Righteousness MTG Card

Righteousness offers valuable instant combat adjustments with its +7 toughness boost during defense. Requires white mana exclusively, which may limit its versatility in multicolor deck strategies. Despite a narrow application, it’s a game-changer against creature-heavy opponents.

Righteousness - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
1993-08-05 - Number 36

Righteousness - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)

Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
1993-10-04 - Number 37

Unlimited Edition (2ED)
1993-12-01 - Number 37

Righteousness - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
1993-12-10 - Number 37

Righteousness - Collectors' Edition (CED)

Collectors' Edition (CED)
1993-12-10 - Number 37

Righteousness - Foreign Black Border (FBB)

Foreign Black Border (FBB)
1994-04-01 - Number 37

Revised Edition (3ED)
1994-04-01 - Number 37

Righteousness - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)

Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
1994-06-21 - Number 37

Fourth Edition (4ED)
1995-04-01 - Number 46

Righteousness - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
1995-04-01 - Number 46

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 56

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 36★

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 36

Tenth Edition (10E)
2007-07-13 - Number 36

Magic 2010 (M10)
2009-07-17 - Number 27

Righteousness - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)

Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
2013-09-06 - Number 20

Righteousness - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
2019-10-04 - Number 27

Righteousness - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 333

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 36

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 235

Card sets	Released in 20 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant

Text of card

Target defending creature gains +7/+7 until end of turn.

Cards like Righteousness

Righteousness stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an impactful defensive spell. It shares common ground with other instant cards that boost creature toughness like Shielded by Faith. However, one stark difference is Righteousness’s one-time boost of +7 toughness is a substantial increase during the combat phase compared to Shielded by Faith’s ongoing effect.

Mirroring the defensive theme, we also see cards like Brave the Elements, which offers a wider shield by granting protection from a color of your choice to all creatures you control. While this can be a game-changer, it doesn’t alter individual creature stats like Righteousness does. Invulnerability is another card to consider, granting outright indestructibility for a turn, surpassing Righteousness in terms of total protection but falling short due to its higher mana cost and the lack of immediate toughness increase.

Within the realm of protective spells, Righteousness offers a unique blend of sudden and sizable defensive power, solidifying its niche among the options available to players who value surprise and resilience in their deck. Its place is assured among those looking to turn the tide of a seemingly uneven battle.

Cards similar to Righteousness by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While not a direct card-drawing mechanism, Righteousness packs a powerful punch by drastically boosting a defending creature’s power. It can turn the tide of combat in your favor, effectively negating your opponent’s attacking strategies and maintaining your presence on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Righteousness doesn’t provide traditional mana ramp. However, its low mana cost is a form of resource acceleration in itself, allowing you to play impactful spells without a significant mana investment. This leaves more resources available for other strategic plays during your turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Righteousness at instant speed offers versatile defensive tactics. It enables surprise combat tricks that can decimate an attacker, save a key creature, or even create an opening for a lethal counterattack, all while keeping your mana untapped for other immediate responses.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One point of drawback for Righteousness is the necessity to hold onto it until the perfect timing arises. While it doesn’t require actual card discard, its conditional nature means it might sit uselessly in hand when a proactive play could be preferred.

Specific Mana Cost: Righteousness demands white mana, which can be restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in white might struggle to keep this mana open, compromising their flexibility in responding to other threats or advancing their board state.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s steep cost for a single target defensive boost, often doesn’t equate to turning the tide of the entire game, making it less appealing when compared to other lower-cost defense-oriented spells. Alternatives at lower mana costs could provide a more consistent defensive strategy throughout the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Righteousness provides an instant boost in defense, which can be pivotal in a wide array of white decks. Whether it’s to protect a high-value creature or to turn the tides in combat unexpectedly, its flexibility is a valuable asset.

Combo Potential: This card can be wonderfully synergistic with creatures that benefit from taking damage or with effects that trigger when a creature survives combat. It can also serve as a surprise factor in decks that focus on life total as a resource.

Meta-Relevance: With aggressive and creature-heavy strategies often dominating matches, Righteousness has the potential to be a game-changer, offering a cost-effective way to disrupt opponent tactics and maintain board presence without committing a lot of mana.

How to beat

Righteousness stands out as a distinct card in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to grant a tremendous +7/+7 boost to a defending creature until the end of the turn. This significant increase not only helps in thwarting attacks but can turn the tide in combat by eliminating an attacker that the opponent didn’t expect to lose.

To effectively counter this card, players should consider using instant-speed removal spells that can target a creature in response to Righteousness being cast. This strategy ensures the creature is removed before the buff takes effect. Moreover, applying pressure outside of combat phases, or on your turn, mitigates the potential impact Righteousness can have, as it requires a blocking creature to be active. Additionally, spells that prevent life gain or direct damage spells can circumvent the inflated defense provided by Righteousness, diminishing its effectiveness. Awareness and anticipation are key — predicting when an adversary may use such combat tricks allows you to hold back key spells or attackers to avoid the crushing blow Righteousness can deliver.

Adapting your strategy to include these considerations can make Righteousness less impactful and aid in maintaining dominance during your MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Righteousness 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 Righteousness and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Righteousness Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

Show/hide all sets

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1993-08-05	Limited Edition Alpha	LEA	36	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
2	1993-10-04	Limited Edition Beta	LEB	37	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
3	1993-12-01	Unlimited Edition	2ED	37	1993	Normal	White	Douglas Shuler
4	1993-12-10	Intl. Collectors' Edition	CEI	37	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
5	1993-12-10	Collectors' Edition	CED	37	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
6	1994-04-01	Foreign Black Border	FBB	37	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
7	1994-04-01	Revised Edition	3ED	37	1993	Normal	White	Douglas Shuler
8	1994-06-21	Summer Magic / Edgar	SUM	37	1993	Normal	White	Douglas Shuler
9	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition	4ED	46	1993	Normal	White	Douglas Shuler
10	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border	4BB	46	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
11	1997-03-24	Fifth Edition	5ED	56	1997	Normal	White	Mike Dringenberg
12	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	36★	2003	Normal	Black	Mike Dringenberg
13	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	36	2003	Normal	White	Mike Dringenberg
14	2007-07-13	Tenth Edition	10E	36	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne England
15	2009-07-17	Magic 2010	M10	27	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne England
16	2013-09-06	Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters	DDL	20	2003	Normal	Black	Wayne England
17	2019-10-04	Throne of Eldraine	ELD	27	2015	Normal	Black	Howard Lyon
18	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	333	1997	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
19	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	36	2015	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
20	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	235	2015	Normal	Black	Wayne England

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Righteousness has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Righteousness card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	A “blocking creature” is one that has been declared as a blocker this combat, or one that was put onto the battlefield blocking this combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be a blocking creature through the end of combat step, even if the creature or creatures it was blocking are no longer on the battlefield or have otherwise left combat.