Prismatic Circle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Abilities | Cumulative upkeep |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Number | 34 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
Cumulative upkeep o1 When you play Prismatic Circle, choose a color. o1: Prevent all damage to you from a source of the chosen color. Treat further damage from that source normally.
Cards like Prismatic Circle
Prismatic Circle stands out in MTG as a protective enchantment that offers versatility against multicolored creatures. Comparing it to Circle of Protection, which guards against one chosen color, Prismatic Circle takes flexibility a step further by allowing the change of color shield each turn. This dynamic quality provides adaptive defenses based on your opponent’s tactical shifts.
Another comparable enchantment is the much-celebrated Ghostly Prison. Although it does not block particular colors, it enforces an additional cost on opponents wishing to attack you, affecting all creatures regardless of color. In contrast, Prismatic Circle requires only a single mana to activate its effect for a turn, making it a cost-efficient tool for color-targeted protection.
Looking at the broader spectrum, Runed Halo is also relevant in this context. It grants immunity from all damage and effects from a named card but lacks the on-the-fly adaptability of Prismatic Circle. Despite the higher mana cost, Prismatic Circle offers the agility to change defenses over time, a tactical advantage in a multi-colored MTG match.
In sum, among the array of protection enchantments, Prismatic Circle adds a tactical layer with its color-changing feature that can be essential for players facing diverse threats.
Cards similar to Prismatic Circle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Prismatic Circle grants you an ongoing protective edge. By choosing a color, it shields your creatures from that chosen color’s damage. This effectively decreases the number of cards your opponent can use against you, providing a form of indirect card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Prismatic Circle doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the form of mana, it conserves resources by potentially reducing the need to cast spells for creature protection. This savings can accelerate your game plan by allowing you to allocate mana elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Prismatic Circle can be activated at instant speed each turn. This means you aren’t locked into your initial color choice when the spell was cast. Flexibility in responding to different threats as they appear keeps your opponents guessing and can be crucial in the pace and control of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Prismatic Circle doesn’t demand a discard, the necessity to pay for its cumulative upkeep can drain resources similarly, by repeatedly demanding mana that could be allocated elsewhere.
Specific Mana Cost: Prismatic Circle requires precise mana investment—namely white—which restricts it to certain archetype decks that can reliably provide white mana, thus limiting its versatility in multi-colored or off-theme decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial cost plus the cumulative upkeep, Prismatic Circle can rapidly become costly, outpaced by other defensive enchantments or spells which offer more efficient protection or flexibility for less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Prismatic Circle in Your Collection
Versatility: Prismatic Circle offers a dynamic tool for any deck that requires a defensive strategy. With the ability to choose a color and prevent all damage from sources of that color, it effectively shields against a wide array of threats.
Combo Potential: For players who enjoy intricate board states, Prismatic Circle works well within enchantment-based combos or in decks focusing on protection and lockdown strategies. Its ability to adapt to the changing battlefield makes it a tactical component for creative players.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where color-specific threats ebb and flow with the meta, Prismatic Circle remains a pertinent addition. It is especially useful when dealing with decks that rely heavily on a single color for dealing damage, granting you staying power in many matchups.
How to beat
Prismatic Circle is a noteworthy card in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to select a color and then provide protection from that color each turn. This can create a defensive dilemma for your opponents, especially if their deck relies on a specific color to deal damage or execute key combos. Overcoming Prismatic Circle requires a versatile approach, ideally incorporating colorless damage or spells that don’t specify a color in their effects, bypassing the protective feature of the Circle.
An effective strategy might include using artifact-based attacks, as they often do not have a color associated with them. Alternatively, employing a variety of colors in your deck can diffuse the Circle’s protection by presenting threats that span across the color pie. Cards with abilities that target without stating a color, like many destruction or exile abilities, also work around Prismatic Circle. Lastly, don’t forget the advantage of cards that can remove enchantments from the game, which can directly dismantle Prismatic Circle’s shield and pave a clear path to victory.
Flexibility and a well-rounded deck are crucial in outmaneuvering Prismatic Circle’s selective protection, confirming that versatility often is key to success in the intricate matches of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Prismatic Circle MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Prismatic Circle 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 Prismatic Circle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |