Light of Day MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 27
1999-04-21 - Number 29
2000-08-02 - Number nl29sb
2020-09-26 - Number TMP-27
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Black creatures cannot attack or block
"I do not miss sunlight. The very memory of it burns my eyes." —Volrath
Understanding Light of Day and Its Counterparts
Light of Day is a unique card within the varied range of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a specific form of protection by preventing black creatures from attacking or blocking, a form of color hate not commonly seen in recent sets. This property is reminiscent of older spells like Crusade, which provided benefits to white creatures, inversely discriminating against others. Similarly, Teferi’s Protection is another card that provides comprehensive guard against all colors, but it eclipses Light of Day by affecting all elements of play, not just combat.
Cards like Light of Day
Light of Day shares its strategy with a few notable counterparts, such as Karma, which penalizes players for their commitment to swamps. Although Karma deals damage over affecting combat capabilities, the intention to hinder a color’s advantage is akin to Light of Day’s design. There’s also Circle of Protection: Black, which, instead of blanketing the battlefield, allows the protection to be tailored against individual black threats, granting more control but requiring mana commitment. A more contemporary card, Witchbane Orb, presents a different approach by giving its controller hexproof, effectively neutralizing targeted black curse spells rather than restricting black creatures like Light of Day.
The comparison sheds light on the utility each card brings to the table when facing adversaries committed to black decks. While each has its niche, Light of Day stands out for its passive, yet persistent battlefield control, a testament to its enduring relevancy in matches where dictating combat terms can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Cards similar to Light of Day by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Light of Day doesn’t directly offer card draw, but by preventing black creatures from attacking or blocking, it can indirectly lead to card advantage. If your opponents are forced to hold back their creatures, they might need to use more resources to eliminate Light of Day or change their strategy altogether, leading to an advantageous position for you on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While Light of Day does not accelerate resources in the traditional sense of providing mana or ramp, it helps maintain your existing resources by protecting you from a significant number of threats. This allows you to allocate mana towards development of your board state or other strategic plays without having to worry as much about defending against black creatures.
Instant Speed: Light of Day is an enchantment that’s played at sorcery speed, but its impact on the game can be similar to instant speed effects. Once in play, it immediately alters the battlefield dynamics, particularly in a meta-game where black creatures are prevalent. Timing the play just before your turn can leave opposing black creatures unable to participate in combat, effectively neutralizing them without a need for instant speed interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Light of Day doesn’t directly impose a discard requirement on the player, it’s important to consider the potential loss when playing it. It may not synergize well with strategies that require a full hand of cards, leading to possible strategic disadvantages.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a dedicated white mana cost can restrict its inclusion to mono-white or certain two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the wider range of MTG archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three generic and one white mana, Light of Day is a hefty investment, especially when there are lower-cost alternatives that can suppress or remove enemy creatures more immediately or with additional benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Light of Day is a white enchantment that can seamlessly integrate into decks aiming to restrict or completely shutdown strategies revolving around black creatures. Its ability to create a one-sided effect allows players who favor white-based control or prison decks to gain a substantial advantage on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: Light of Day’s efficacy increases when combined with cards that convert opponent creatures’ colors to black or force strategies that hinge upon black-centric creature abilities, creating opportunities for powerful lockdown combos that can dictate the pace of the game.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where black creature-heavy decks become prevalent, including Light of Day in your arsenal can be a game-changer. Its presence alone can deter opponents from executing their strategy, giving you an upper hand by pre-emptively countering a dominant force in the meta.
How to Beat Light of Day
Light of Day is a unique enchantment that can heavily skew the playing field in Magic: The Gathering. It renders all black creatures inactive, which can seal the deal in matches against decks that rely heavily on them. Understanding how to navigate around this card can be crucial for maintaining dominance in the game.
Pivoting to non-black creatures is a straightforward strategy to overcome Light of Day’s restriction. Introducing artifact creatures or focusing on a different color can dilute the enchantment’s impact. Spells like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a direct answer by targeting and destroying enchantments, providing a clean solution to resume your original game plan. Another effective method is to use countermagic such as Negate when Light of Day is cast, preventing it from ever taking effect and leaving the path clear for your black creatures to wreak havoc.
Adapting to the enchantment’s limitations without compromising your deck’s integrity is key. Flexibility and foresight in deck building, along with tactical sideboarding, ensure that a single card like Light of Day does not overshadow your strategy, keeping you on the path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Light of Day MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Classic Sixth 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 Light of Day and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Light of Day Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 27 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 29 | 1997 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 3 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | nl29sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Drew Tucker | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | TMP-27 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Light of Day has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |