Lithomancer's Focus MTG Card

Boosts creature strength efficiently, tipping the scales in combat while conserving cards. Low mana cost allows effective mana management and simultaneous spell casting. Instant speed offers strategic flexibility, often surprising adversaries in battle.

Lithomancer's Focus - Battle for Zendikar

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Battle for Zendikar
Set code	BFZ
Number	38
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cynthia Sheppard

Text of card

Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to that creature this turn by colorless sources.

"Even in the hands of amateurs, Nahiri's hedrons can harm the Eldrazi." —Ugin

Cards like Lithomancer's Focus

Lithomancer’s Focus is a unique instant that offers creatures a quick boost in Magic: The Gathering combat. It not only grants a creature +2/+2 but also provides protection from colorless creatures until the end of the turn. Its closest comparator, Giant Growth, provides a more substantial boost of +3/+3 but without the defensive utility against colorless creatures.

Comparatively, Gods Willing is another card that provides protection, although it shields from a chosen color instead of specifically colorless creatures, and it gives the added benefit of scrying. However, it lacks the power and toughness enhancement. Then there’s Brave the Elements, which covers a wider range of creatures by offering protection for all creatures of the same color, but again, it does not provide the combat strength boost that Lithomancer’s Focus does.

Within the realm of combat tricks, Lithomancer’s Focus is an efficient card for those who anticipate battles against colorless creatures, especially in formats where Eldrazi or Artifact creatures are common. While other spells may offer greater strength enhancement or more versatile protection, Lithomancer’s Focus combines both abilities at a low cost, carving out its niche in MTG.

Cards similar to Lithomancer's Focus by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lithomancer’s Focus provides an efficient way to strengthen creatures in combat, potentially allowing you to outmatch an opponent’s forces without sacrificing additional cards. This one-for-one trade can contribute to overall card advantage as it helps to maintain your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Lithomancer’s Focus itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost enhances your ability to utilize mana effectively. By using only one white mana, you can preserve your resources for deploying other spells or abilities in the same turn.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Lithomancer’s Focus gives players the flexibility to decide the best moment to enhance a creature—often during the combat phase to surprise an opponent. This element of surprise can be a crucial factor in turning the tide of battle in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lithomancer’s Focus requires you to have a specific card type to maximize its benefit. If you’re not running a deck with a strong theme around Elementals or colorless creatures, its impact will be minimal.

Specific Mana Cost: With its White mana cost, Lithomancer’s Focus may not fit into multi-color decks that don’t include White. This limits its versatility across the diverse range of MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although having a low mana cost of one White and one generic mana, the card’s effect might be underwhelming when compared to other combat tricks or protective spells available, especially since it only targets a single creature.

Reasons to Include Lithomancer’s Focus in Your Collection

Versatility: Lithomancer’s Focus is a cheap instant that can be slotted into various deck builds, especially those that involve creature-heavy strategies. It not only grants +2/+2 but also negates colorless creature’s damage, making it a flexible choice for both offensive and defensive situations.

Combo Potential: This instant shines in decks that play around with combat tricks. Its ability to protect and buff creatures at a low cost opens up opportunities for synergies with cards that leverage creature survival, like Heroic or Outlast.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where Eldrazi or other colorless creatures dominate, Lithomancer’s Focus gains additional value. Its specific colorless protection can tip the scales in battles where these creatures are prevalent, aligning its relevance with shifts in the competitive landscape.

How to beat

Understanding the strengths and limitations of Lithomancer’s Focus is key to overcoming it in a game of Magic: The Gathering. This spell is primarily used for its defensive capabilities, granting a quick and economical boost to a target creature, and offering protection from colorless creatures for the turn. If you’re looking to tackle a spell like Lithomancer’s Focus, consider timing your removals carefully since the card can unexpectedly turn the tide during combat by buffing creatures when they’re under threat.

One effective strategy is to wait out the combat phase where Lithomancer’s Focus might be cast, before utilizing instant-speed removals that can neutralize the buffed creature outside of combat. Additionally, employing spells that don’t target, such as board wipes or effects that cause players to sacrifice creatures, can circumvent the protection granted by Lithomancer’s Focus. It’s about patience and precision, baiting out the Focus and then clearing the board or removing the threats in a way that it can’t prevent.

By anticipating your opponent’s moves and planning around this spell, you can effectively neutralize the advantage Lithomancer’s Focus provides, maintaining control of the game and paving the way for your victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lithomancer's Focus MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Lithomancer's Focus and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lithomancer's Focus has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-08-25	Lithomancer’s Focus will prevent damage to the creature from any colorless source that turn, even if that source didn’t exist or wasn’t colorless as Lithomancer’s Focus resolved.