Mother of Runes MTG Card
1999-02-15 - Number 14
2011-06-17 - Number 21
2015-02-27 - Number 20
2016-06-10 - Number 22
2017-06-09 - Number 17
2019-11-07 - Number 183
2022-06-10 - Number 702
2002-06-24 - Number 36140
2002-06-24 - Number 59649
2004-01-01 - Number 11
2019-12-02 - Number 473
2019-12-02 - Number 296
2019-12-02 - Number 299
2019-12-02 - Number 297
2019-12-02 - Number 298
2020-09-26 - Number DDO-20
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oc T: Target creature you control gains protection from a color of your choice until end of turn.
"My family protects all families."
Cards like Mother of Runes
Mother of Runes stands tall as a staple in MTG’s pool of creature protection spells. This venerable card allows players to protect their creatures from spot removals or aid them in evading blockers. Giver of Runes, another card within this echelon, offers comparable assistance by granting protection or unblockability but expands its reach beyond just white spells or abilities. It also gives players an additional choice to protect against colorless, which is notably absent in Mother of Runes.
Apart from these, we find Benevolent Bodyguard as an ally within the realm of MTG’s creature defense spells. Similar to Mother of Runes, it can guard creatures against specific colors. However, its protective ability is a one-time use, sacrificing itself to guard others. Unlike the repeatable utility provided by Mother of Runes, Benevolent Bodyguard’s single use can be seen both as a limitation and a tactical feint, depending on the battlefield situation.
Within the context of the game’s intricate protections, Mother of Runes secures a position of respect for its lasting influence on the board and the continuous advantage it grants, showcasing why it remains a beloved card in MTG collections.
Cards similar to Mother of Runes by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Mother of Runes. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Orzhov Stoneblade | Legacy | Orzhov Stoneblade | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-20 (1) |
| Abzan Stoneblade | Legacy | Abzan Stoneblade | Legacy League 2024-04-16 |
| Death and Taxes | Legacy | Abzan Stoneblade | $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Sunday - 9:30 am |
 | Maverick | Legacy | Maverick | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-27 (1) |
| WB | Legacy | Legacy League 2024-04-20 | |
| Death and Taxes (Yorion) | Legacy | Orzhov Stoneblade | $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Sunday - 9:30 am |
 | Mono-White Hammer | Legacy | Boros Hammer Time | Circuito Legacy RS 2024 - Etapa 4 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mother of Runes doesn’t directly let you draw cards, but her ability to protect key creatures can be just as valuable. Keeping your important creatures on the board longer ensures ongoing benefits and can indirectly lead to card advantage by negating your opponent’s removal spells.
Resource Acceleration: While Mother of Runes doesn’t provide mana or treasure tokens, the resource she accelerates is board presence. By safeguarding a critical creature, you maintain your offensive or defensive capabilities, effectively accelerating your game plan without spending additional resources on protection spells.
Instant Speed: Mother of Runes operates at instant speed, offering protection at a moment’s notice. This flexibility forces opponents to play around her ability and can act as a deterrent against targeting your creatures, making her a key tactical asset in any game where she’s present.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mother of Runes does not require a discard upon casting, but her presence on the battlefield can make her a prime target for an opponent’s removal spells, which could indirectly cause a card disadvantage if not protected properly.
Specific Mana Cost: Mother of Runes requires white mana to be played, thereby limiting her to decks that run white or have a mana base that can accommodate white mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Mother of Runes’ mana cost is not high on its own, she can be considered less efficient in fast-paced games where lower-cost creatures with immediate impact are preferred. Her utility becomes evident in longer, more drawn-out matches where her ability to protect creatures gains value over time.
Reasons to Include Mother of Runes in Your Collection
Versatility: Mother of Runes offers unparalleled utility in protecting your creatures. Whether safeguarding your key pieces from removal or enabling them to bypass blockers, this card is a staple for decks emphasizing creature strategies.
Combo Potential: Its ability to grant protection from a particular color each turn can be vital in safeguarding combo pieces from targeted spells, ensuring your intricate game plans go uninterrupted.
Meta-Relevance: Given the constant presence of removal spells in competitive formats, Mother of Runes remains highly relevant, acting as a shield against a myriad of removal strategies and enabling your creatures to press for victory without hindrance.
How to beat Mother of Runes
Mother of Runes is an iconic utility creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique layer of protection for your creatures by granting them temporary invulnerability to colors of your choice. Overcoming this card requires strategic play. One approach is to use colorless removal spells, such as Ugin, the Spirit Dragon’s -X ability, which circumvents the protection ability. Alternatively, board wipes that don’t target, like Supreme Verdict, can clear the way without being hindered by Mother of Runes’ protective influence.
Prioritizing the removal of Mother of Runes is crucial, especially in the early game before she can fully establish a defensive fortress. Another effective strategy is to apply pressure with unblockable or hexproof creatures. These threats slip past Mother of Runes’ protection and force the opponent to respond. Remember, Mother of Runes only shields from one color at a time, so multi-color threats can create complex situations for your opponent to navigate, potentially overloading their ability to protect their key pieces effectively.
In conclusion, while Mother of Runes can seem daunting to face due to her ability to shield allies, employing the right removal tools and strategies can keep her in check, maintaining the flow of the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mother of Runes MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Magic Online Promos, 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 Mother of Runes and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Mother of Runes Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 7 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 14 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36140 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | ||
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 59649 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | ||
| 4 | Friday Night Magic 2004 | F04 | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | ||
| 5 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 21 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 6 | 2015-02-27 | Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora | DDO | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | |
| 7 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 22 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | |
| 8 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | |
| 10 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 473 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | ||
| 11 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 296 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Ejiwa "Edge" Ebenebe | ||
| 12 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 299 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Livia Prima | ||
| 13 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 297 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Rebecca Guay | ||
| 14 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 298 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Eliette Mitchell | ||
| 15 | The List | PLST | DDO-20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | ||
| 16 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 702 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mother of Runes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |