Relic Barrier MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 292
2004-06-04 - Number 147
2004-09-01 - Number gn147sb
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
oc T: Target artifact becomes tapped.
Cards like Relic Barrier
Relic Barrier finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a unique tool for managing artifacts. It’s often compared to cards like Icy Manipulator for its ability to tap target artifacts. While Icy Manipulator offers the versatility of tapping any card, including lands and creatures, Relic Barrier focuses solely on artifacts. This specificity comes with a lower cost, making it an affordable option in artifact heavy decks.
Another parallel can be drawn to Winter Orb, a card notorious for its ability to freeze lands. While Winter Orb has a broader impact by affecting all untapped lands, Relic Barrier allows for more selectivity and can be used to neutralize individual threats or combo pieces, particularly in opponents’ end steps. Additionally, Relic Barrier’s capacity to target artifacts can be strategically leveraged each turn, providing consistent control over the board state.
Through evaluating the control and flexibility of artifact management in Magic: The Gathering, Relic Barrier stands out for its targeted utility at an economical cost. Its place is solidified among strategies that benefit from continuous artifact disruption, ensuring a persistent influence over the flow of the game.
Cards similar to Relic Barrier by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Relic Barrier may not directly let you draw cards, but it can help you maintain card advantage by keeping opposing artifacts tapped, potentially hindering your opponent’s strategies and preserving your resources.
Resource Acceleration: This little artifact is especially potent when combined with cards that tap for benefits. When used correctly, Relic Barrier can enable additional uses of your own artifacts in a single turn cycle, effectively accelerating your resources.
Instant Speed: Relic Barrier’s ability to tap artifacts can be activated at instant speed, giving you the upper hand during your opponent’s turn. This flexibility allows you to respond to threats or opportunities as they arise, keeping you one step ahead in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Relic Barrier doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its tap effect is best paired with cards that cause players to discard, which can be a drawback if your deck lacks such synergistic elements.
Specific Mana Cost: Relic Barrier’s mana cost is colorless, which makes it versatile when it comes to the types of decks it can fit in. However, ensuring you have the right mana available at the correct time to play and utilize Relic Barrier’s abilities is crucial, particularly in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a two mana cost, Relic Barrier’s ability to only tap artifacts may not seem cost-prohibitive at first glance. However, when compared to other cards that can tap or deal with artifacts more effectively or that offer additional benefits, it may take up a valuable slot in your deck without providing sufficient utility or board presence.
Reasons to Include Relic Barrier in Your Collection
Versatility: Relic Barrier is a unique artifact with the ability to tap other artifacts. This makes it a flexible addition to decks that want to disrupt opponents’ strategies or require artifacts to be tapped as a part of their own.
Combo Potential: With its tapping ability, it can form powerful interactions with cards that generate effects when artifacts become tapped or untapped. These synergies unlock new levels of strategy with potential for game-changing plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where artifact decks are prevalent or certain key artifacts define the pace, Relic Barrier can serve as both a tactical defense and a disruption tool, adjusting its value according to the current metagame landscape.
How to beat Relic Barrier
Relic Barrier, an artifact from Magic: The Gathering, can be a thorn in the side for players relying on tapped artifacts for their strategies. Despite its potential to disrupt, overcoming this challenge requires tactical shifts and deck adjustments. Incorporating instant-speed removals such as Naturalize or Disenchant, which can target and destroy artifacts, provides a clear path to dismantle the Barrier. Emphasizing the speed and timing of these spells can nullify the Barrier’s effect and pivot the game back to your favor.
Card flexibility also plays a crucial role. Cards like Abrade offer dual utility, capable of eliminating creatures or artifacts, thereby adding to your arsenal against artifacts. Relying on untapped mana sources can also minimize the disruption caused by Relic Barrier, keeping your game plan on track. Additionally, decks with heavy creature tactics can circumvent the Barrier’s influence, as it specifically targets artifacts, leaving your creature-based strategy unaffected.
Ultimately, identifying the key turn when Relic Barrier could be activated and being prepared to respond or adjust your playstyle is essential. Precision and adaptability, therefore, are your greatest tools in outmaneuvering opponents who deploy Relic Barrier in their deck.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Relic Barrier MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fifth Dawn, 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 Relic Barrier 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 Relic Barrier Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2004-09-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 292 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Harold McNeill | |
| 2 | 2004-06-04 | Fifth Dawn | 5DN | 147 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nottsuo | |
| 3 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | gn147sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Nottsuo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Relic Barrier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Relic Barrier card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Can target a tapped artifact. |