Pollen Remedy MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Released | 2001-02-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Planeshift |
| Set code | PLS |
| Number | 13 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ben Thompson |
Text of card
Kicker— Sacrifice a land. (You may sacrifice a land in addition to any other costs as you play this spell.) Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt this turn to any number of target creatures and/or players, divided as you choose. If you paid the kicker cost, prevent the next 6 damage this way instead.
Cards like Pollen Remedy
Pollen Remedy stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its utility and versatility. As a card that prevents damage, it’s often compared to other damage prevention spells like Healing Salve. Although both can prevent three points of damage, Pollen Remedy has the upside of targeting up to three creatures, spreading its effect more broadly compared to Healing Salve’s single-target limitation.
Another card in the conversation is Heroes’ Reunion, which gains seven life for the player, a significant increase over the three damage prevention Pollen Remedy offers. However, Heroes’ Reunion does not have the multifaceted capability of Pollen Remedy to potentially sway multiple combat outcomes. Circle of Protection: Green also provides a specialized form of damage prevention, but its requirement for a specific color and ongoing mana investment can make it less flexible than the one-time use of Pollen Remedy at critical moments.
In essence, Pollen Remedy holds a distinct place among MTG cards with its multi-target damage prevention mechanism. It’s a noteworthy option for players looking to protect multiple creatures efficiently and could be a strategic inclusion in decks that anticipate widespread combat scenarios.
Cards similar to Pollen Remedy by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pollen Remedy can provide a significant edge by potentially saving multiple creatures in combat or from damaging effects, effectively negating what would have been a loss of cards on your side of the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t produce additional mana or tokens, Pollen Remedy can help preserve the resources already on the board. By keeping your creatures alive, it ensures that your mana investments retain their value and your board state remains robust.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Pollen Remedy at instant speed offers exceptional flexibility. You can adapt to the unfolding game, using it to surprise an opponent during combat or in response to an enemy spell, which can disrupt their strategy and maintain the tempo in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One limitation of Pollen Remedy is the necessity to discard another card to utilize its effects. This can strap players for resources, especially in tight situations where card advantage makes all the difference.
Specific Mana Cost: Pollen Remedy demands a precise mana composition to cast, which can be restrictive. Having to allocate both white mana and generic mana means it might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or less mana-flexible decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to cast Pollen Remedy can be steep in comparison to other spells providing similar benefits. Considering its mana cost, players might find themselves evaluating if the payoff is worth the expenditure over other cards that could be more impactful in a given situation.
Reasons to Include Pollen Remedy in Your Collection
Versatility: Pollen Remedy is more than just a simple life-gain card; it can be a critical part of your deck’s defense. With its ability to prevent damage and support your creatures in combat, it fits well into a variety of deck builds, from control to midrange.
Combo Potential: Its flexibility extends to combo potential as well. In decks that thrive on life swings or benefit from damage prevention, Pollen Remedy can be an unexpected enabler, helping to turn the tides of the game while supporting larger game-winning combos.
Meta-Relevance: With many games decided by tight margins, the minor yet significant impact of Pollen Remedy can come in clutch. In a meta that sees frequent aggressive starts or when dealing with burn strategies, having a card that can mitigate that early game pressure is essential, which makes Pollen Remedy a useful tool in your arsenal.
How to beat
Pollen Remedy holds a niche spot in Magic: The Gathering sideboards as a tool against specific strategies. This white instant offers a unique method to mitigate damage from multiple sources, potentially disrupting the momentum of aggressive decks. Unlike spells that prevent all damage from a single source, Pollen Remedy’s division of prevention across multiple instances gives it flexibility in a pinch.
Defeating a card like Pollen Remedy comes down to diversifying your threats. Instead of relying on a few powerful hits, building a board with numerous lesser threats can reduce its impact. Also, employing non-damage-based board control like exile or bounce effects can easily circumvent Pollen Remedy’s protective capabilities. Furthermore, cards with “cannot be prevented” clauses deal damage through Pollen Remedy’s defenses, rendering its prevention abilities ineffective.
Ultimately, understanding the interaction timing and being selective with your removal or damage spells while keeping an eye out for the Pollen Remedy can ensure that your opponent’s countermeasures fall flat, allowing your strategy to push through effectively.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pollen Remedy MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift, 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 Pollen Remedy 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pollen Remedy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |