Ray of Dissolution MTG Card

Ray of Dissolution excels in stripping opponents of significant enchantments, potentially reversing game dynamics. Instant speed enables strategic play, disrupting opponents precisely when it’s most beneficial for you. While restrictive in mana demands, it’s a valuable sideboard card for white mana decks in certain metas.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	27
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Text of card

Destroy target enchantment. You gain 3 life.

The works of one god last only as long as the patience of another.

Cards like Ray of Dissolution

Ray of Dissolution is a handy tool in the arsenal of enchantment removal in Magic: The Gathering, offering not just the ability to destroy enchantments, but also providing a little life boost on the side. When compared to other removal spells like Naturalize, Ray of Dissolution stands out with its additional life-gain effect, although it comes at a higher mana cost. Unlike Naturalize, Ray of Dissolution targets only enchantments and cannot deal with artifacts, but this specificity can be an asset in enchantment-heavy metas.

Disenchant, an iconic spell in the game’s history, provides a lower-cost alternative to Ray of Dissolution. It lacks the life-gain perk but makes up for it with flexibility, being able to target both enchantments and artifacts. For players looking for a more impactful effect, there’s Erase (Not the Urza’s Legacy version), which exiles an enchantment instead of merely destroying it, and at a lower cost, though it forgoes the health bonus that Ray of Dissolution provides.

Delving into the value these cards provide, Ray of Dissolution finds its niche as a specialized enchantment removal option in MTG that offers a unique advantage of life gain, which can be a pivotal factor in certain gameplay strategies and metagame choices.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Ray of Dissolution doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it effectively deals with enchantments on the battlefield, which could mean the difference between your opponent having a powerful synergy or you maintaining the upper-hand. Removing key enchantments can significantly set your opponent back, tipping the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Ray of Dissolution isn’t a direct source of mana or resources, clearing the path by removing restriction enchantments or potential threats can accelerate your board state progression. This allows you to make more impactful plays uninterrupted, facilitating a smoother route to victory.

Instant Speed: The utility of casting Ray of Dissolution at instant speed cannot be overstated. This versatility ensures that you can respond to enchantments as they’re cast or activate Ray of Dissolution at the most strategically advantageous moment, such as during your opponent’s end step or in response to an enchantment-triggered ability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ray of Dissolution provides a useful effect by destroying an enchantment, it does not require you to discard a card. However, it’s vital to consider other cards you’re holding before casting it, as you want to ensure maximizing value from each card played.

Specific Mana Cost: Ray of Dissolution has a mana cost that necessitates a white mana. This specific color requirement makes the card less flexible, as it can only fit into decks that are running white mana or have a mana base that can accommodate white spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including one white, it can be said that Ray of Dissolution has a relatively high cost for its ability to destroy an enchantment, especially when compared to other enchantment removal spells in MTG. The mana investment could potentially be utilized for other actions that have a more significant impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ray of Dissolution offers a simple yet effective answer to enchantments, which can be crucial in many games. It’s a useful sideboard card in white decks that face enchantment-heavy opponents.

Combo Potential: While not a combo piece in the traditional sense, the life gain aspect of Ray of Dissolution can synergize with decks that capitalize on life as a resource.

Meta-Relevance: It shines in environments where enchantments play a significant role. As enchantment-based strategies oscillate in popularity, having this card on hand ensures you’re prepared for those matchups.

How to beat

Ray of Dissolution is an intriguing tool in MTG, especially when considering its dual functionality. It acts as an enchantment removal, capable of dismantling key pieces of an opponent’s strategy, but it also grants a modest life gain as a bonus. This duality makes it a card that can turn the tides, particularly in formats where enchantments play a pivotal role.

To effectively counter Ray of Dissolution, consider holding onto enchantments that are less critical to your strategy, using them as bait to draw out removal. Keep in mind enchantments with indestructible or those that can regenerate themselves are excellent at thwarting the effectiveness of Ray of Dissolution. Shielding your most valuable enchantments with counter spells or by prioritizing enchantments that can be recast from the graveyard can also help preserve your board state against such targeted removal.

Ultimately, your awareness of Ray of Dissolution’s potential and strategic conservancy of resources can allow you to mitigate its impact. It’s vital to anticipate removal and adapt your gameplay to maintain the upper hand, securing your position against removal spells that could otherwise unravel your plans.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ray of Dissolution MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Ray of Dissolution and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ray of Dissolution has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal