Sphere of Grace MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Number	49
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Sphere of Grace outshines others in defending against flying creatures, tilting the aerial game in your favor.
Its restrictive white mana cost may deter non-monochrome deck builders from including it.
While potent, its effectiveness depends on the prevalence of flying creatures in the meta.

Text of card

If a black source would deal damage to you, prevent 2 of that damage.

Grace repels darkness.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sphere of Grace creates an opportunity to nullify opponent’s card effectiveness, particularly those reliant on flying creatures, potentially giving you an edge in board presence without needing extra cards.

Resource Acceleration: While this card does not directly accelerate your resources, the protection it provides can indirectly lead to resource advantage by saving your creatures from aerial threats, allowing you to allocate mana towards other game-advancing plays.

Instant Speed: Though Sphere of Grace is an enchantment, which typically can’t be cast at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells that you may have. This secure environment lets you manage your spells efficiently without the pressure of imminent airborne assaults.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sphere of Grace demands a particular commitment to white mana, which may not align with every deck’s mana base. This necessity can hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks that prioritize other colors or strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost is entirely in white mana (2WW), rendering it less flexible and demanding a strong commitment to white mana sources in your deck. Players running multicolor decks might find this cost restrictive and hard to fulfill consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment of four mana for its protective aura, Sphere of Grace’s cost can be considered steep compared to other options. Players might opt for cards that provide immediate board impact or more cost-effective defensive measures.

Reasons to Include Sphere of Grace in Your Collection

Versatility: Sphere of Grace is a unique enchantment that can slot into several deck archetypes. Its ability to prevent damage from creatures with flying makes it a potential sideboard option when dealing with meta decks that favor evasive creatures.

Combo Potential: By reducing the damage from flying creatures, Sphere of Grace pairs well with cards designed to capitalize on prolonged engagements. It can be a part of strategies that aim to lock down aerial threats and establish board control.

Meta-Relevance: Given that flying creatures are commonly utilized in competitive play, including cards like Sphere of Grace can offer a significant edge. Its relevance becomes particularly pronounced if the meta is saturated with decks that rely on flying creatures to dominate the game.

How to beat

Sphere of Grace is a card that can be both a fortress for protection and an obstacle for opponents in Magic: The Gathering. With its unique ability to prevent all damage to you from creatures with flying, it can nullify aerial strategies and buy time against aggressive decks. Tactical approaches often involve ground-based threats to maneuver around its defensive capabilities. By turning to creatures without flying or by using removal spells that specifically target enchantments, players can overcome the protection Sphere of Grace offers.

Moreover, cards that change a creature’s abilities, like Archetype of Imagination, can strip them of flying, thus negating Sphere of Grace’s influence on the battlefield. Another effective strategy could include overwhelming the Sphere’s influence with an abundance of creatures, putting pressure on other aspects of the opponent’s defenses. Lastly, leveraging direct damage spells that target players or using alternate win conditions can render the Sphere’s ability irrelevant, ensuring your path to victory remains unblocked. Adapting to its presence is key, and with the right countermeasures, the Sphere of Grace can be overcome on your way to triumph.

Understanding and exploiting the Sphere’s limitations will enable you to dismantle defense strategies and maintain the upper hand in your matches.

Cards like Sphere of Grace

When exploring protection options in Magic: The Gathering, Sphere of Grace stands out for its defensive capabilities. It offers a resemblance to cards such as Ghostly Prison, promoting a strategic fortification approach. Ghostly Prison charges attackers a fee for each creature they engage, effectively discouraging broad assault but without outright preventing damage from creatures with flying.

Circle of Protection: White also offers a comparable measure against specific attacks. For a single white mana, it can prevent damage from a white source, which can be repeatedly activated. However, unlike Sphere of Grace, its focus is narrowed down to white sources only, lacking the broader applicability. Another card worth mentioning here is Story Circle which, like Sphere of Grace, offers protection flexibility as it can be adjusted to mitigate damage from sources of the chosen color when activated. Sphere of Grace differentiates itself with a passive ability affecting a subset of creatures — those with flying — granting a static shield without recurring mana investment.

Each of these cards provides a unique tactic to shield oneself in Magic: The Gathering, yet Sphere of Grace is particularly noteworthy for its continuous effect against airborne threats, establishing itself as a distinctive card for players seeking aerial defense.

Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sphere of Grace by color, type and mana cost

Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions

Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions

Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sphere of Grace MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Sphere of Grace and other MTG cards: