Aegis of the Heavens MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Aegis of the Heavens enables favorable trades and creature preservation, increasing your strategic board control.
  2. Its instant speed allows for surprise combat tricks, turning the tide in battles unexpectedly.
  3. Despite mana and discard limitations, its toughness boost can be pivotal in many MTG matchups.

Text of card

Target creature gets +1/+7 until end of turn.

Inner strength is never seen until it makes all the difference.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Aegis of the Heavens doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, the unexpected boost can lead to advantageous trades or preserve a key creature, effectively maintaining your board presence and indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Aegis of the Heavens is not designed for resource acceleration in the traditional sense. However, protecting a vital creature with this spell can secure your board state and allow you to utilize your creature’s abilities or attacks without interruption, which can be critical for maintaining tempo and resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Aegis of the Heavens at instant speed is a tactical asset. It can surprise an opponent during combat or in response to a removal spell, providing a hefty +1/+7 boost when least expected and potentially turning the tide of a game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other instant cards that may offer a similar effect without a discard prerequisite, Aegis of the Heavens requires a player to retain it until the moment is ripe, potentially reducing hand flexibility and forcing them to hold back resources that could be employed elsewhere.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands one white mana, which might not be as flexible for multi-colour or colour-intensive decks, thus pigeonholing it more into white-focused or two-colour decks where mana bases are built to accommodate such specific requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana, the +1/+7 effect is a powerful combat trick or a means to save a creature from destruction, but in some game states, that mana could potentially be directed towards board development or other more immediately impactful spells.


Reasons to Include Aegis of the Heavens in Your Collection

Versatility: Aegis of the Heavens can be a game-changer in various deck builds, particularly those looking to fortify creatures at critical moments. Its ability to boost a creature’s toughness by a significant amount for a low mana cost makes it adaptable and a surprise element during combat.

Combo Potential: This card is not just about defense; its ability to instantly turn a creature into a formidable blocker or attacker makes it perfect for synergy with strategies that depend on creature size. Pair it with cards that trigger effects based on toughness to watch your board position strengthen dramatically.

Meta-Relevance: As aggro and midrange decks remain a staple in many game circles, Aegis of the Heavens stands out as a solid reactive card. It helps creatures survive damage-dealing spells or combat confrontations they would otherwise lose, enhancing your deck’s resilience against prevalent threats.


How to beat

Aegis of the Heavens is one of those cards in Magic: The Gathering that can quickly turn the tide of a game. This instant spell doubles a creature’s toughness until end of turn, often saving it from destruction and enabling colossal life swings when paired with effects that care about toughness. Despite its formidable ability to protect and empower creatures, there is a strategy to overcoming it.

Timing is everything against Aegis of the Heavens. The most effective way to beat it is through disruption and instant-speed removal. Holding up mana for removal spells that can be cast after Aegis of the Heavens is played but before combat damage is assigned can nullify its effect. This forces the opponent to waste their mana and card without gaining the intended benefit. Additionally, effects that counter spells or cause the opponent to discard cards from their hand can prevent Aegis of the Heavens from ever hitting the battlefield. Playing around this powerful trick requires patience and precise play, but with the right approach, it’s possible to minimize the impact of Aegis of the Heavens and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Aegis of the Heavens

Aegis of the Heavens holds its ground in the realm of instant combat tricks in Magic: The Gathering. It is often compared to Giant Growth, a classic that offers an immediate +3/+3 boost for a single green mana. While Aegis of the Heavens offers a more substantial toughness boost, it misses the increase in power that Giant Growth provides. Another card, Sheltering Light, offers indestructibility along with scry 1 for one white mana, focusing on protection rather than bolstering toughness.

Considering Luminescent Rain, which also targets creatures’ toughness by providing a life gain equal to twice the number of creatures of a certain type you control, Aegis of the Heavens distinguishes itself by offering a massive, singular boost to one creature. This can be crucial in saving a key creature from removal or turning a modest defender into an insurmountable blocker.

In the ecosystem of instant-speed defensive spells, Aegis of the Heavens stands out for its massive toughness boost at a pivotal moment, potentially swinging combat or saving a creature from destruction. It marks its niche for players looking to fortify their creatures against heavy hitters or unfavorable trades in battle.

Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Sheltering Light - MTG Card versions
Luminescent Rain - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Sheltering Light - Ixalan (XLN)
Luminescent Rain - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Aegis of the Heavens by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - 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
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Angelsong - MTG Card versions
Rest for the Weary - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
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)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Angelsong - The List (PLST)
Rest for the Weary - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aegis of the Heavens MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Jumpstart, 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 Aegis of the Heavens and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aegis of the Heavens Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 12015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 792015normalblackAnthony Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aegis of the Heavens has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

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