Island Sanctuary MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides a defensive edge by nullifying attacks from most creatures, bolstering your board security substantially.
  2. Demand for white mana and draw step skipping may limit its utility to specific deck strategies and builds.
  3. With the right setup, this enchantment can pivot the game’s momentum in your favor, stalling aggressive foes.

Text of card

You may decline to draw a card from your library during draw phase. In exchange, until start of your next turn the only creatures that can damage you are those that fly or have islandwalk.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Island Sanctuary in your MTG deck could be a clever move if you’re aiming for a strategy that limits your opponent’s ability to deal damage to you while subtly building your hand. Although you skip your draw step with Island Sanctuary, the trade-off comes with its ability to protect you from being overwhelmed by creatures without flying or islandwalk, essentially negating an entire class of threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Island Sanctuary doesn’t directly accelerate your resources like a ramp would, it gives you the breathing space needed to strategize and play your key pieces without pressure. This stall tactic can be invaluable for decks that compound advantages over time, effectively leading to an escalation in resources as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: Island Sanctuary operates at sorcery speed, fundamentally changing the pace of your game. However, the real power hails from its persistent ability to ward off attacks turn after turn. As your opponent adjusts their play to bypass your sanctuary, you’re now open to playing instants and other speedier responses, thanks to the secure state your sanctuary affords.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Island Sanctuary offers a defensive advantage by preventing creatures without flying or islandwalk from attacking you, it requires a significant trade-off each turn. To maintain the sanctuary’s effect, you must skip your draw step. This can lead to a decline in card advantage and hinder your ability to respond to an evolving battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Island Sanctuary demands a strict commitment of white mana in its casting cost. This specificity restricts its inclusion to mainly white or white-containing decks, potentially excluding it from a broader range of deck types that cannot accommodate or prioritize white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Island Sanctuary’s mana cost isn’t exorbitant, its initial investment is two mana for an enchantment whose utility may not be immediate. Unlike other enchantments or spells that can have an instant impact on the game, this card requires a strategic setup and synergy with other cards to maximize its defensive capabilities, which may not be fitting for every game scenario.


Reasons to Include Island Sanctuary in Your Collection

Versatility: Island Sanctuary offers a unique defense mechanism, fitting well into decks that aim to delay the game or set up strong fortifications. It’s not just for control decks; even combo decks can utilize the downtime it affords to assemble their pieces uninterrupted.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders with setup that requires a preserved life total. It can also seamlessly integrate into strategies that manipulate draw phases, ensuring that you draw into more than just mandatory cards and omit creatures when advantageous.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive creature-based strategies, Island Sanctuary can be a game-changer. It effectively negates a portion of an opponent’s attacks, providing essential breathing room for your game plan to unfold.


How to beat

Island Sanctuary is a unique enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering that can significantly alter the tempo of a match. The card allows a player to skip their draw phase to prevent all non-flying creatures from attacking them, which is a potent form of creature control. This defensive strategy can be challenging to overcome, however, certain strategies can help.

To tackle this card effectively, focus on spells and abilities that can directly remove enchantments or use creatures with flying or unblockable traits to evade its restriction. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize are prime examples of enchantment removal that will dispose of Island Sanctuary quickly. Alternatively, consider pressuring the Sanctuary’s controller by building a board presence that can threaten lethal damage through direct spells or abilities in case the enchantment is removed.

Adjusting your game plan around Island Sanctuary involves careful consideration of the deck’s composition and the current board state. In crafting your strategy, remember to maintain pressure and have answers ready for this defensive piece to ensure your path to victory remains clear.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricacies of Island Sanctuary can significantly influence game outcome. If you’re intrigued by strategies that prioritize longevity and meticulous play, then embracing the defensive capabilities of Island Sanctuary could be a game-changer. It shines in environments where you can afford to skip draw steps, leveraging your life total as a resource. Keep in mind the card’s affinity for white mana and potential card disadvantage. Incorporating Island Sanctuary means committing to a game of patience and precision. Eager to refine your deck and forge an impenetrable defense? Dive deeper with us and master the art of strategic MTG gameplay.


Cards like Island Sanctuary

Island Sanctuary is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that offers a defensive strategy to those who wield it. It finds its parallels with cards like Moat, which also denies creatures the ability to attack – unless they possess flying. Moat, however, doesn’t require the skipping of a draw to activate its ability. This subtle difference can significantly impact the user’s strategy and card availability.

Another card that shares some conceptual similarity is Ghostly Prison. While Island Sanctuary focuses on preventing attacks unless the controller pays the cost of forgoing a draw, Ghostly Prison does so by imposing an additional cost on the attacker. This tax is paid in mana, forcing opponents to weigh their offensive tactics against their available resources. Additionally, Propaganda offers a blue counterpart to Ghostly Prison, reflecting the same tactical hindrance but tailored for blue-centric decks.

In essence, Island Sanctuary presents MTG players with a distinct approach to defense, offering a blend of tactical depth and resource management. Its unique draw sacrifice requirement underscores its strength in long-term strategy games where preserving life totals is paramount.

Moat - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Moat - Legends (LEG)
Ghostly Prison - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Propaganda - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Island Sanctuary by color, type and mana cost

Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Serra Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
Angelic Renewal - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Blessing - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Circle of Protection: Red - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Circle of Protection: Black - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Circle of Protection: White - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Crusade - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)
Circle of Protection: Blue - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Hallowed Ground - Ice Age (ICE)
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Serra Bestiary - Homelands (HML)
Energy Storm - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ward of Lights - Mirage (MIR)
Gossamer Chains - Visions (VIS)
Angelic Renewal - Weatherlight (WTH)
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - Unglued (UGL)
Absolute Grace - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pacifism - Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic (DDC)
Serenity - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Mageta's Boon - Prophecy (PCY)
Seal of Cleansing - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Absolute Law - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Island Sanctuary MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Island Sanctuary and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Island Sanctuary Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Mark Poole.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 251993normalblackMark Poole
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 261993normalblackMark Poole
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 261993normalwhiteMark Poole
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 261993normalblackMark Poole
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 261993normalblackMark Poole
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 251993normalwhiteMark Poole
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 251993normalblackMark Poole
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 251993normalwhiteMark Poole
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 311993normalwhiteMark Poole
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 311993normalblackMark Poole
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 391997normalwhiteMark Poole
122011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 151997normalblackMark Poole
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3221997normalblackMark Poole
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 252015normalblackMark Poole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Island Sanctuary has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Island Sanctuary 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 If the replacement effect is applied, the effect will continue until your next turn even if this card leaves the battlefield.
2004-10-04 If you get multiple draws or you use a spell or ability during the draw step to draw extra cards, you can have the replacement effect apply to any one or all of those. You need only have it apply once to get the effect. If you skip more than one, there is no additional effect.
2004-10-04 Since the draw is replaced, you can’t use the same draw to do other things.

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