Illusionary Wall MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 78
2007-09-10 - Number 39
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Illusion Wall |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep,Defender,First strike,Flying |
| Power | 7 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying, first strike Cumulative Upkeep: o U
"Let them see what is not there and feel what does not touch them. When they no longer trust their senses, that is the time to strike." —Gerda Äagesdotter, Archmage of the Unseen
Cards like Illusionary Wall
Illusionary Wall is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique defensive angle thanks to its flying and first strike abilities. Its most direct comparison could be made with Wall of Air, a card that also boasts flying and is similarly devoted to blocking enemy creatures. However, Illusionary Wall requires cumulative upkeep – a cost that increases over time, making it more of a temporary obstacle than Wall of Air.
Guard Gomazoa is another card with a similar protective role, providing a flying blocker that prevents all combat damage that would be dealt to it. Unlike Illusionary Wall, it doesn’t require any upkeep, but it lacks the offensive edge provided by first strike. Lastly, there’s Fog Bank which halts attackers in their tracks without actually destroying them, providing a reliable defense without the escalating upkeep costs associated with Illusionary Wall.
Critical assessment of these cards within the scope of defensive strategies in Magic: The Gathering reveals that while Illusionary Wall stands out with its first strike ability, players must manage the incremental upkeep for its continued presence on the battlefield, weighing its aggressive defense against the long-term costs.
Cards similar to Illusionary Wall by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though not a card-drawing mechanism, the Illusionary Wall ensures that you maintain a defensive advantage, potentially saving numerous cards in your hand by deterring attacks or blocking formidable creatures.
Resource Acceleration: The Illusionary Wall, with its minimal casting cost and cumulative upkeep, can be a cost-effective addition to your battlefield, allowing you to allocate resources to other critical plays while having a solid defender on the field.
Instant Speed: While this card itself does not have instant speed, the presence of a reliable blocker like Illusionary Wall gives you the flexibility to prioritize instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn, confident that your wall will hold the fort.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Illusionary Wall card requires a careful management of your hand as it can necessitate discarding other valuable cards to fulfill its casting or ability conditions.
Specific Mana Cost: This card calls for a precise combination of mana, including blue mana, which may not always be readily accessible or could constrain deck-building flexibility, favoring monoblue or two-color decks over others.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher casting cost than some other creature cards, Illusionary Wall could consume a significant portion of your available mana, potentially delaying your game plan compared to opting for lower-cost creatures with similar defensive abilities.
Reasons to Include Illusionary Wall in Your Collection
Versatility: Illusionary Wall provides flexible defense in blue-based decks. Its high toughness allows it to withstand numerous attacks, making it an excellent choice for control strategies that need time to set up their game plan.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that require a creature to stay on the battlefield or as an enabler for cards that trigger off of high toughness values. Its ability to act as a reliable blocker can also be leveraged in various creature-based synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Illusionary Wall serves as a robust deterrent. Its presence on the board can discourage opponents from attacking, thereby shaping the pace of the game and giving its controller an upper hand in attrition battles.
How to beat
Illusionary Wall presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature with both defender and flying, this card can serve as an excellent aerial blocker. Unlike typical walls, it brings the added complexity of the cumulative upkeep cost which may deter some players from choosing it. But for those who face off against this imposing barrier, identifying strategies to overcome it is key.
For starters, spells that target defenders directly, such as Rolling Thunder or Pyroclasm, can swiftly remove Illusionary Wall from the game, negating the protection it offers. Since it’s susceptible to spells that don’t target it directly or bypass its flying ability, such weaknesses can be exploited. This includes strategies like using creatures with the landwalk ability or spells that deal damage to all creatures regardless of flying. Additionally, opting for enchantment removals like Disenchant not only counters the defense the wall provides but also removes the cumulative upkeep burden from your opponent, minimizing their board presence advantage.
Understanding the depths of your deck and the variety of spells at your disposal is essential. By playing the right cards, a seemingly sturdy obstacle like Illusionary Wall can be effectively managed, maintaining your edge in your Magic: The Gathering duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Illusionary Wall MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition, 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 Illusionary Wall 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 Illusionary Wall Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Mark Poole.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 78 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 39 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Illusionary Wall has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |