Illusory Angel MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Angel Illusion
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Illusory Angel excels in decks that cast multiple spells, adding a strong 4/4 flyer for three mana.
  2. The casting condition can hinder timing, demanding strategic play with spell sequences.
  3. Despite mana specificity, it’s a valuable addition in blue-centered decks for tempo plays.

Text of card

Flying Cast Illusory Angel only if you've cast another spell this turn.

"Yes, she is made of pure belief—but I hardly see why that makes her unique." —Reith, master illusionist


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Illusory Angel doesn’t inherently let you draw cards, playing this creature becomes advantageous when you have other cards that enable you to draw upon casting another spell. The Angel ensures you maintain board presence, which can lead to indirect card advantage by demanding answers from your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Though Illusory Angel itself does not accelerate resources, its low casting cost for a sizeable creature body enables you to apply pressure while still having mana available. This creates opportunities to use your resources more efficiently elsewhere during your turn.

Instant Speed: Illusory Angel sets a unique tempo by allowing you to cast it only if you’ve cast another spell this turn, which promotes strategic play around instant-speed spells. Cast something at instant speed, then follow up with Illusory Angel for a powerful and unexpected one-two punch during a single turn window.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Illusory Angel is the requirement to have played another spell before casting it within the same turn. This condition can be restrictive and may cause timing issues, especially if you are aiming for an optimal play sequence or struggling with resource availability.

Specific Mana Cost: Another limitation is its specific mana cost, demanding one blue and two generic mana. This cost means that the card is best suited for blue-focused or blue-inclusive decks, reducing its versatility in multicolored deck strategies that may not prioritize blue mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost for Illusory Angel is considered high for its stats and abilities. With a casting cost of three mana—which includes colored mana—players might find it challenging to accommodate the angel into a turn and still comply with the casting precondition, potentially leading to suboptimal pacing against decks that accelerate faster or require less setup.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Illusory Angel can seamlessly integrate into various blue-based decks. Its ability to offer a sizable flying creature for a low mana investment makes it adaptable for both aggressive and tempo-driven strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can be a critical component in powerful plays. Since it requires you to cast another spell before it comes into play, it complements strategies that rely on casting multiple spells in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: If you’re facing an environment with decks that are light on blockers or removal, the Angel can be a persistent threat due to its evasion and cost-effective stat line. It’s especially potent in metas where air superiority can dictate the pace of the game.


How to beat

Illusory Angel presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, standing as an elusive creature with impressive stats for its casting cost. This card operates on a strict play condition, requiring you to cast another spell before it can be summoned. While it may seem daunting to neutralize, understanding its casting limitation is the key to countering it.

Instant removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can effectively eliminate Illusory Angel before its impact is felt. Additionally, keeping counter measures ready ensures that you can stop the spell that would precede the Angel’s arrival, disrupting your opponent’s game plan. Cards such as Negate or Essence Scatter are excellent choices for maintaining control.

Moreover, you can employ strategies that limit your opponent’s ability to cast multiple spells in one turn. This can involve mana denial or implementing effects that increase the cost of their spells. By doing so, you make it significantly harder for them to meet the Angel’s casting prerequisite. Strategies like this diminish the chances of Illusory Angel taking flight and make it manageable to keep your opponent’s side of the board clear.


Cards like Illusory Angel

Illusory Angel emerges as an intriguing entry into the array of creatures that provide value for their casting cost in Magic: The Gathering. It finds peers in cards like Stormwing Entity, which similarly offers a substantial flying body for a reduced mana investment. However, Illusory Angel requires a player to have cast another spell before it can be summoned, a distinct trigger not found in Stormwing Entity.

Parallel considerations lead us to Pteramander, another flyer that benefits from being played in a spell-heavy deck. Pteramander eventually becomes a formidable force with its adaptability, even though it starts off small. It contrasts with Illusory Angel’s immediate impact as a sizeable airborne threat. There’s also Spell Queller, a card that meshes its flying capability with interaction by exiling an opponent’s spell upon entry. Contrasted with Illusory Angel, it offers board influence beyond being a mere creature.

Examining the landscape of similar MTG cards underscores Illusory Angel’s unique position. While contingent on a player’s prior actions, its immediate presence as a 4/4 flyer for three mana under the right conditions is an intriguing offer, combining cost-effectiveness with muscular aerial dominance.

Stormwing Entity - MTG Card versions
Pteramander - MTG Card versions
Spell Queller - MTG Card versions
Stormwing Entity - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Pteramander - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Spell Queller - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Illusory Angel by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mistform Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Blind Phantasm - Future Sight (FUT)
Academy Researchers - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Illusory Angel MTG card by a specific set like Planechase 2012 and Magic 2015, 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 Illusory Angel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Illusory Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-06-01 and 2017-11-17. Illustrated by Allen Williams.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 192003normalblackAllen Williams
22014-07-18Magic 2015M15 592015normalblackAllen Williams
32016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 192015normalblackAllen Williams
42017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 592015normalblackAllen Williams

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Illusory Angel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-07-18 It doesn’t matter whether the other spell resolved. It could have been countered or, if you’ve somehow cast Illusory Angel as though it had flash, it could still be on the stack.

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