Ivory Mask MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 24
2003-07-28 - Number 27
2003-07-28 - Number 27★
2005-07-29 - Number 23
2005-07-29 - Number 23★
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
You can't be the target of spells or abilities.
"I did not choose my role, Orim," said Cho-Manno patiently, "and I suspect Gerrard did not choose his."
Cards like Ivory Mask
Within the Magic: The Gathering universe, Ivory Mask offers a unique form of protection that is rarely mirrored in other cards. Its most direct comparison is with Witchbane Orb, a card that not only grants you hexproof but also removes all curses. Despite Witchbane Orb’s broader effects, it comes with a higher mana cost compared to Ivory Mask’s more focused ability.
Another card in this armory of defense is Orbs of Warding. This artifact not only gives you hexproof but also reduces the damage from creatures by 1. However, its higher cost and broader protective shield contrast with Ivory Mask’s early game accessibility and specific defense against spells and abilities targeting you. Leyline of Sanctity also provides a similar hexproof ability, but its primary advantage lies in its potential to start the game on the battlefield if it’s in your opening hand, offering immediate protection.
In analyzing these cards side by side, Ivory Mask stands out due to its balance in cost and focused defense, making it a strategic choice for those looking to fortify against targeted threats early on in the game.
Cards similar to Ivory Mask by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Ivory Mask itself does not directly allow you to draw more cards, its ability to protect your hand and strategies from opponents’ targeted effects promotes an indirect card advantage. By shielding your plays from targeted discard or other detrimental effects, you maintain the value of each card in hand.
Resource Acceleration: While Ivory Mask doesn’t ramp up mana like other cards, it helps in preserving resources by enabling uninterrupted development of your board. By ensuring your key pieces aren’t removed or disrupted, the acceleration of your game plan is more consistent.
Instant Speed: Although not at instant speed, once Ivory Mask is on the battlefield, its continuous effect acts as a safeguard ensuring your strategies are not hindered by instant-speed targeted spells or abilities your opponents might have, making it a preemptive defensive measure that keeps working round the clock.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Ivory Mask does not directly ask for a card to be discarded, its presence on the field might force players to discard other potentially useful cards from their hand due to hand size limitations. Having this enchantment on the board might inadvertently lead to tough decisions about what cards to keep.
Specific Mana Cost: Ivory Mask has a strict mana requirement with two white mana symbols in its cost. This specificity means it’s predominantly viable in mono-white or heavily white-influenced decks, possibly restricting its inclusion in more diverse mana base decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring four mana to cast can be quite steep, especially when considering that other spells or creatures could have a more immediate impact on the game state. Compared to other cards at the same cost, Ivory Mask may not always provide the same level of benefit, making it potentially less efficient in fast-paced game scenarios.
Reasons to Include Ivory Mask in Your Collection
Versatility: Ivory Mask offers broad utility as it grants you an omniscient shroud effect, making all your spells and permanents untargetable by opponents. This capability allows it to be included in a variety of deck types, particularly those aiming to protect valuable creatures or combos.
Combo Potential: This enchantment harmonizes well with strategies centered on safeguarding key pieces from targeted removal or spells. Additionally, it can complement a deck’s defensive measures, ensuring your crucial game plans remain undisturbed by your opponents’ targeted disruptions.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where targeted spells and abilities are prevalent, Ivory Mask becomes an essential tool for players to preserve their strategy intact. Its ability to shield the player from an opponent’s targeted actions can be a game-changer against control heavy decks and disruptive plays.
How to beat
Ivory Mask is a unique card that epitomizes privacy in Magic: The Gathering. Acting as a cloak of invisibility, it grants its controller a powerful form of protection, making them immune to spells and abilities from opponents that specifically target them. This white enchantment can often seem impenetrable, leaving rivals scrambling for alternatives to push through their strategic plays.
The key to surpassing the defenses of Ivory Mask lies in the use of global effects. These are spells or abilities that don’t target a single player but rather affect each player or creature on the battlefield. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, bypass the protective barrier of Ivory Mask because they don’t target individual players. Additionally, you can deploy cards that impose universal effects regardless of whether they target or not, like Shatter the Sky or Pithing Needle, to strategically undermine the safeguards established by the mask.
When strategizing against Ivory Mask, remember to consider it as a challenge to be viewed strategically rather than an obstacle. This card reminds us that in the intricate dance of Magic: The Gathering, even the most seemingly secure fortresses can still be breached with the right approach and resources.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ivory Mask MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Eighth 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 Ivory Mask 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 Ivory Mask Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Glen Angus.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 24 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Glen Angus | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 27 | 2003 | Normal | White | Glen Angus | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 27★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Glen Angus | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 23 | 2003 | Normal | White | Glen Angus | |
| 5 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 23★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Glen Angus |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ivory Mask has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |