness. However, Gleaming Barrier ups the ante by having a death-trigger effect that provides a Treasure token upon destruction.
Guardian Idol is another artifact that converts into a creature, emphasizing a protective role while also ramping mana similarly to the Treasure token of Gleaming Barrier. While not a creature initially, Guardian Idol still offers a robust comparison in versatility. Then we look at Plumeveil, a creature that shares the defensive aspect with Gleaming Barrier but excels in flash capability, allowing it to surprise opponents during combat.
In reviewing the characteristics and strategic utilities of comparable artifacts and creatures, Gleaming Barrier emerges as a solid choice for players who desire both a defensive mechanism and a delayed mana boost when it’s destroyed, providing a sound balance between defense and resource acceleration in MTG.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Gleaming Barrier itself doesn’t allow for direct card drawing, its death trigger compensates by leaving behind a Treasure token. This effectively turns your defensive wall into a future card opportunity, especially relevant in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or require significant mana to deploy game-changing spells.
Resource Acceleration: The Treasure token provided by Gleaming Barrier can be sacrificed for any color of mana, which helps in speeding up your mana curve and enables casting of more demanding spells earlier in the game. This feature is particularly beneficial in multicolor decks where mana fixing is crucial.
Instant Speed: Although Gleaming Barrier is a creature and thus doesn’t have instant speed itself, its presence on the board can have an instant-speed impact on the game. As a defender, it can suddenly block an unexpected attack, forcing an opponent to deal with it and possibly underestimating the strategic advantage provided by the Treasure token it grants upon its destruction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The usefulness of Gleaming Barrier can be hampered if a key piece of your strategy relies on maintaining a full hand, as using certain abilities may require you to discard important cards.
Specific Mana Cost: While its cost of two colorless mana is versatile, it may not align with mana ramp strategies specific to certain colors, potentially making it a less desirable choice in those decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Gleaming Barrier provides a defensive option and a treasure token upon death, decks aiming for high speed and efficiency might find the mana investment for this card less favorable compared to other low-cost defensive options.
Reasons to Include Gleaming Barrier in Your Collection
Versatility: Gleaming Barrier is a low-cost artifact that serves as an efficient blocker in the early game. Its ability to fit into a variety of deck types, from control to artifact-based strategies, makes it a valuable addition for players who appreciate flexible defensive options.
Combo Potential: Upon its destruction, Gleaming Barrier generates a Treasure token, which can be instrumental in enabling combos. This token can be sacrificed for mana to fuel spells or synergize with other cards that thrive off token generation and artifact recursion mechanisms.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive starts are common, Gleaming Barrier can be a strategic inclusion. It not only stalls early creature assaults but also transitions into late-game strategies by turning into a mana source. Its presence can contribute significantly to outlasting opponents and establishing board control.
How to beat
Gleaming Barrier is one of those Magic: The Gathering cards that can trip up aggressive strategies with its capability to halt early assaults. Serving as a low-cost defender, it poses a roadblock that also rewards you with a Treasure token upon its demise. Although it doesn’t directly draw cards like some other artifacts, it facilitates mana ramping and fixing which can be quite handy.
To effectively navigate around Gleaming Barrier, consider using removal spells that bypass its death trigger, like Exile or bounce effects, negating the Treasure token advantage. Direct damage spells are less efficient here as they would ultimately lead to the Treasure token generation. Another angle of approach is to circumvent the wall with flying or unblockable creatures, rendering the wall’s defensive presence irrelevant. By adapting your strategy to either remove the Barrier without triggering its ability or simply going over or around it, you can negate the strategic setup your opponent was aiming for.
Adapting to gameplay and understanding the nuances of each card is crucial. Analyzing Gleaming Barrier within the greater MTG ecosystem shows its utility in defensive decks and why a methodical approach to dismantle its advantages is needed for a successful game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gleaming Barrier MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Double Masters, 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 Gleaming Barrier 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
Printings
The Gleaming Barrier Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jason Felix.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-01-19 | Rivals of Ixalan | RIX | 178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 2 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 257 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 768 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Felix |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gleaming Barrier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |