Runes of the Deus MTG Card


Runes of the Deus - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Number215
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byWarren Mahy

Key Takeaways

  1. Runes of the Deus enchants creatures, boosting their power and granting double strike and trample.
  2. Its specific mana cost can limit deck-building options, potentially impacting strategy flexibility.
  3. An essential asset for aggressive strategies, it keeps pace with the dynamic MTG competitive scene.

Text of card

Enchant creature As long as enchanted creature is red, it gets +1/+1 and has double strike. (It deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.) As long as enchanted creature is green, it gets +1/+1 and has trample.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Runes of the Deus offers a strategic edge by enchanting a creature to not only enhance its power and toughness but also grant it two vital abilities. This multifaceted boost can be pivotal during gameplay, tipping the scales in your favor by empowering your offensive and defensive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: As you cast Runes of the Deus, it significantly accelerates your resources by augmenting one of your creatures. With double strike and trample at its disposal, the enchanted creature not only becomes a formidable force but also potentially creates situations where additional damage accelerates you toward victory.

Instant Speed: Although Runes of the Deus enchants at sorcery speed, its enduring impact on the game’s dynamic is immediate. By enhancing a creature the moment it hits the battlefield, you initiate a swift change in the status quo, compelling your opponent to respond just as quickly or risk falling behind.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing Runes of the Deus demands a card to be discarded in addition to its other costs. This trade-off can become a clear setback, particularly in game scenarios where your hand is already dwindling, and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Runes of the Deus requires a particular combination of mana, one green and one red, to cast. This specificity can prove restrictive, making it a less versatile choice for decks not tailored around these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that stands at the higher end of the spectrum, Runes of the Deus may not be the most mana-efficient enchantment available. When considering options for enhancing creatures, some players might find other cards that provide similar benefits without the same investment.


Reasons to Include Runes of the Deus in Your Collection

Versatility: The Runes of the Deus card offers adaptability across multiple deck archetypes due to its ability to provide both enchantment benefits and an enchant creature aspect. This dual nature ensures it can be a valuable card in various situations.

Combo Potential: With this card’s capability to give a creature double strike and trample, it can be a linchpin in combinations aiming to quickly eliminate opponents or devastate their defenses. These abilities complement aggressive strategies and work well with high-power creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing landscape of the game, Runes of the Deus remains relevant, particularly in metas where creature-based combat is predominant. Its impact on gameplay can be substantial, making it a key card to have on hand for adapting to current competitive environments.


How to beat

Runes of the Deus is a unique enchantment card that can have a dramatic effect on the game when played effectively. The card gives a creature a substantial power boost and trample, turning even the smallest creature into a significant threat. One way to outmaneuver this card is by maintaining control of the board. Ensuring you have ample removal options in your deck to deal with enhanced creatures is key to overcoming the potential surge in power brought forth by Runes of the Deus.

Counterspelling is another strategic option. Preventing Runes of the Deus from ever hitting the board is an excellent way to neutralize its impact. This requires keeping mana open and being vigilant about your opponent’s plays, which can sometimes be at odds with your larger game plan. Nonetheless, countering high-impact enchantments can lead to significant shifts in momentum.

Lastly, keeping a range of bounce spells or effects that return permanents to a player’s hand can effectively negate the impact of Runes of the Deus. By returning an enchanted creature to its owner’s hand, you effectively force them to spend more resources to replay and re-enchant their creature, buying you precious time and resource advantage in the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth offered by MTG extends to cards like Runes of the Deus, which provides both power enhancement and a formidable combination of abilities to a creature. It’s an enchantment that can turn the tides of battle, fitting perfectly into decks designed for aggressive and rapid strikes. Remember that in MTG, every card you select can vastly influence your victory. For those looking to evolve their gameplay, Runes of the Deus could be a critical addition. Learn more about optimizing your deck and embrace the synergy, resource acceleration, and meta-relevance this card has to offer. Elevate your collection with us.


Cards like Runes of the Deus

Runes of the Deus thrives in enchantment-heavy decks within Magic: The Gathering, offering a multifaceted boost to the creature it enchants. It shares its trait of providing a power and toughness increase with cards like Madcap Skills, which also grants substantial bonuses to a creature. Where Runes of the Deus distinguishes itself is in its ability to bestow not just one, but two invaluable keywords: trample and double strike. This makes any creature a significant threat on the battlefield.

Another similar enchantment is Temur Battle Rage. While it doesn’t permanently boost a creature’s power, it does endow it with double strike temporarily, and it provides trample if you have a creature with a power of 4 or greater. It’s cheaper with a two mana cost, but it lacks Runes of the Deus’s staying power on a creature. Then we have Rancor, granting creatures a smaller power increase and trample with the resilience to return to a player’s hand after the creature dies.

Analyzing these comparisons, Runes of the Deus is a potent tool for players aiming to deliver decisive blows, combining durability with offensive enhancements. It stands out particularly well in decks that capitalize on enchantment synergies and aggressive combat strategies.

Madcap Skills - MTG Card versions
Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions
Rancor - MTG Card versions
Madcap Skills - Gatecrash (GTC)
Temur Battle Rage - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Rancor - Urza's Legacy (ULG)

Cards similar to Runes of the Deus by color, type and mana cost

Xenagos, God of Revels - MTG Card versions
Predatory Advantage - MTG Card versions
Primal Visitation - MTG Card versions
Bigger on the Inside - MTG Card versions
Xenagos, God of Revels - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Predatory Advantage - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Primal Visitation - Gatecrash (GTC)
Bigger on the Inside - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Runes of the Deus 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 Runes of the Deus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Runes of the Deus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Runes of the Deus 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 the enchanted creature is both of the listed colors, it will get both bonuses.

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