Pillar of Light MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2015
Set code	M15
Number	24
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Erica Yang

Key Takeaways

Pillar of Light skillfully counters creatures with toughness 4 or more, providing a non-trading removal option.
It ensures tempo is maintained, enabling players to cast other spells due to its low mana cost.
The card’s instant speed allows for strategic responses to opponent’s creature plays during a match.

Text of card

Exile target creature with toughness 4 or greater.

"The vaulted ceiling of our faith rests upon such pillars." —Darugand, banisher priest

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Pillar of Light doesn’t provide direct card draw, it lets players efficiently remove a creature with toughness 4 or greater without the need for a trade on the battlefield. This can effectively negate an opponent’s previous creature-based card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While the Pillar of Light itself doesn’t offer a traditional resource acceleration, it helps maintain tempo by addressing large threats with a low-cost spell. Its mana value of three allows you to manage your resources effectively and still have mana available for other game plays the same turn.

Instant Speed: The convenience of Pillar of Light being an instant cannot be overstated. This allows a player to efficiently manage their turn, keeping mana open for other actions until the last possible moment. Should an opponent play a threatening creature, Pillar of Light offers a responsive solution to neutralize it without having to wait for your own turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pillar of Light doesn’t require you to discard cards, enhancing its strategic viability in preserving hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana alignment of two whites and one of any color, which could be restrictive for multicolor or off-theme decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana, some players might find it pricier compared to other removal spells that could offer similar or even broader removal options for less mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pillar of Light is a dynamic addition to any deck requiring definitive answers to creatures with high toughness. Its ability to exile can bypass various indestructible and graveyard-based strategies, making it a solid sideboard card for specific matchups.

Combo Potential: While Pillar of Light might seem straightforward, it pairs well with cards that manipulate opponent’s creatures’ toughness, ensuring the condition for exile is met. It’s also useful in decks focused on exile triggers or synergy with other cards that benefit from this removal type.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based decks evolve, having an effective and cost-efficient creature removal tool becomes paramount. Pillar of Light shines in metas where large creatures dominate the battlefield, allowing for a clean and resourceful way to deal with otherwise cumbersome threats.

How to Beat Pillar of Light

Pillar of Light stands out as an efficient removal tool within the world of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a straightforward solution to dealing with large creatures by exiling any creature with a toughness of 4 or greater provided it is not indestructible. Its limitation lies in its specificity as it doesn’t affect smaller or indestructible creatures.

To sidestep the effect of Pillar of Light, players can focus on building their board presence with creatures below the four-toughness threshold. Cards like Selfless Spirit can render it ineffective by offering protection through its sacrifice ability. Alternatively, indestructible creatures or those with hexproof dodge Pillar of Light’s reach effortlessly, making them reliable choices against the constraint of this removal.

Adapting your strategy by including cards that counteract or reduce the dependency on large creatures will dampen Pillar of Light’s impact on your gameplay. Creatures that generate value upon entering the battlefield or have death triggers are also effective, as you receive the benefit regardless of whether Pillar of Light removes them afterwards or not.

Cards like Pillar of Light

Pillar of Light stands out in the realm of creature removal cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shines when compared to other spells, like Reprisal, which also destroys a creature with high power. Pillar of Light, however, has the added advantage of exiling the target creature if its toughness is 4 or greater, removing it from the game entirely. This is a key benefit over Reprisal, which simply destroys the creature, leaving it in the graveyard for potential retrieval.

Another comparable card is Path to Exile, which serves a similar exile function. Though it comes with a lower casting cost, Path to Exile allows the creature’s controller to search their library for a basic land card, giving them a slight resource gain. Conversely, Pillar of Light offers no such compensation to your opponents, making it a valuable card for ensuring opponents’ creatures stay out of play without any consolation.

Overall, Pillar of Light provides a specific and powerful effect in creature control. It may find its niche in decks that aim to permanently remove imposing creatures, offering players a strategic edge against decks that rely heavily on stout, resilient threats.

Cards similar to Pillar of Light by color, type and mana cost

Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pillar of Light MTG card by a specific set like 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 Pillar of Light and other MTG cards: