Sanctum Custodian MTG Card

Sanctum Custodian’s instant speed ability protects creatures, disrupting opponent strategies at crucial moments. Requires card holding for effective use, potentially pressuring the player’s hand resources. Shines against aggressive decks, offering a strategic shield to stabilize and control the game.

Urza's Saga (USG)
1998-10-12 - Number 42

Sanctum Custodian - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)

Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
1999-11-12 - Number 62

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Power	1
Toughness	2

Text of card

oc T: Prevent up to 2 damage to a creature or player.

Serra told them to guard Urza as he healed. Five years they stood.

Cards like Sanctum Custodian

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Sanctum Custodian stands as a utility creature that offers players a unique defensive advantage. Much like its counterpart, Benevolent Bodyguard, this card also allows the controller to protect their key creatures from harm. However, unlike the Bodyguard that can be sacrificed at any time to protect from a specific color, Sanctum Custodian requires a tap to safeguard from any destructive spells or abilities, providing versatile protection albeit with a limitation on its use each turn.

Comparing this to Mother of Runes gives us another interesting point of contrast. Mother of Runes also taps to offer protection, but it can shield creatures from a selected color until the next turn, giving it a slightly more controlling edge over Sanctum Custodian in terms of tactical defense. Yet, the Custodian provides a broader stroke of protection with the ability to guard against anything, not just color-specific threats.

To sum up, Sanctum Custodian assimilates nicely into a deck that values creature preservation, offering a decent parallel to other guardian cards. Versatility and dependable defense make it a respectable addition, particularly for players seeking to maintain a robust battlefield presence.

Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sanctum Custodian by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Sanctum Custodian’s ability to protect your key creatures, you effectively negate potential card loss from enemy removal spells, thus maintaining your board presence and card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Sanctum Custodian does not directly accelerate resources, it helps maintain your manpower by preventing your more valuable creatures from being destroyed, indirectly preserving the resources that you have already invested in developing your board.

Instant Speed: Sanctum Custodian’s ability to prevent damage to another creature can be activated at instant speed. This grants you the flexibility to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their strategy and wasting their resources while keeping your defenses up.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sanctum Custodian offers protection for your creatures, it also necessitates the holding of other cards to ensure its ability can be used effectively, potentially causing a strain on your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Sanctum Custodian’s casting cost requires white mana, which can limit its inclusion to white-centered or multicolored decks, potentially excluding it from mono-colored strategies not running white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, Sanctum Custodian competes with various other three-drops in the white color pie, some of which might offer immediate impact or more versatile abilities, thus making it a less appealing choice in certain deck builds.

Reasons to Include Sanctum Custodian in Your Collection

Versatility: Sanctum Custodian offers solid defensive capabilities that can protect more valuable creatures or your life total. This card is a good fit in defensive strategies or control decks looking for early board presence.

Combo Potential: With the ability to block additional attacks, this card works well in combos that aim to lock down the board or prevent your opponents from breaking through your defenses while you set up other win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are common, Sanctum Custodian shines by absorbing attacks that would otherwise be detrimental. Its presence can shift the tide of early game skirmishes, allowing you to stabilize and advance your game plan.

How to beat

Sanctum Custodian can be a resilient fixture on the battlefield within MTG, offering a protective barrier against offensive strategies. Traditional removal spells might seem like an effective approach, yet the custodian’s protective ability calls for more innovative tactics. One method is to bypass its shield through spells that don’t specifically “destroy” but rather “exile” or enforce a “sacrifice” mechanic, effectively working around the custodian’s defense.

Strategic combat is also vital. Engaging in battles where the Sanctum Custodian isn’t blocking can diminish an opponent’s defense, allowing for a more direct approach in subsequent turns. Furthermore, employing indirect damage via abilities or spells that deal damage to multiple creatures or targeting the player directly can effectively circumvent the custodian’s protective stance.

Ultimately, while Sanctum Custodian offers robust protection, a well-planned mix of removal tactics, combat strategies, and direct damage can dismantle the defense it provides, paving the way for a victorious assault. Understanding and anticipating the card’s limitations allows you to craft a winning strategy against this particular guardian in the realm of MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sanctum Custodian MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Sanctum Custodian and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sanctum Custodian Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 1999-11-12. Illustrated by Paolo Parente.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1998-10-12	Urza's Saga	USG		42	1997	Normal	Black	Paolo Parente
2	1999-11-12	Battle Royale Box Set	BRB		62	1997	Normal	White	Paolo Parente

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sanctum Custodian has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal