Red Ward MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 33
1993-10-04 - Number 34
1993-12-01 - Number 34
1993-12-10 - Number 34
1993-12-10 - Number 34
1994-04-01 - Number 33
1994-04-01 - Number 33
1994-06-21 - Number 33
1995-04-01 - Number 44
1995-04-01 - Number 44
2022-11-28 - Number 330
2022-11-28 - Number 33
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target creature gains protection from red.
Cards like Red Ward
Red Ward holds a unique spot in the protective auras of Magic: The Gathering. It offers invulnerability to red, parallel to its siblings like Blue Ward or White Ward that safeguard against blue or white spells respectively. The distinctive qualities of Red Ward lie in its color-specific defense, granting a creature it enchants immunity from red sources, which can be pivotal in games where red damage spells or creatures reign supreme.
Unlike general protection auras such as Spectra Ward, which shields from all colors but comes at a higher mana cost, Red Ward is focused and more affordable. It’s akin to Circle of Protection: Red in its red-centric defense but as an enchantment that binds to creatures, it allows for offensive strategies while maintaining protection. Then you have Rune of Speed, another enchantment but aimed at boosting offensive power. It grants haste and a card draw, contrasting with Red Ward’s defensive stance.
In essence, when stacking up the aspects and contemplating their impact on gameplay, Red Ward emerges as a notable option within protective enchantments, particularly in match-ups where red elements are dominant.
Cards similar to Red Ward by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Red Ward may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but it adds significant resilience to your creature, potentially saving it from red-damage-based removal. This can preserve your board state and indirectly contribute to card advantage over the course of a game as opponents may have to use more resources to deal with the warded creature.
Resource Acceleration: While Red Ward doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its low casting cost enables you to play other spells in the same turn. This efficient use of mana helps maintain tempo and apply pressure, keeping you ahead of your opponent in resource utilization.
Instant Speed: Red Ward is an enchantment that can be played at sorcery speed. However, the protection it grants can be crucial in response to red spells or abilities that would otherwise affect the enchanted creature. The ability to cast it preemptively on your turn allows you to safeguard against imminent threats on the battlefield at a critical moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Some players might find the requirement to discard a card to activate Red Ward’s effect less than ideal. This can be especially problematic when hand size is diminished, and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Red Ward requires a dedicated white mana for its casting. This specificity can make it a challenging fit in multicolored decks that might not always have the necessary white mana available when it’s needed the most.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting solidly at one white mana, Red Ward might seem affordable at a glance. However, in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is key, investing that mana into an enchantment that only offers protection from red can be seen as a less than optimal use of resources, particularly when there are alternatives that provide broader protection or additional benefits.
Reasons to Include Red Ward in Your Collection
Versatility: Red Ward is an excellent addition to any collection due to its ability to protect your key creatures from one of the most aggressive colors in MTG. It can be a strategic defense tool in environments where red spells and abilities are common.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into decks that benefit from auras or protection effects. Red Ward can enable combos by safeguarding combo pieces from red removal, ensuring your critical plays go off without a hitch.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where red decks are prevalent, Red Ward gains significant value. It can turn the tables by making crucial creatures immune to common red removal spells, providing a clear advantage against one of the most popular and powerful color strategies in the game.
How to beat
Red Ward is a unique protective spell in MTG, granting a creature immunity from red spells and effects. Despite this shield, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t confer indestructibility. The card’s effectiveness lies in its specificity, safeguarding only against red, which means creatures can still be vulnerable to other colors’ spells and abilities.
To successfully navigate around Red Ward, consider using non-red removal spells or abilities, as it only defends against red-specific interactions. Look towards versatility in your deck—black has plenty of destruction spells, blue can offer unsummoning capabilities, and green can sometimes overpower with sheer force. White itself can lend exile or pacifism effects that neatly sidestep Red Ward’s protection. It’s critical to recognize that a well-rounded deck with a diverse arsenal can mitigate the advantages offered by color-specific wards.
Ultimately, overcoming Red Ward requires a strategy that includes backup plans and alternative removal options. Forethought in deck building, ensuring a balanced array of tools, allows players to handle cards like Red Ward effectively, maintaining control over the battlefield and edging towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Red Ward MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Red Ward 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
Printings
The Red Ward Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 33 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 34 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 34 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 34 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 34 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 33 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 33 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 33 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 44 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 44 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 11 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 330 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 33 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Red Ward has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |