Sacred Mesa MTG Card


Sacred Mesa excels in card advantage with a continuous flow of Pegasus tokens enlarging your board presence. Mana resource acceleration allows for expanding threats as your mana pool increases throughout the game. Token generation at instant speed offers tactical flexibility and efficient mana usage in diverse situations.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

During your upkeep, sacrifice a Pegasus or bury Sacred Mesa. o1oo W Put a Wild Pegasus token into play. Treat this token as a 1/1 white creature with flying that counts as a Pegasus.

"Do not go there, do not go / unless you rise on wings, unless you walk on hooves." —"Song to the Sun," Femeref song


Cards like Sacred Mesa

Sacred Mesa, a classic from Magic: The Gathering’s lore, captures the essence of a spell with the potential for sustained creature generation. This enchantment is a spiritual predecessor to cards like Mobilization, yet stands out for allowing the creation of Pegasus tokens with flying, a key tactical advantage for controlling the skies. Where Mobilization requires a stable mana base for its soldiers, Sacred Mesa demands a sacrifice, offering a delicate balancing act that rewards strategic foresight.

Delving deeper into this theme, Luminarch Ascension offers a different angle on token creation. While it forgoes the sacrificial requirement and has the potential to generate angel tokens, a steeper initial condition of keeping your life total safe shapes its strategy. As a contrast, Sacred Mesa provides more immediate benefits under frequent use. Another comparison can be drawn to Assemble the Legion, which boasts cumulative effects over time, but lacks the agility of response and evasion capabilities of flying creatures that Sacred Mesa promotes.

Rounding up, while there are numerous ways to summon creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Sacred Mesa’s particular combination of versatility and the requirement for regular upkeep illustrate its unique niche within the pantheon of token generation cards.

Mobilization - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Ascension - MTG Card versions
Assemble the Legion - MTG Card versions
Mobilization - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Ascension - MTG Card versions
Assemble the Legion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sacred Mesa by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
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Cooperation - MTG Card versions
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The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
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Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Sacred Mesa. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
EnchantressEnchantress PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sacred Mesa offers a steady stream of Pegasus tokens, which not only bolsters board presence but also serves as a potential source of card advantage. By consistently creating creatures each turn, you essentially outvalue your opponent with an increasing number of threats.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment taps into your existing mana pool, providing a scalable advantage. As your mana base grows, the Mesa allows you to invest spare mana into creating additional Pegasus tokens, effectively transforming available resources into flying creatures that can control the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Each token can be conjured at the end of an opponent’s turn, maximizing the utility of your mana. This ensures that your resources are utilized efficiently, whether for creating threats, responding to opponent’s moves, or simply keeping mana open for strategic plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sacred Mesa asks you to sacrifice one of your Pegasus tokens during each upkeep. This creates a scenario where you’re consistently losing a creature, which can be detrimental when you’re trying to maintain a board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires white mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or colorless decks that could otherwise benefit from a steady stream of flying creatures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though the ability to create Pegasus tokens provides flexibility, the starting cost of having three mana, one of which is white, plus the additional upkeep cost may prove inefficient compared to alternative token-generating cards with lower mana investments.


Reasons to Include Sacred Mesa in Your Collection

Versatility: Sacred Mesa is a flexible enchantment that provides a steady stream of Pegasus tokens, which can adapt to various roles in a game, such as offense, defense, or a sacrifice outlet.

Combo Potential: With its ability to generate a multitude of flying creatures, Sacred Mesa can be a key piece in combos with cards that thrive on the presence of numerous tokens, amplifying their impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and creature strategies are prevalent, the constant token generation from Sacred Mesa ensures you remain a formidable force against the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play.


How to beat

Sacred Mesa is a classic enchantment in the realm of MTG, providing an ongoing source of flying Pegasus tokens at the cost of a single white mana and the sacrifice of another Pegasus. This card can quickly overwhelm opponents with a swarm of aerial attackers if left unchecked. To effectively counter this strategy, focus on enchantment removal cards or spells that can deal with multiple creatures at once. Cards such as Back to Nature or Wrath of God can clear the board of tokens, negating the advantage conferred by Sacred Mesa. Additionally, pressuring the Sacred Mesa player to maintain other creatures on the board hinders their ability to continuously create Pegasus tokens. By adopting a strategy that involves timely board wipes or targeted removal, you can dismantle the engine that makes Sacred Mesa a formidable card to play against.

Another angle is to attack the player’s mana base, as constant Pegasus production is mana-intensive. Strategies that restrict the player’s mana development can restrict their ability to both defend and create tokens. Prioritizing control over how and when your opponent can utilize their mana resources allows you to dictate the pace of the game, disrupting their ability to leverage Sacred Mesa effectively. Balanced measures between attack and control methods can ensure your success in overcoming the challenges posed by Sacred Mesa.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sacred Mesa MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Sacred Mesa and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sacred Mesa Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2014-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 371997NormalBlackMargaret Organ-Kean
22006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 131997NormalBlackMargaret Organ-Kean
32014-11-07Commander 2014C14 862015NormalBlackRobbie Trevino
42020-09-26The ListPLST MIR-371997NormalBlackMargaret Organ-Kean

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sacred Mesa has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sacred Mesa 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 It can be used during upkeep to create a Pegasus token in time for it to be sacrificed.