Spare from Evil MTG Card


Spare from Evil - Innistrad
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set nameInnistrad
Set codeISD
Number34
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJason Felix

Key Takeaways

  1. Indirect card advantage and board preservation can be achieved with Spare from Evil’s one-card solution against multiple threats.
  2. Its instant speed offers strategic flexibility during combat, potentially altering the tide of the game unexpectedly.
  3. While restrictive in mana cost and deck compatibility, it shines in meta where creature-focused strategies prevail.

Text of card

Creatures you control gain protection from non-Human creatures until end of turn.

"As long as we can utter a prayer or lift a weapon, we have the power to fight back." —Thalia, Knight-Cathar


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Spare from Evil doesn’t directly provide card draw, it can effectively negate numerous threats from your opponent with one card, preserving the creatures you have on the board. This defensive maneuver can offer an indirect card advantage by outlasting an opponent’s aggressive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While Spare from Evil doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of adding mana, it can be a pivotal play that prevents the need to cast other spells for defense. This potentially saves resources for subsequent turns, allowing a player to accelerate their board presence more effectively.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Spare from Evil gives players the flexibility to wait until the most impactful moment during combat to cast it. This surprise element can turn the tide of a game, as it can be deployed in response to an opponent’s attack, potentially leading to unfavorable blocks or preserving your life total when needed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spare from Evil does not directly impose a discard requirement upon casting, but playing it in a deck means you might have to discard other potentially more versatile cards when making hand or deck space for this specialized protection spell.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires white mana to cast, which could restrict it to decks that run Plains or have access to mana fixing to accommodate white spells. Players running multicolor decks might find it challenging to include this card without a reliable source of white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, including one white, Spare from Evil might be deemed costly for its effect when compared to other protection spells. Players could potentially find more impactful cards with similar or lower mana costs to protect their creatures from combat damage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spare from Evil can be a key card in decks that focus on a defensive strategy while setting up for a winning turn. It’s particularly adaptable in decks that have a significant number of human creatures.

Combo Potential: This card is excellent in combinations with cards that capitalize on protection effects, potentially clearing the way for an unblockable assault or aligning with cards that trigger upon creatures successfully dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks prevail, Spare from Evil can serve as an efficient tool to protect your board and maintain a strong defensive posture, keeping you safe from opponent’s attacks, and altering the pace of the game in your favor.


How to beat

Spare from Evil is a unique card that offers temporary protection for human creatures in MTG, often turning the tide in an evenly matched battlefield. Its power to render non-human creatures unable to block can clear the path for a powerful onslaught. However, this ability is not without its countermeasures. A well-timed removal spell or board wipe can bypass the protection granted by Spare from Evil, as these do not directly involve blocking. Cards with abilities that deal damage to creatures irrespective of blocking, such as “Blasphemous Act” or “Anger of the Gods”, can efficiently remove human creatures shielded by the card.

Additionally, employing combat tricks or pump spells can bolster your non-human creatures’ power, potentially enabling them to survive the combat phase and retaliate in the next turn. Strategically, holding back resources until after your opponent plays Spare from Evil can be key. This allows you to conserve your answers, such as “Settle the Wreckage” or “Rout”, for the most impactful moment. The key in defeating this spell lies in timing, strategic planning, and having a diverse set of responses in your deck that can adapt to the protection mechanics it offers.


Cards like Spare from Evil

Spare from Evil stands out among protective spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card offers a unique advantage to players by making non-Human creatures unable to block for a turn. Observing its peers, there’s Ghostly Prison, a card providing ongoing protection by imposing a cost upon attackers, albeit without the non-Human specificity. While Spare from Evil is a one-time event, Ghostly Prison continually taxes the opponent’s resources, showcasing strategic depth based on consistent hindrance.

In a similar bracket, we find Brave the Elements, which allows for a choice of color, granting protection from that color and enabling an offensive strategy, contrasting Spare from Evil’s primarily defensive nature. Additionally, Ethereal Haze draws a parallel by preventing all damage that would be inflicted this turn. However, unlike Spare from Evil, it doesn’t influence blocking creatures and thereby doesn’t ensure a clear path for attackers.

Ultimately, when comparing these spells and considering the scope of non-Human creatures in a player’s strategy, Spare from Evil can be a game-changer in the right deck, offering a calculated blend of defense and attack opportunities in the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Brave the Elements - MTG Card versions
Ethereal Haze - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Brave the Elements - Zendikar (ZEN)
Ethereal Haze - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Spare from Evil by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Bathe in Light - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spare from Evil MTG card by a specific set like 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 Spare from Evil and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spare from Evil has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-09-22 A “non-Human creature” is any creature that doesn’t have the creature type Human. A creature that is a Human in addition to other creature types is not a non-Human creature.
2011-09-22 Only creatures you control when Spare from Evil resolves will be affected. Creatures that enter the battlefield or that you gain control of later in the turn won’t be.

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