Ivory Charm MTG Card

Modal nature provides adaptability and can lead to tactical card advantage in various situations. Instant speed allows surprise plays, enabling reactive strategies or end-of-turn actions. Specific mana cost and discard effect are notable considerations when including it in a deck.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	23
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gerry Grace

Text of card

Choose one All creatures get -2/-0 until end of turn; or prevent 1 damage to any creature or player; or tap target creature.

Cards like Ivory Charm

Ivory Charm is a versatile choice among Magic: The Gathering’s charm cycle. Its closest relatives include cards like Healing Salve and Dawn Charm, which also offer a menu of effects to choose from. What sets Ivory Charm apart is the combination of modes it brings to the table – prevention of damage, tapping a creature, and cycling through one’s library. Healing Salve focuses solely on protection and healing, lacking the tactical advantage of tapping an opponent’s creature or the deck manipulation capacity.

Likewise, Dawn Charm can prevent damage like Ivory Charm, but it includes a regeneration facet as well. However, Ivory Charm is unique in that it can directly impact the board state by manipulating creature positions. Despite this, both charms share the trait of instant speed, providing reactive utility during any phase of the game. It’s worth noting that neither Healing Salve nor Dawn Charm offer the deck cycling option, making Ivory Charm a more flexible tool in a player’s arsenal when looking for specific cards.

When considering utility spot removal and deck cycling effects, Ivory Charm holds its own. It may not have the raw power of some alternatives, but what it lacks in brute force, it more than compensates with its multipurpose applications in gameplay.

Cards similar to Ivory Charm by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ivory Charm may not directly draw you cards, but its modal nature provides valuable options. Choose the mode that best suits the situation to gain an edge over your opponent, making it a versatile tool in maintaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Ivory Charm doesn’t directly ramp your mana, its ability to potentially untap a creature can lead to increased mana availability. This can be especially potent if the target creature has a tap ability that generates resources or affects the board state.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Ivory Charm can be a surprise factor in your MTG strategy. You can use it reactively to disrupt your opponent’s plans or proactively at the end of their turn, keeping your mana open for other tactics until it’s absolutely necessary to act.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One often overlooked drawback of the Ivory Charm is its discard effect, an aspect which may be a downside during gameplay. Forcing you to part with another card can put you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re already dealing with a strained hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This charm’s utility is somewhat hampered by its specific mana cost. Requiring not just any mana but a white one means deck construction must account for such specificity, potentially limiting the charm’s broad inclusion in diverse deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the overall utility-cost ratio, Ivory Charm might not be the most mana-efficient choice available. Given its modal nature and effects, some players consider the required mana investment a bit steep compared to other options in the game’s expansive repertoire.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ivory Charm is a multifunctional card that can be slotted into many decks due to its three modes. It can manage combat scenarios, manipulate graveyard strategies, or even stall an opponent’s strategy temporarily.

Combo Potential: This charm works well in setups aiming to utilize its modes in sequence or in tandem with cards that benefit from the same. From preventing damage to untapping creatures, its multifaceted nature creates space for innovative combos.

Meta-Relevance: Considering an environment rich with creature-based strategies or decks reliant on graveyard recursion, Ivory Charm steps up as a tactical tool that can adjust to varied scenarios, maintaining its relevance in dynamic metas.

How to beat Ivory Charm

Ivory Charm, a versatile tool in any MTG player’s arsenal, may seem daunting to overcome with its multiple modal options. Capable of preventing all damage that would be dealt to you and creatures you control by one color this turn, disrupting opponent’s strategies not only hinges on timing but also proactive planning. It is critical to bait out the Charm’s use or exhaust the opponent’s mana beforehand. Moderate deck adjustment, such as including spells that force the opponent to tap out or using instants and abilities at the end of their turn, can effectively circumvent Ivory Charm’s protective benefits.

Another angle is prioritizing threats that aren’t easily nullified by a single Charm’s casting. Creatures with hexproof or shroud, for example, are immune to the Charm’s second mode that targets and taps a creature. Furthermore, going wide with numerous threats minimizes the impact of any single Charm activation as it’s limited to targeting just one aspect of your play. These combined strategies ensure you stay one step ahead, diluting the potency of Ivory Charm on the battlefield.

Adjusting your playstyle and carefully weighing your options ensures that even against the flexibility of Ivory Charm, you can maintain the upper hand and steer the game towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ivory Charm MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Ivory Charm and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ivory Charm has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal