Iridescent Angel MTG Card
2001-10-01 - Number 288
2015-08-21 - Number 10
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying,Protection |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying, protection from all colors
She enraptures all, encompasses all, endures all.
Cards like Iridescent Angel
Iridescent Angel stands out in the roster of protective creatures Magic: The Gathering offers. Just like her, Akroma, Angel of Wrath carries a host of abilities making her a formidable presence. While both creatures boast protection from various spells, Iridescent Angel simplifies the approach with protection from all colors, ensuring a wide defensive shield. Akroma, while not protective against all, compensates with a suite of other offensive abilities.
Then there’s Sphinx of the Steel Wind, another flying giant that shares some elemental protection. While it doesn’t guard against all colors, it offers protection from red and green and includes life-gain abilities, bringing a different strategic value. Lastly, we look at Aegis Angel, which lacks the universal protective barrier but provides an invaluable service by granting indestructibility to another permanent, potentially swinging the game in your favor.
Each of these cards caters to various tactics and deck builds, but Iridescent Angel’s universal color protection sets her apart in games that heavily feature multicolor decks. It’s a unique niche that, along with her flying ability, gives her a reliable defensive stature often crucial for white and blue deck strategies.
Cards similar to Iridescent Angel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Iridescent Angel commands attention on the battlefield. Its presence alone can deter opponents from making unfavorable attacks or trades, effectively preserving your card resources while prompting them to expend their own.
Resource Acceleration: Though the Angel itself doesn’t directly provide mana acceleration, it’s a vital piece in any deck that seeks to have a robust late-game presence. Its inclusion can bolster strategies that prioritize ramping up to powerful, high-impact creatures quickly.
Instant Speed: While Iridescent Angel itself is a creature card and doesn’t have instant speed capabilities, its keyword ability, protection from all colors, gives it pseudo-instant speed appeal. This means that once it’s on the field, it can be a near-impenetrable blocker that’s always ready to surprise your opponent, as most targeted removal in the game is color-based.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Iridescent Angel demands a precise and varied mana investment, with a particular emphasis on white and blue mana sources. This restriction often means the card can only find a home in decks that can reliably produce both colors, potentially limiting its playability across various formats.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the current meta where speed and efficiency are key, the seven mana required to summon Iridescent Angel can be seen as a significant drawback. As players prioritize quicker alternatives to control the board, this might leave the angel overshadowed by lower-costing creatures or spells that yield immediate impact.
Discard Requirement: While Iridescent Angel itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its steep mana cost could indirectly lead to situations where a player is forced to discard due to a full hand at the end of their turn, or as they try to manage their resources more effectively while waiting to have enough mana to cast it.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Iridescent Angel stands out for its ability to fit snugly into a wide array of decks due to its inherent protection. With both flying and protection from all colors, it can serve as a formidable blocker or an unstoppable attacker, adaptable to various strategies.
Combo Potential: Its protection from all colors makes the Iridescent Angel an excellent enabler for combos that require a resilient creature on the battlefield. It works well with auras or equipment, knowing they won’t easily be removed, thus enhancing your board state consistency.
Meta-Relevance: Given the diversity of removal spells across different metagames, a creature immune to most of them can be incredibly valuable. The Iridescent Angel fits perfectly in environments where targeted removal is rampant, allowing you to maintain a persistent threat your opponents will struggle to deal with.
How to beat
Iridescent Angel stands as a formidable presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This angel is not only an impressive flyer but also boasts protection from all colors, making targeted removal spells futile against it. Dealing with such a relentless creature requires strategic finesse and a well-thought-out arsenal.
To bypass its protections, players should consider colorless removal options. Cards like Ugin, the Spirit Dragon offer an exile effect that doesn’t rely on color, neatly sidestepping the angel’s defenses. Board wipes that don’t target, such as All Is Dust or even cards like Nevinyrral’s Disk, which destroy all creatures, artifacts, and enchantments, can clear the angel from the table without needing to target it directly.
Handling the angel could also be as simple as changing the rules of engagement. Ensnaring effects like Tangle Wire or Meekstone can restrict the angel’s ability to attack or block, effectively turning off its advantage even if it remains on the battlefield. Balancing your deck with such utilities ensures you’re prepared to face off against the most ethereal of threats.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Iridescent Angel MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and From the Vault: Angels, 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 Iridescent Angel 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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Printings
The Iridescent Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2015-08-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 288 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 2 | 2015-08-21 | From the Vault: Angels | V15 | 10 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Alexander Lee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Iridescent Angel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Iridescent Angel 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 | This card has Protection from Black, from Blue, from Red, from White, and from Green. This is the definition of “All Colors”. This means it is possible to use an effect that removes one color of protection, such as just black, on this card. |