Iona's Blessing MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2016-01-22 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Oath of the Gatewatch |
| Set code | OGW |
| Number | 21 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David Gaillet |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has vigilance, and can block an additional creature.
"Walk now in my light. When the rest of the world closes its eyes, you will still see." —Iona
Understanding Iona’s Blessing
Iona’s Blessing positions itself as a unique aura in Magic: The Gathering, granting both a boost in strength and an advantageous vigilance trait to the enchanted creature. It stands out among auras for its ability to turn an ordinary creature into a formidable blocker capable of attacking without tapping.
Cards like Iona's Blessing
Iona’s Blessing echoes the effects of other aura cards within the Magic universe, such as the renowned Spectra Ward, which also offers a considerable boost along with protection from all colors. Spectra Ward, however, does not confer vigilance. Then we have the card Holy Mantle, serving a similar protective purpose by preventing the creature from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control, but again, Holy Mantle doesn’t give the creature the ability to stay untapped during attack.
Another comparable card is Knightly Valor which doesn’t just offer a +2/+2 increase like Iona’s Blessing but also creates a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance. Though it provides an additional body on the battlefield, its total cost is higher. These nuances between cards allow players to tailor their decks to their preferred strategy, whether it be for defensive play, offensive swings, or a balance between utility and cost.
Choosing the right enchantment depends on the context of the deck and the goals of the player. Iona’s Blessing carves out its niche for players wanting round-the-clock readiness from their creatures, emphasizing vigilance without forgetting the essential bump to power and toughness.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When it comes to Iona’s Blessing, the card advantage isn’t found in drawing cards; rather, it’s in the way it can turn any creature into a significant threat. By enchanting a creature, you effectively give it a more prominent role on the board, one that can affect the game’s dynamics significantly.
Resource Acceleration: Iona’s Blessing doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense of ramping up mana. Instead, it offers a kind of ‘tempo acceleration,’ making an existing creature more powerful and tough to deal with. This improved creature can drastically shorten the timeline for your opponent’s defeat, forcing them to react more quickly than they might be capable of.
Instant Speed: Although Iona’s Blessing is an aura that’s cast at sorcery speed, its strategic application during your main phase can effectively disrupt an opponent’s calculations. In a game where every move is anticipated, Iona’s Blessing changes the value and the threat level of your enchanted creature right before combat, which can be just as pivotal as an instant-speed play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Iona’s Blessing does not require discarding, but it’s crucial to consider this dynamic because attaching it to a creature without hexproof or indestructible may lead to a two-for-one loss if the creature is removed.
Specific Mana Cost: This aura has a casting cost that specifically demands white mana, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that may not focus on or easily generate white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, particularly two white, Iona’s Blessing is considered expensive for the effect of granting +2/+2, vigilance, and being able to block an additional creature. There are alternatives that may offer similar benefits at a lower cost or provide more utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Iona’s Blessing can be a powerful addition to decks that thrive on augmenting creatures. As an Aura, it offers both a significant power boost and vigilance, allowing you to maintain a strong defensive and offensive presence.
Combo Potential: This card is excellent for synergizing with strategies that capitalize on Auras or creature buffs. In tandem with effects that let you untap enchanted creatures, Iona’s Blessing elevates both its impact and utility.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where control or voltron strategies are prevalent, Iona’s Blessing fits right in. Its ability to create a formidable creature that can attack without tapping offers a continuous threat to your opponents while upholding defense.
How to beat
Iona’s Blessing is a unique aura in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide by bolstering a single creature with both enhanced power, toughness, and the coveted vigilance ability. This card renders the enchanted creature into a formidable defender while still allowing it to attack each turn. To counter Iona’s Blessing, players should focus on versatile removal spells capable of bypassing the aura’s effects. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are key, as they can directly target and destroy enchantments, effectively negating the blessing’s advantages.
Alternatively, board clearing spells such as Wrath of God or Damnation can provide a clean slate by destroying all creatures, regardless of any enhancements. Tactics that involve forcing an opponent to sacrifice creatures, like Diabolic Edict, offer another pathway to undermine Iona’s Blessing’s impact. Additionally, players should consider utilizing hexproof or shroud as a defensive measure, preventing the opponent from targeting their creatures with the aura in the first place.
In summation, overcoming Iona’s Blessing involves a strategy focused on evasion, enchantment removal, and global board control. These tools are essential for players aiming to maintain balance against this potent aura in Magic: The Gathering matches. By employing such strategies, players can effectively diminish the card’s influence on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Iona's Blessing MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Iona's Blessing 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Iona's Blessing has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Iona's Blessing card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-01-22 | The ability to block an additional creature is cumulative. If a creature is enchanted with two Iona’s Blessings, it can block three creatures each combat. (The +2/+2 is also cumulative, but you knew that.) |