Phial of Galadriel MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 699
2023-06-23 - Number 248s
2023-06-23 - Number 248
2023-06-23 - Number 793
2023-06-23 - Number 382
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Artifact |
Text of card
If you would draw a card while you have no cards in hand, draw two cards instead. If you would gain life while you have 5 or less life, you gain twice that much life instead. : Add one mana of any color.
"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out."
Cards like Phial of Galadriel
The Phial of Galadriel is an intriguing artifact in the Magic: The Gathering universe. There are a few cards that tap into similar mechanics and effects. For instance, the Umezawa’s Jitte gains charge counters for combat damage dealt by the equipped creature, which can be removed to either buff that creature or weaken an opponent’s. The Phial of Galadriel also revolves around counters, but it prioritizes card advantage instead of direct creature interaction.
Similar to the Etched Oracle, the phial provides card draw when tapping and sacrificing itself, with a specific number of counters. Yet, unlike the oracle, which uses sunburst for counter distribution, the phial gains its counters from different gameplay actions. Then there’s Mind Stone, a simple mana rock that can be cracked for card draw. While not relying on counters, it offers an immediate mana boost with a similar, albeit less flexible, secondary card draw ability.
In evaluating their usage, the Phial of Galadriel stands out in environments where prolonged games give it time to accumulate value, making it a potentially powerful tool for decks that can protect and maximize it.
Cards similar to Phial of Galadriel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Phial of Galadriel offers a dynamic method for players to cycle through their decks by drawing cards while filtering out less desirable options. This creates opportunities to access key components of your strategy at crucial moments, upping the ante in both offensive and defensive gameplay. The potential to sift through your deck can tilt the scales in your favor, giving you the upper hand when you need it the most.
Resource Acceleration: While some artifacts simply provide a static mana increase, Phial of Galadriel offers versatility. It allows players to bolster their available resources without committing fully to the board, providing a chance to save for a major spell or summon a game-changing creature. Such resource acceleration can be a door to overwhelming your opposition or launching a swift comeback.
Instant Speed: The Phial of Galadriel shines when it comes to flexibility due to its instant-speed activation. This allows astute players to adapt to the evolving landscape of the game, utilizing the Phial’s effects at the most opportune moments. Whether you’re dodging removal or surprising an opponent with unforeseen resources, the ability to act swiftly at instant speed can significantly shift the momentum of the match in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Phial of Galadriel offers a unique benefit, it comes with the necessity to discard a card. This could potentially set you back, especially in the late game when hand advantage becomes crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: The Phial demands a precise mana arrangement to be cast effectively. If you’re running a multicolored deck, this can sometimes present a challenge and potentially delay the card’s usage.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing the amount of mana required to utilize the Phial’s capabilities may not always align with your game plan. When considering its cost versus impact ratio, some players might find alternative cards that offer more immediate or impactful benefits for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Phial of Galadriel fits seamlessly across a variety of deck types, adapting to both aggressive and controlling strategies. Its ability to manage threats or provide a boost of tempo makes it a flexible addition for many players.
Combo Potential: This card shines in its capability to synergize with cards that capitalize on life gain or artifact synergies. It can serve as a crucial piece in finely-tuned combo decks, unlocking new avenues for deck builders.
Meta-Relevance: In a game that’s as ever-changing as Magic the Gathering, keeping up with the meta is key. Phial of Galadriel holds its ground in diverse metagames due to its unique interaction with prevalent archetypes, maintaining its relevance regardless of the shifting tides of play.
How to beat
The Phial of Galadriel card in Magic: The Gathering offers a unique advantage by providing players with a consistent source of life gain or mana, depending on how it’s utilized. It’s a tool that can be quite powerful when in the right hands. However, countering it requires a blend of strategy and card choice.
An effective approach is to target the Phial directly with artifact destruction spells. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize allow players to remove the Phial from play before it can generate too much value. Additionally, using spells or creatures that restrict your opponent’s ability to gain life, such as Erebos, God of the Dead, can help nullify the life-gain aspect of the Phial.
Managing your own pace of play and applying pressure on the opponent is also crucial. Aggressive strategies can outpace the incremental benefits that Phial of Galadriel provides. In sum, while the Phial can be a resilient tool, its impact can be mitigated with direct answers, denying life gain, and maintaining a faster play tempo.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Phial of Galadriel MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and Tales of Middle-earth 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 Phial of Galadriel 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 Phial of Galadriel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Andrea Piparo.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 699 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrea Piparo | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Promos | PLTR | 248s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrea Piparo | |
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 248 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrea Piparo | |
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 793 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrea Piparo | |
| 5 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 382 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrea Piparo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Phial of Galadriel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Phial of Galadriel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Any time you are instructed to draw more than one card, you draw them one at a time. For example, if you control Phial of Galadriel and have no cards in hand and you're instructed to "draw two cards," your first card draw is replaced by drawing two cards, then you'll draw the second card from the original instruction. In total, you'll draw three cards. |
| 2023-06-16 | If an effect would set your life total to a specific number that's higher than your current life total, that effect causes you to gain life equal to the difference. If your life total is 5 or less, Phial of Galadriel will then double the amount of life that effect would cause you to gain. For example, if you have 3 life and an effect says that your life total "becomes 10," you would gain 7 life which Phial doubles to 14, so your life total will actually become 17. |
| 2023-06-16 | If two or more replacement effects would apply to a card-drawing event, the player drawing the card chooses the order in which to apply them. |
| 2023-06-16 | If you somehow control more than one Phial of Galadriel, each one will effectively add one card. For example, if you control two Phials of Galadriel and would draw a card while you have no cards in hand, the effect of one Phial of Galadriel will replace the event "draw a card" with "draw two cards." The effect of the other Phial of Galadriel will replace the drawing of the first of those two cards with "draw two cards." In total, you would draw three cards. |
| 2023-06-16 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won't cause Phial of Galadriel's second ability to apply, even though it will cause your team's life total to increase. |
| 2023-06-16 | The second abilities of multiple Phials of Galadriel are cumulative. If you control two, life gained while you have 5 or less life will be multiplied by 4. Three Phials will multiply that life gain by 8. And so on. |