Indestructible Aura MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant-speed card that provides crucial creature protection and can swing the game.
  2. Its specific mana cost may limit deck-building options, demanding flexibility.
  3. Despite the name, it doesn’t make creatures permanently indestructible in MTG.

Text of card

Any damage dealt to target creature for remainder of turn is reduced to 0.

Theodar strode the battle lines, snatching swords with his bare hands and casting them aside until all cowered before him.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Indestructible Aura card not only offers protection from a variety of sources, but it also can lead indirectly to card advantage. By safeguarding a key creature, it potentially saves that creature from removal, essentially nullifying an opponent’s card used in an attempt to destroy it.

Resource Acceleration: While Indestructible Aura itself doesn’t generate additional resources in the form of mana or tokens, the preservation of your creatures can be pivotal for maintaining a board presence. Keeping a creature with a tap ability for resource acceleration alive can be critical in the long-term resource game.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Indestructible Aura at instant speed gives players profound flexibility. It can be deployed in response to threats during the opponent’s turn, or presciently right before your own creature’s critical attacks or abilities, ensuring vital plays proceed unchecked by ensuring their indestructibility.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Indestructible Aura offers protection, it doesn’t come without a cost. Unlike some other protective spells, holding onto it in anticipation of threats can congest your hand, limiting your ability to play other impactful cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white and black mana, which can constrain deck building. Decks not running both colors won’t be able to utilize this protective aura, making it less adaptable across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The dual mana cost for Indestructible Aura is not insignificant. In situations where speed is crucial, the card’s mana requirements can be too slow, especially when faster and more mana-efficient options might be available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Indestructible Aura brings a layer of protection that can be pivotal in preserving key creatures across various deck styles. Whether you’re running an aggressive build that needs to safeguard its attackers or a more control-focused ensemble that relies on the survival of a few crucial creatures, this spell provides a shield against many forms of removal.

Combo Potential: For the cunning strategist, Indestructible Aura can be an enabler, keeping combo pieces intact and ensuring your intricate machine of spells and abilities operates without a hitch. In decks that hinge on creature-based synergies, this card can be the difference between a premature ending and a triumphant victory.

Meta-Relevance: With many decks featuring a plethora of destruction effects, Indestructible Aura has its place in the meta. It’s a resourceful response to the prevalent removal-heavy strategies, allowing you to confidently position your creatures on the battlefield, well-shielded from the ever-looming threats of board wipes and targeted destruction.


How to beat Indestructible Aura

Indestructible Aura, despite its name, is not quite an Aura nor does it make a creature indestructible in the game of Magic: The Gathering. Instead, it provides protection from a specific set of damage for a single turn. Navigating around this can be tricky, yet it is possible with the right strategy. For instance, using spells that don’t deal damage but instead force a sacrifice or change a creature’s base characteristics can effectively bypass the Aura’s shield.

Counterspells also serve as a robust preemptive measure. By countering Indestructible Aura before it takes effect, you ensure that your opponent’s creature remains vulnerable to your strategies. Moreover, waiting out the turn can also be a valid tactic if your deck can afford patience. By letting the spell expire, you can then unleash your damaging abilities without hindrance. Lastly, cards that strip abilities or target the opponent directly can also circumvent the limitation set by Indestructible Aura, allowing for a direct route to victory despite the temporary protections your opponent might leverage.

Understanding the actual scope and limitations of Indestructible Aura is key to overcoming this vintage piece of Magic: The Gathering history, turning a potential obstacle into an opportunity for strategic advantage.


Cards like Indestructible Aura

Indestructible Aura stands out in the realm of protective spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other cards like Shielded by Faith, which grants indestructible to a creature as well. The difference lies in Shielded by Faith’s ongoing effect that can be transferred to a new creature, unlike Indestructible Aura’s one-time use. However, Indestructible Aura has the advantage of being an instant, allowing for unexpected plays during combat or in response to destruction effects.

Another card worth mentioning is Darksteel Plate, conferring indestructible as an equipment. While this provides a more permanent solution compared to the fleeting protection of Indestructible Aura, it requires an initial investment and equipping cost to be moved between creatures. This could be a drawback during fast-paced games or when mana is scarce. In contrast, Indestructible Aura’s low casting cost makes it easily accessible in the heat of the moment.

Every protective spell has its unique advantages, but Indestructible Aura’s surprise factor and low cost provide a tactical edge, making it a noteworthy option for players looking for immediate and one-off creature protection in their Magic: The Gathering strategies.

Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - Commander 2015 (C15)
Darksteel Plate - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Indestructible Aura by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Piety Charm - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Reaping the Rewards - Exodus (EXO)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Orim's Touch - Invasion (INV)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Piety Charm - Onslaught (ONS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Indestructible Aura MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Indestructible Aura and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Indestructible Aura Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 1995-07-01. Illustrated by Mark Poole.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 211993normalblackMark Poole
21995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 71993normalwhiteMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Indestructible Aura has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Indestructible Aura card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 Despite the name, this card only prevents damage and not destroy effects. It’s also not an Aura.

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