Righteous War MTG Card


Offers dual protection for white and black creatures, enhancing board stability and defense strategies. Can be restrictive due to its specific mana requirements, limiting its deck compatibility. Versatile enchantment with combo potential, aligning well with the current competitive meta.
Righteous War - Visions
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameVisions
Set codeVIS
Number134
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byIan Miller

Text of card

All white creatures you control gain protection from black. All black creatures you control gain protection from white.

"This is a war without neutrality." —Asmira, Holy Avenger


Cards like Righteous War

Righteous War is an enchantment that stands out in Magic the Gathering due to its unique offering – the remarkable synergy it creates between White and Black creatures. This card provides a protective aura around your combined forces of light and shadow, making it similar to enchantments that fortify creature attributes. Compared to Circle of Protection: White or Circle of Protection: Black, which can guard against one color, Righteous War steps up by shielding two different color factions on your board.

Its functionality echoes that of Crusade and Bad Moon, both of which amplify the power and toughness of White and Black creatures respectively. While those enchantments boost offense and defense capabilities, Righteous War delivers a dual advantage by covering two colors. Where Crusade lacks the ability to impact Black creatures and Bad Moon does not benefit White ones, Righteous War envelops both in its embrace. As a versatile tool, this enchantment blends the strength of creatures from opposite spectrums – a strategic boon for mixed-color decks.

In evaluating this card alongside its counterparts, Righteous War offers a distinctive edge in multi-colored decks, making it a solid choice for those who capitalize on the diversity of White and Black creature forces in Magic the Gathering.

Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Righteous War offers a potent combination of card functionalities that can significantly alter the state of the board. By allowing you to protect your creatures while possibly disrupting your opponent’s plans, it can shift the momentum in your favor, contributing to an accumulated advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: This card may not produce additional mana or tokens directly, but the protection it provides can safeguard your mana investments on the battlefield. By maintaining your creatures’ presence, it upholds your resource acceleration, ensuring you have the necessary means to deploy further threats or answers. This implicit resource advantage can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Righteous War at instant speed grants incredible flexibility. You can adjust your strategy reactively to the unfolding match, potentially thwarting an opponent’s removal spells or combat tricks. Timing this card right could lead to a bewildering shift for your adversary, making it a strategic linchpin in many game scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Righteous War prompts you to let go of another card to cast it, shrinking your hand and potential responses to your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: A combination of white and black mana is necessary to bring Righteous War to the battlefield, potentially restricting its integration outside of multicolor decks dedicated to these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana valuation that may seem steep for its effect, some players consider its cost-to-benefit ratio less attractive compared to other options that could fill a similar role in a deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Righteous War offers unique flexibility to players aspiring to create decks that balance between white and black’s contrastive mechanics. Its capacity to offer protection to two broadly played colors in MTG makes it an asset in various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Those adept at card synergies can leverage Righteous War to safeguard valuable creatures and set up game-changing plays. Its ability to shield your creatures from specific removals allows for more consistent execution of your deck’s strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the current competitive landscape often sees decks that hinge on targeted removals, Righteous War stands as a formidable countermeasure. It assures the presence of key creatures on the board, maintaining your stance even against the most prevailing meta decks.


How to beat

Righteous War is a unique enchantment that can shift the tide of battle in favor of players that use white and black creatures in Magic: The Gathering. The card offers protection, a robust mechanism that can create a formidable defense by shielding your creatures from being targeted or damaged by anything of a specified color. In order to outmaneuver this card, consider the versatility of board wipes like Wrath of God, which don’t target individual creatures, thus bypassing the protection granted by Righteous War. Artifacts and colorless spells are also a strategic choice, as they are not impeded by protection based on color. Another technique is to use sacrifice effects, compelling the opponent to make tough decisions, potentially sacrificing their protected creatures. Remember, countering Righteous War before it hits the board is often the most straightforward approach—blue spells like Cancel thrive in this role, stopping the enchantment in its tracks and maintaining an open battlefield.

To stay one step ahead, adapt your sideboard to include a mixture of these strategies. By doing so, you’ll increase your resilience against decks that heavily rely on specific protection strategies. Diversifying your tactics ensures that Righteous War doesn’t dictate the flow of the game, keeping you in command and on the path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Righteous War MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Righteous War and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Righteous War has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal