Sanctum of Calm Waters MTG Card


Boosts card advantage by drawing multiple cards during upkeep, essential for maintaining a competitive edge. Demands specific deck builds with blue mana and may cause card discards, limiting its versatility. Despite its higher mana cost, offers strategic depth for advanced gameplay and deck optimization.
Sanctum of Calm Waters - Core Set 2021
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Shrine
Released2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2021
Set codeM21
Number68
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohannes Voss

Text of card

At the beginning of your precombat main phase, you may draw X cards, where X is the number of Shrines you control. If you do, discard a card.

Truth lurks in the depths, Invisible from the shore. Knowledge inundates.


Cards like Sanctum of Calm Waters

Sanctum of Calm Waters adds a unique flair to the pantheon of card-drawing engines in Magic: The Gathering. It stands alongside cards like Honden of Seeing Winds in the enchantment category. Where the Sanctum of Calm Waters requires a setup with upkeep for card advantage, Honden of Seeing Winds brings a consistent card draw without additional costs each turn. Both provide robust engines for drawing cards but operate under different conditions to optimize their benefits.

Another card to consider in relation with Sanctum of Calm Waters is Kumena’s Awakening. Both are enchantments granting card advantage during the upkeep. However, Kumena’s Awakening conditions its advantage on whether you have the city’s blessing, making it less guaranteed compared to Sanctum, which provides control over how many cards to draw and discard.

Ultimately, while comparing enchantments that enhance card flow, Sanctum of Calm Waters offers flexibility in controlling your hand, making it a valuable addition for deck builders seeking to fine-tune their strategy and maintain a commanding grip over the game’s momentum.

Honden of Seeing Winds - MTG Card versions
Kumena's Awakening - MTG Card versions
Honden of Seeing Winds - MTG Card versions
Kumena's Awakening - MTG Card versions

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Merseine - MTG Card versions
Zur's Weirding - MTG Card versions
Psychic Vortex - MTG Card versions
Abduction - MTG Card versions
Zephid's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Browse - MTG Card versions
Opposition - MTG Card versions
Collective Restraint - MTG Card versions
Delusions of Mediocrity - MTG Card versions
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - MTG Card versions
Necroduality - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Ashiok's Erasure - MTG Card versions
Annex - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Treasure Trove - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color MidrangeFive-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 06 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sanctum of Calm Waters plays an instrumental role in ensuring a steady flow of cards to your hand each turn. With its ability to potentially draw you multiple cards during your upkeep, it becomes a valuable asset for sustaining your advantage over opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment fits seamlessly into decks that are centered around the devotion mechanic or that look to maximize the use of legendary permanents. By helping you dig deeper into your deck, you can access more resources and crucial pieces to accelerate your game plan.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Sanctum of Calm Waters synergizes well with decks that play at instant speed. Having multiple cards in hand ensures you can always respond optimally to your opponent’s actions, choosing from a wider array of potential answers or threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sanctum of Calm Waters demands you discard one or more cards during your upkeep. If your hand is already depleted, this requirement can hinder your game, forcing you to let go of potentially vital strategies. It’s a condition that can sometimes put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re struggling to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: To harness the abilities of Sanctum of Calm Waters, your deck must produce blue mana. This specific mana requirement means the card is typically confined to blue or multicolor decks that can accommodate blue mana, potentially limiting its inclusion in decks that do not have access to this color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes four mana, Sanctum of Calm Waters is on the more expensive side for enchantments with a card drawing ability. While it provides a potentially strong effect, other options might offer card advantage at a lower cost, making them more attractive for decks looking to optimize their mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sanctum of Calm Waters can be a dynamic addition to control or combo decks that thrive on card advantage. It has the flexibility to provide continuous draw, which keeps your hand filled with options.

Combo Potential: This enchantment synergizes well with other shrines or cards that care about drawing multiple cards in a single turn, offering a way to fuel intricate combos or simply surpass your opponent with superior card quantity.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to churn through your deck and keep the pressure on resource-heavy opponents, Sanctum of Calm Waters is a strong choice in metas where establishing and maintaining card advantage is crucial to winning the game.


How to Beat

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Sanctum of Calm Waters presents a distinct dynamic in controlling the flow of a game. As a part of the illustrious set of Shrines, this enchantment offers consistent card advantage. This can be formidable, but its influence is something that can be mitigated effectively.

To outmaneuver the Sanctum of Calm Waters, one may consider a twofold approach. First, focus on building a strategy that includes enchantment removal such as Naturalize or Disenchant which cleanly answer this threat. Secondly, keep the pressure high; a tempo-driven deck might prevent the opponent from leveraging the card advantage gained by overwhelming them before they can stabilize.

Another angle is to employ counter-strategies that punish card draw like Underworld Dreams or Narset, Parter of Veils, which restricts your opponent’s ability to benefit from drawing multiple cards. Ultimately, while the Sanctum can set the groundwork for late-game dominance, a precise and proactive game plan can ensure it’s more of a tranquil eddy than a raging current in your match-up.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a pursuit of strategy, and the Sanctum of Calm Waters card is a strategic powerhouse for those who control its flow. It’s a card that, when played right, can keep your options plentiful and your opponents on their toes. From card advantage to game plan acceleration and combo potentials, it’s an essential gear in the machine of deckbuilding finesse. Understand its strengths and limitations to harness its full potential. Curious to dive deeper and optimize your deck with Sanctum of Calm Waters and similar enchantments? Visit us to expand your arsenal and command the tides of your MTG battles.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sanctum of Calm Waters MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 of Calm Waters and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sanctum of Calm Waters has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sanctum of Calm Waters 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 Each Shrine has an ability that counts the number of Shrines you control. These abilities include the Shrine they're printed on.
2020-06-23 If Sanctum of Calm Waters leaves the battlefield while its ability is on the stack, you may control no Shrines as the ability resolves. If so, you may choose to draw zero cards and discard one, or you may choose not to draw zero cards and not discard a card.
2020-06-23 Shrines count only enchantments with the subtype Shrine. Other cards with “shrine” in their name (such as Jungle Shrine, Luxa River Shrine, and Nantuko Shrine) don't count.
2020-06-23 You draw X cards and discard a card all while the triggered ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.