Sheltering Prayers MTG Card

Creates card resilience against discard spells, maintaining hand advantage crucial for format with hand disruptions. Protects key low-cost permanents, saving resources needed for safeguarding or replacing these cards during play. Offers constant on-field protection without requiring instant-speed activation, akin to a perpetual shield.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	22
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nelson DeCastro

Text of card

Basic lands each player controls can't be the targets of spells or abilities as long as that player controls three or fewer lands.

"It matters not if the gods hear my prayers. Jamuraa does."

Cards like Sheltering Prayers

Sheltering Prayers is a unique enchantment card in Magic the Gathering that grants all your permanents protection from the colors of your choice as long as you have a card of that color in your hand. A similar card that comes to mind is Teferi’s Protection, which is widely recognized for its ability to phase out your belongings, thus shielding them from all interactions temporarily. Although Teferi’s Protection offers comprehensive and temporary evasion, the continuous protection provided by Sheltering Prayers can be preferable for a long-term strategy.

Another card on the same wavelength is Fountain Watch, which endows your artifacts and enchantments with shroud, preventing them from being targeted by spells or abilities. Fountain Watch does not require you to keep specific cards in hand as Sheltering Prayers does, but it limits its protection to non-creature permanents. Considering the versatility and strategic depth of Sheltering Prayers in maintaining a strong board position, it easily distinguishes itself among cards aimed at safeguarding your in-game assets.

Ultimately, Sheltering Prayers has its niche in Magic the Gathering, offering a continuous shield that aligns with a proactive color-centric deck strategy, making it a valuable addition in the appropriate context.

Cards similar to Sheltering Prayers by color, type and mana cost

Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sheltering Prayers can enhance card resilience by protecting your hand from targeted discard spells and thus potentially maintaining a card advantage over your opponent. Its ability to preserve the cards in your hand can be particularly crucial in formats where hand disruption is prevalent.

Resource Acceleration: While Sheltering Prayers doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it effectively conserves them by shielding your permanents with converted mana cost 1 from being targeted. This defensive measure can save you the resources you’d otherwise need to invest in protecting or replacing these key low-cost cards.

Instant Speed: Although Sheltering Prayers is not an instant, its effect is continuous once it’s on the field, akin to having a persistent shield activated. It functions like an ever-present deterrent that works to thwart your opponent’s plans, essentially granting your game a form of constant readiness against targeted threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Sheltering Prayers requiring a card to be set aside from your hand, this could leave players at a resource disadvantage, particularly in tight situations where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Sheltering Prayers asks for a dedicated white mana investment. This specialized cost can restrict its inclusion to certain archetypes, reducing its flexibility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When playing Sheltering Prayers, its mana value might be deemed steep for the protection it provides. This can be especially relevant when considering other available options that may offer similar effects at a lower cost, allowing for more efficient mana usage throughout the game.

Reasons to Include Sheltering Prayers in Your Collection

Versatility: Sheltering Prayers offers a unique form of protection for your permanents, making it a suitable inclusion in decks that prioritize the long game. Its ability to safeguard permanents with converted mana costs of 1 from all colors gives it a broad defensive utility.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with low-cost permanents, multiplying their effectiveness by shielding them from targeted spells and abilities. Players can construct strategic plays knowing key elements of their board are safeguarded, allowing them to confidently build their presence without the imminent threat of disruption.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where cheap removals or bounce spells are prevalent, Sheltering Prayers can significantly alter the landscape of gameplay. By proactively defending your strategic pieces, this card provides a layer of resilience that can be crucial when facing decks that rely heavily on interaction and targeted control.

How to beat

Sheltering Prayers in MTG offers unique protection for one’s permanents by giving them the ability to dodge effects that alter their characteristics. This resiliency can present a roadblock for players looking to leverage such altering strategies. To effectively navigate around Sheltering Prayers, consider employing board wipes that don’t target or rely on the ingrained properties of permanents—think global resets like wrath effects which don’t necessarily change characteristics but rather remove the threats outright.

Additionally, exploiting spells that force sacrifices can subvert Sheltering Prayers’ defense. Since these don’t directly target or change characteristics, they can effectively diminish the opponent’s board presence. Counter spells also play a pivotal role. By denying Sheltering Prayers from ever hitting the board, you preemptively sidestep its protective armament. Lastly, redirecting your focus to the player rather than their permanents with direct damage or mill strategies can circumvent the need to interact with their protected board altogether.

In essence, while Sheltering Prayers projects a formidable shield, it is not impervious. Strategic deck-building and adaptability during play can dismantle the sanctuary it provides, maintaining the flow of a dynamic and responsive game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sheltering Prayers MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Sheltering Prayers and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sheltering Prayers has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal