Orbs of Warding MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Artifact |
Released | 2015-07-17 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Magic Origins |
Set code | ORI |
Number | 234 |
Frame | 2015 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Johann Bodin |
Text of card
You have hexproof. (You can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.) If a creature would deal damage to you, prevent 1 of that damage.
One orb to guard the body, one to protect the mind, and one to shield the soul.
Cards like Orbs of Warding
Orbs of Warding shines out in the Magic: The Gathering universe, fitting into a fascinating sphere of artifact cards. It finds parallels with popular cards like Witchbane Orb, which provides a similar immunity to curses and blocks targeted spells. Still, Orbs of Warding takes it a notch up by providing an extra shield against damage.
Consider also Ivory Tower. This artifact gains the player life, creating a beneficial defense, much like Orbs of Warding. The significant distinction here is the additional hexproof ability found with Orbs of Warding, making it a unique pick among the lot.
Aegis of the Gods is another contender, granting the player hexproof, but lacks the damage prevention that is a key attribute of Orbs of Warding. Thus, players looking for a thorough shield might find Orbs of Warding more favourable.
All things considered, Orbs of Warding stands stoutly among its fellow artifact cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique offering of hexproof immunity combined with damage prevention gives it a solid ground in the realm of defense-oriented strategies.
Cards similar to Orbs of Warding by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Orbs of Warding keeps your hand intact as it thwarts opponents’ strategies aimed at making you discard. This MTG card effectively shields your hands, maintaining your card advantage throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: While Orbs of Warding doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it helps in preserving the ones you have by making you hexproof. This takes away opponents’ direct strategy of resource reduction, indirectly acting as a shield for your life points and battlefield resources.
Instant Speed: Despite not having instant speed, Orbs of Warding provides immediate protection once it hits the battlefield. The card’s ability to reduce damage and ward off targeted spells makes up for a slower play speed. This makes the card a worthy asset when forming strategies for your MTG games.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Orbs of Warding doesn’t hold a discard requirement per se. However, it requires smart deck-building to ensure its optimum use. You might need to discard or sacrifice some other card slots in your deck to make space for this high-cost artifact.
Specific Mana Cost: With a generic cost of five mana, Orbs of Warding demands a significant portion of your resources. While it doesn’t require a specific color, it might exert pressure on your mana curve and make deck-building more challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Orbs of Warding costs five mana, a comparatively high expense for its effect. The cost-reward ratio often becomes a point of critique among players. While it provides a good defense mechanism, you might find other cards with a more efficient cost value ratio for achieving similar benefits.
Reasons to Include Orbs of Warding in Your Collection
Versatility: Orbs of Warding can be effectively used in a variety of decks. Its ability to both prevent a point of damage to you and hinder opponents from targeting you or permanents you control makes it a suitable choice for decks centered around defense.
Combo Potential: Combined with other colorless artifacts, Orbs of Warding can strengthen artifact-centric strategies, forming potent combos that can deter even the most aggressive opponent strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta game dominated by target-specific spells and creature-heavy strategies, Orbs of Warding can provide crucial protection, making it a highly relevant addition to your deck.
How to Beat
Orbs of Warding is an exciting MTG artifact card that offers players a protective edge by reducing damage and providing hexproof. To beat it strategically, cards that directly destroy artifacts are effective. Smash to Smithereens, Manic Vandal and Shattering Spree are cards in more aggressive red decks that can wipe away this defense with quick and direct artifact removal.
Alternatively, cards with untargeted effects or cards that affect all artifacts can bypass Orbs of Warding’s hexproof. Cards like Vandalblast, Naturalize, and Creeping Corrosion circumvent this, silently destroying Orbs along with any other artifacts that may be on the field.
Another approach can be redirecting the focus of the game. By strategy shifting from direct damage to player-life draining using cards like Exsanguinate or Debt to the Deathless, players can still cause significant harm while Orbs of Warding is in play.
In conclusion, while Orbs of Warding offers a robust defensive benefit, clever MTG players, armed with a range of tactics, from artifact removal to game focus shifts, can turn the tide against this formidable card.
Conclusion
In wrapping up, remember that mastering Magic the Gathering is about combining tactical prowess with a keen understanding of each card’s potential. Orbs of Warding stands as a testament to the depth and variety that MTG offers, providing players with tools that make every round a unique challenge. Your quest for domination doesn’t stop here. Leverage your knowledge, keep refining your deck, and seek out the synergies that will have your opponents in awe. Dive deeper into the realms of MTG with us and discover intricate strategies and elusive cards that promise to make every duel an epic encounter. march forth to victory and let your skills reign supreme!
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Orbs of Warding MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Orbs of Warding and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Orbs of Warding has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Orbs of Warding card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2015-06-22 | The damage prevention effects of multiple Orbs of Warding are cumulative. |