Soothing Balm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Number	48
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Scott M. Fischer

Key Takeaways

Life gain from Soothing Balm can secure extra turns against swift decks, increasing card draw chances.
Soothing Balm’s flexibility lies in its instant speed play, adapting to the flow of the game.
While mana and card costs are concerns, the card’s life gain can be worth the investment in the right deck.

Text of card

Target player gains 5 life.

Orim taught Ta-Karnst and the other Cho-Arrim healers a far less invasive method of healing.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Soothing Balm itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it does provide a life gain which can give you more turns against aggressive strategies, effectively giving you more opportunities to draw the cards you need to stabilize the board and secure your victory.

Resource Acceleration: Soothing Balm might not accelerate your resources in the conventional sense of providing mana or ramp, yet the life gain it provides can be a resource in itself, buying you crucial time to deploy your key spells and establish a solid board presence without the pressure to immediately answer your opponent’s threats.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Soothing Balm at instant speed offers significant flexibility. In a game where timing can be everything, this allows players to wait until the most impactful moment—perhaps in response to combat damage or an opponent’s spell—maximizing the card’s impact on the game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Soothing Balm demands giving something up as it hits the battlefield. Not only do you consume mana to cast this spell, but it also requires you to part with another asset from your hand. During a tight game where every card counts, having to discard can be a significant setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a mono-white mana cost, Soothing Balm’s flexibility is hindered. If you’re not running a white-based deck, or if you find yourself mana-screwed without white sources, this card becomes a dead draw, sitting uselessly in your hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The output of Soothing Balm is life gain, an effect achievable through various other cards at a lower cost. Expending two mana might not seem much, but in a game where efficiency can determine the victor, the mana spent on this card might better serve you elsewhere, particularly given the dynamic and resource-focused nature of the game.

Reasons to Include Soothing Balm in Your Collection

Versatility: Soothing Balm offers a simple yet effective life gain mechanism, making it a handy addition to lifelink-based decks or those focused on surviving the early game against aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: Being a low-cost spell, it synergizes well with cards that trigger upon gaining life or casting spells, thus enabling various combo strategies that could turn the tide in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where burn decks are prevalent, Soothing Balm serves as a cost-efficient tool to offset the damage dealt by your opponent’s quick spells, potentially disrupting their pace and giving you the upper hand.

How to beat

Soothing Balm stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a card that offers a modest yet potentially game-changing life gain. This instant spell, often found in lifegain decks, can sometimes catch opponents off guard by providing a substantial health boost. While seemingly a small addition, in the right circumstances, Soothing Balm can turn the tide of a match, particularly when combined with other life gain synergies.

To effectively play against it, it’s crucial to have a strategy that can either outpace the life gained or neutralize the effect altogether. Aggressive decks can aim to deplete the opponent’s life total swiftly, overshadowing the incremental advantage Soothing Balm provides. Alternatively, players can employ spells that counter life gain, such as Tainted Remedy, which turns healing into harm, or utilize cards that punish high life totals like Felidar Sovereign by putting their own unique win conditions on the board.

Understanding that Soothing Balm represents only a temporary reprieve allows a savvy player to remain focused on their winning strategy. By planning ahead and keeping pressure on their opponent, players can mitigate the impact of Soothing Balm and stay one step ahead in the game.

Cards like Soothing Balm

Exploring the Magic: The Gathering landscape, Soothing Balm emerges as an interesting straightforward life gain spell. A parallel can be drawn with cards like Healing Salve, which also offers the option to either gain life or prevent damage – a flexibility that Soothing Balm does not share. Yet, the absence of dual modes simplifies its use and can be advantageous when the goal is purely to increase one’s life total.

Life gain in MTG typically involves a range of spells, such as Rest for the Weary. While this card has the potential to double the life gained under certain conditions, such as having landfall, it doesn’t always guarantee more life than Soothing Balm. There’s also the classic Chaplain’s Blessing, providing a heavier one-time life boost at a lower cost, but without the added benefit of targeting.

Comparatively, while Soothing Balm may not seem as flexible or potent in specific contexts, it’s consistent and can be a better fit in decks focused on incremental life gain strategies or those that combine life gain with other effects. This solid, niche positioning in the vast array of MTG options makes Soothing Balm a card that some players may find useful in their life-centric builds.

Cards similar to Soothing Balm by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soothing Balm MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Soothing Balm and other MTG cards: