Runed Halo MTG Card
2008-05-02 - Number 21
2018-12-07 - Number 34
2020-07-03 - Number 32
2020-07-03 - Number 346
2002-06-24 - Number 81934
2020-09-26 - Number M21-32
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
As Runed Halo comes into play, name a card. You have protection from the chosen name. (You can't be targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything with that name.)
Cards like Runed Halo
Runed Halo has earned its place as a unique piece in players’ protective arsenal within MTG. It stands alongside cards like Gideon’s Intervention and Nevermore. Much like Runed Halo, these cards allow players to name a card, thereby neutralizing strategies that rely on specific key cards. Gideon’s Intervention, compared to Runed Halo, offers the additional benefit of preventing all damage that would be dealt to you and permanents you control by the named card.
Conversely, Nevermore obstructs the named card from being cast, ensuring opponents can’t even attempt to play their trump card. Yet, neither of these cards provides the same proactive shield against spells already on the battlefield, which is where Runed Halo shines with its ability to grant you protection from the named card regardless of its state.
While other protective spells exist, Runed Halo’s capacity to safeguard players from all effects of the named card – from damage to targeting – solidifies its reputation. Considering gameplay dynamics and versatility, Runed Halo remains an influential card, particularly in environments where recognizing and countering specific threats is key.
Cards similar to Runed Halo by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Runed Halo. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Control | Pioneer | Azorius Enchantments | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 |
 | Mono-White Prison | Modern | White Devotion | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Modern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Runed Halo doesn’t directly net you additional cards, its power lies in neutralizing potent threats from your opponent. By naming a specific card, you effectively negate all copies of that card, potentially leaving your opponent with dead draws, thus indirectly contributing to card advantage over the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: Runed Halo isn’t designed to accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana. However, by protecting yourself from certain strategies or key cards without having to spend mana on removal every turn, you’re able to allocate resources more efficiently toward developing your board and advancing your own strategy.
Instant Speed: Runed Halo is a powerful tool that’s played at sorcery speed, but its strategic placement can have an instant-speed impact. Selecting the right card to name with Runed Halo when the threat is imminent can disrupt your opponent’s plan as effectively as an instant by negating an on-board threat just as it’s about to be leveraged, saving you from potential defeat or setting back your opponent’s tempo significantly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Runed Halo offers valuable protection from selected names, it can be a liability if you’re forced to discard other pivotal cards to make room for it in your hand or strategy. Discard mechanics can interfere with the optimal play, especially when you’re carefully curating the cards in play.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two white mana, Runed Halo’s cost may restrict its inclusion exclusively to white or two-color decks. This specificity reduces its flexibility in multicolor or rainbow decks, potentially impacting deck building choices and strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two white mana, this enchantment comes at a moderate cost but may compete for space with other essential two-drops in a deck. In faster, more aggressive formats or matchups, securing Runed Halo’s benefits might come at the cost of tempo, which could be used to deploy threats or other defenses.
Reasons to Include Runed Halo in Your Collection
Versatility: Runed Halo provides a unique form of protection that can be customized depending on the threat you’re facing. This card allows you to name a card, and thereby grants protection from all damage, including from sources with that name, making it adaptable to many situations.
Combo Potential: In decks geared towards protection strategies or those that mitigate damage, Runed Halo can be part of combo ensembles that can lock opponents out from certain win conditions, enhancing your defensive capabilities significantly.
Meta-Relevance: Given that MTG’s meta is ever-shifting, a card like Runed Halo remains relevant, especially if specific creatures or spells dominate play. It can single-handedly counter key threats and is therefore a valuable addition to any collection for competitive play.
How to beat Runed Halo
Runed Halo is an intriguing protective tool in the arsenal of Magic: The Gathering players. This unique card allows you to declare a card name and then grants you immunity from all damage that would be dealt to you from sources with the chosen name. Its versatility can be a real game-changer, offering a shield against some of the most threatening cards on the battlefield.
To overcome Runed Halo, effective strategies are essential. Utilizing spells that force card discard can neutralize the protection by removing the Halo before it’s set. Direct enchantment removal is also effective, with options like Disenchant or Naturalize disrupting the Runed Halo’s protective magic. Consider employing untargeted board wipes such as Supreme Verdict, which bypass the Halo’s protection due to not targeting specific cards or players.
Bypassing Runed Halo requires adaptive thinking and the right answers. Whether that means waiting for the perfect moment to destroy it or cleverly working around it, the key lies in the diversification of threats and having a range of solutions in your deck. By understanding your opponent’s defenses, including cards like Runed Halo, you can weave a strategy to maintain the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Runed Halo MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Shadowmoor, 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 Runed Halo 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 Runed Halo Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 81934 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | ||
| 2 | 2008-05-02 | Shadowmoor | SHM | 21 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 3 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 4 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 32 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 5 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 346 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | M21-32 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Runed Halo has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Banned |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Runed Halo card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-06-23 | Runed Halo can't protect you from tokens unless those tokens have the same name as the card name you choose. |
| 2020-06-23 | Some cards can have alternative names, such as split cards, adventurer cards, double-faced cards, and so on. You may choose one of the two names the card can have; Runed Halo won't protect you from the other name. |