Protection of the Hekma MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 23
2020-08-13 - Number 31
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
If a source an opponent controls would deal damage to you, prevent 1 of that damage.
Part of the acolytes' training is to walk along the Hekma, staring out at the ravenous horrors kept at bay by the God-Pharaoh's barrier.
Cards like Protection of the Hekma
Protection of the Hekma stands as a unique shield in the world of MTG, offering a persistent reduction in damage from noncreature sources. In its resemblance, the card Sphere of Safety presents a different style of fortification but converges on a similar concept of creating a buffer for players. Sphere of Safety increases the cost for opponents to attack, correlating the tax to the number of enchantments you control, leading to a defence that scales with your board state.
Ghostly Prison and Propaganda are other alternatives that forge barriers against incoming attacks by taxing opponents for each creature they send your way. However, these only affect creatures, while Protection of the Hekma provides a broader spectrum of safety by affecting all sources. Despite the broader protection, the cost, sitting at five mana, is considerable, yet it fits seamlessly into control strategies that favor a late game stronghold.
Ultimately, as players navigate their strategies in MTG, Protection of the Hekma offers a dependable bulwark against a myriad of threats, solidifying its place as a comprehensive protector, albeit with a narrower application than its counterparts with more dynamic effects on the flow of combat.
Cards similar to Protection of the Hekma by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: “Protection of the Hekma” offers a persistent effect that can shield your permanents from a multitude of threats throughout the game. This continuous defense can lead to maintaining a more robust board presence when compared to your opponent, indirectly contributing to card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While this enchantment doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, safeguarding your valuable permanents can indirectly save resources. The added protection means you may not need to spend additional cards to defend or recast your creatures, thereby preserving the cards in hand for more strategic plays.
Instant Speed: Although “Protection of the Hekma” is not cast at instant speed, its ongoing protection can impact the game at crucial moments. It ensures that during each turn, your creatures are less vulnerable to direct damage, allowing you to confidently play other instants or abilities without fearing for their safety.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To utilize Protection of the Hekma, players must have a card ready to discard, which can present a challenge when your hand is limited or each card is a valuable piece of your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost demands both white and blue mana, necessitating a dual-color deck and potentially restricting its integration to a mono-color scheme, which might be a limiting factor for some players.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher end for its defensive benefits, it may not always be the most cost-efficient play for some decks, especially when cheaper alternatives that offer similar protection are available.
Reasons to Include Protection of the Hekma in Your Collection
Versatility: Protection of the Hekma serves as a formidable shield in decks that are tuned to prolong the game. Acting as a deterrent, it reduces the damage from various sources, fitting seamlessly into control and life-gain archetypes, enhancing their resilience.
Combo Potential: This enchantment offers synergy with cards that benefit from damage prevention or life-total maintenance. It can be a cornerstone in decks that rely on maintaining a high life total to activate powerful effects or conditions.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with aggressive, damage-heavy strategies, Protection of the Hekma could significantly hinder your opponents’ plans. It’s a smart addition to your lineup if the current meta favors combat damage as a primary path to victory.
How to Beat
Unpacking the mechanics of Protection of the Hekma reveals it as a formidable card that establishes a powerful defense in MTG. This enchantment is designed to reduce incoming damage from noncombat sources to your life total, essentially turning your battlefield into a fortress. Overcoming this shield requires a blend of strategy and card selection.
To effectively navigate the challenge posed by Protection of the Hekma, an opponent should consider incorporating removal spells into their arsenal. Approaches such as Disenchant or Naturalize are valuable as they can directly target and destroy enchantments. Additionally, cards capable of countering when Protection of the Hekma is cast, like Negate or Cancel, could nip the problem in the bud before it solidifies its presence on the battlefield.
Lastly, redirecting focus from life total attacks to leveraging game mechanics that revolve around milling, direct player effects, or alternative win conditions can serve as viable pathways to bypass Protection of the Hekma’s defenses. Applying a mixture of pressure and flexibility can dismantle the security this card provides, turning the tide of battle in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Protection of the Hekma MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Protection of the Hekma 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 Protection of the Hekma Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Ryan Alexander Lee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 23 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Alexander Lee | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Alexander Lee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Protection of the Hekma has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Protection of the Hekma card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-04-18 | Damage that would be dealt to creatures you control is unaffected. |
| 2017-04-18 | If multiple sources would deal damage to you at once (for example, several attacking creatures), 1 damage from each of those sources is prevented. |