Reverence MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2005-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Saviors of Kamigawa |
| Set code | SOK |
| Number | 26 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ittoku |
Text of card
Creatures with power 2 or less can't attack you.
"Despite the massive forces that allied against him, Konda never once believed he would lose the Kami War." —Masako the Humorless
Cards like Reverence
Reverence is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that brings a distinct dynamic to the battlefield. It shares similarities with Ghostly Prison in the sense that both create restrictions that impede opponents’ creatures. Reverence prevents creatures with power 2 or less from attacking, while Ghostly Prison increases the cost of attacking for each creature. Though different in application, both steer the game in favor of defensive strategies.
Elephant Grass is another card worthy of comparison. While it has an upkeep cost and affects all creatures rather than just those with low power, it also hinders attacks, requiring payment to do so. Conversely, Reverence stands as a more permanent barrier against a swarm of small creatures without recurring costs. Propaganda is another similar protective enchantment, though it focuses solely on Taxing opponents’ creatures for attacking you just as Ghostly Prison does, rather than setting a power threshold like Reverence.
Ultimately, Reverence specializes in nullifying a whole category of threats – small, swarming creatures. This makes it a potent tool in any control deck aimed at dictating the pace and flow of combat in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Reverence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Reverence provides a significant edge in card utility by protecting your valued creatures from opponents with lesser creatures, ensuring your board presence remains impactful and sustained.
Resource Acceleration: By deterring smaller creatures from attacking, Reverence effectively accelerates your resources as it allows your creatures to remain on the board, ready to be tapped for mana or other abilities, without the threat of being taken down by weaker attackers.
Instant Speed: Although Reverence is an enchantment, its enduring effect can feel akin to an instant speed interaction, granting you the ability to deter incoming attacks immediately upon play, which can be crucial during tight moments when board control is paramount.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Reverence necessitates discarding another white card from your hand, making it a situational choice, especially when your hand is running low on options or is stacked with essential spells for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment comes at the cost of two white mana symbols, necessitating a heavy commitment to white mana in your deck, potentially reducing flexibility and making it harder to play in multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana in total, Reverence competes with other powerful options in the four-mana slot, which might deter players from choosing it over cards that affect the board immediately or provide more versatile advantages.
Reasons to Include Reverence in Your Collection
Versatility: Reverence is an enchantment that can enhance various strategies by deterring opponents from attacking with their smaller creatures, making it a solid defensive addition to any deck that aims to win the long game.
Combo Potential: Coupling this card with effects that reduce the power of your opponents’ creatures, or with cards that require creatures to tap, Reverence can suddenly turn from a defensive wall into a strategic tool for control.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive decks filled with low-cost creatures are prevalent, Reverence can serve as an effective roadblock, slowing down your opponents and securing your position until you can establish your winning conditions.
How to beat
Reverence is a unique enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering that creates a formidable barrier, preventing creatures with power two or less from attacking. This protective spell can steer the game’s pace and restrict an opponent with numerous smaller creatures. To effectively overpower this obstacle, players should prioritize enchantment removal spells in their deck. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize are straightforward solutions, able to remove Reverence from the battlefield with minimal cost and effort.
Alternatively, focusing on larger creatures can neutralize Reverence’s impact. Investing in powerhouses that soar above the power threshold ensures your ability to remain offensive despite the enchantment’s constraints. In higher-powered formats, countermagic like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be your best defense, intercepting Reverence before it even settles on the battlefield.
Strategically handling Reverence involves a blend of foresight and resource management. Recognizing its potential presence in an opponent’s deck and preparing your strategy accordingly will keep you one step ahead. Regardless of your approach—whether through spell-based removal, creature-based aggression, or preemptive countermagic—overcoming Reverence is an exercise in adaptability and strategic planning.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Reverence MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Reverence 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 Reverence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Reverence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | Unless some effect explicitly says otherwise, a creature that can’t attack you can still attack a planeswalker you control. |