Godhead of Awe MTG Card


Godhead of Awe - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Spirit Avatar
Abilities Flying
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number142
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMark Zug

Key Takeaways

  1. Godhead of Awe excels at controlling the battlefield by turning all creatures into 1/1, leveling the playing field.
  2. Its specific mana cost requires a dedicated Azorius or similarly hued mana base for successful integration into a deck.
  3. Although a five-mana value card, it presents a unique effect that can justify its place in control-oriented decks.

Text of card

Flying Other creatures are 1/1.

"What she saw crawling upon this world repulsed her. Yet she could not tear her gaze away." —*The Seer's Parables*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With its ability to set all other creatures’ base power and toughness to 1/1, Godhead of Awe can significantly diminish your opponents’ board presence, effectively acting as a deterrent for incoming attacks and granting you a better control of the game state.

Resource Acceleration: Although Godhead of Awe does not directly accelerate resources, by reducing the effectiveness of opposing creatures, it allows you to more efficiently deploy your resources elsewhere, maintaining pressure on your opponent while conserving your own assets for critical plays.

Instant Speed: While Godhead of Awe itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its static ability has an immediate impact on the board as soon as it’s played, which can disrupt your opponent’s strategies during your turn in a way similar to instant-speed interventions. This can give you the upper hand in the tempo of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Even though the Godhead of Awe itself does not require a discard, playing this creature often necessitates a specific build around, which could potentially lead to disadvantageous discards to maintain the deck’s synergy.

Specific Mana Cost: Godhead of Awe demands a precise combination of blue and white mana, making it somewhat restrictive as it fits primarily into Azorius or other multicolored decks capable of generating both colors consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of five, the Godhead of Awe can be a costly drop, especially when considering other creatures or spells available at lower mana costs that provide immediate board impact without the setup this card might require.


Reasons to Include Godhead of Awe in Your Collection

Versatility: Godhead of Awe offers a unique board-altering effect that can be slotted into a variety of decks. Its ability to set creature power and toughness across the board at 1/1 makes it a great equalizer in formats where larger creatures dominate.

Combo Potential: This card is a keystone in combos, particularly with cards that capitalize on creatures with diminished power or those that can benefit from state-based actions, enabling savvy players to clear the board or gain an advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature strategies are prevalent, Godhead of Awe’s influence on the battlefield can be profound, often neutralizing opponents’ threats and turning the tide in your favor.


How to beat

Godhead of Awe is a card that can completely warp the battlefield in MTG. When it hits the board, all other creatures become 1/1, which can be devastating for decks that rely on big creatures. To counter this impactful card, consider using instant removal spells that can target Godhead of Awe the moment it lands, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade. It’s vital to have removals on hand for quick reactions.

Another strategy involves playing cards that don’t rely on creature sizes, such as those that have abilities or effects that are independent of their power and toughness. Think enchantments or planeswalkers that can continue to provide value even if your creatures have been diminished. Lastly, hexproof creatures are valuable since they can’t be targeted by Godhead of Awe’s ability, allowing you to maintain a board presence despite the power level shift.

Beating Godhead of Awe requires adaptability and a deck that either responds quickly to threats or operates effectively without relying heavily on creature combat. By prioritizing versatile removal or strategic card selection, you can mitigate the restrictive nature of Godhead of Awe and maintain control over the game.


Cards like Godhead of Awe

Godhead of Awe holds a unique place in Magic: The Gathering, standing tall among cards that manipulate creature attributes. It shares similarities with Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite in its ability to affect all creatures on the battlefield. Where Elesh Norn grants a static boost to your creatures while weakening your opponents’, Godhead of Awe equalizes the playing field by setting all creatures’ power and toughness to 1/1. This can swing the game dramatically, especially in creature-heavy formats.

Humility is another card that echoes the essence of Godhead of Awe’s board-altering effect. While Humility strips away all abilities and makes every creature a 1/1, it doesn’t carry the flying capability inherent to Godhead of Awe. This gives Godhead of Awe a tactical aerial advantage. Additionally, we have Mirror Entity, which can temporarily turn all your creatures into copies of Godhead of Awe, forcing a board-wide change in power and toughness. However, this change is contingent on mana investment and doesn’t automatically apply to all creatures as with Godhead of Awe.

Godhead of Awe stands out in its own right within Magic: The Gathering, offering a powerful tool for players needing to control or reset the battlefield with a simple yet profound transformation of all creatures present.

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions
Humility - MTG Card versions
Mirror Entity - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Humility - Tempest (TMP)
Mirror Entity - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Godhead of Awe by color, type and mana cost

Tobias Andrion - MTG Card versions
Armored Guardian - MTG Card versions
Kangee, Sky Warden - MTG Card versions
Yorion, Sky Nomad - MTG Card versions
Windreaver - MTG Card versions
Sky Hussar - MTG Card versions
Isperia the Inscrutable - MTG Card versions
Whip-Spine Drake - MTG Card versions
Glamer Spinners - MTG Card versions
Azor's Elocutors - MTG Card versions
Jelenn Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lavinia of the Tenth - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Ojutai - MTG Card versions
Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper - MTG Card versions
Cloudblazer - MTG Card versions
Azorius Knight-Arbiter - MTG Card versions
Shabraz, the Skyshark - MTG Card versions
Inniaz, the Gale Force - MTG Card versions
A-Metropolis Angel - MTG Card versions
The Council of Four - MTG Card versions
Tobias Andrion - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Armored Guardian - Invasion (INV)
Kangee, Sky Warden - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Yorion, Sky Nomad - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Windreaver - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Sky Hussar - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Isperia the Inscrutable - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Whip-Spine Drake - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Glamer Spinners - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Azor's Elocutors - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Jelenn Sphinx - Battlebond (BBD)
Lavinia of the Tenth - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Dragonlord Ojutai - Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit (SLC)
Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Cloudblazer - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Azorius Knight-Arbiter - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Shabraz, the Skyshark - The List (PLST)
Inniaz, the Gale Force - Jumpstart (JMP)
A-Metropolis Angel - Streets of New Capenna (SNC)
The Council of Four - Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos (PCLB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Godhead of Awe MTG card by a specific set like 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 Godhead of Awe and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Godhead of Awe has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-05-01 If two Godheads of Awe are on the battlefield, they’ll each make the other one 1/1.
2008-05-01 This doesn’t cause creatures to lose their abilities.
2009-10-01 Godhead of Awe’s ability overwrites other effects that set a creature’s power and toughness to specific values only if those effects existed before the Godhead entered the battlefield. It will not overwrite effects that modify power or toughness (whether from a static ability, counters, or a resolved spell or ability), nor will it overwrite effects that set power and toughness which come into existence after the Godhead enters the battlefield. Effects that switch the creature’s power and toughness are always applied after any other power or toughness changing effects, including that of the Godhead.

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