Shrine of Piercing Vision MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Released | 2011-05-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | New Phyrexia |
| Set code | NPH |
| Number | 156 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jana Schirmer & Johannes Voss |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep or whenever you cast a blue spell, put a charge counter on Shrine of Piercing Vision. , Sacrifice Shrine of Piercing Vision: Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of charge counters on Shrine of Piercing Vision. Put one of those cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Cards like Shrine of Piercing Vision
Shrine of Piercing Vision is an intriguing inclusion in the Magic: The Gathering suite of cards focused on manipulation and foresight. Similar to other cards that offer scrying abilities, such as Crystal Ball, Shrine of Piercing Vision provides a gradual, but consistent, way to filter through your deck. While both cards allow you to look at the top card of your library, Shrine of Piercing Vision has an additional benefit. As time passes and charge counters accumulate, it can transform into a more powerful draw engine.
Comparable as well in this clairvoyant category is Seer’s Lantern. With an immediate scry upon use, Seer’s Lantern offers a more instant gratification compared to the Shrine’s slower buildup. This can be essential in games where tempo and immediate deck filtration are critical. Nevertheless, Shrine of Piercing Vision eventually outpaces Seer’s Lantern with the option to draw more cards in a single burst, which can be game-changing in longer matches.
Ultimately, players who value the ability to craft their draws and seize control of their deck’s destiny will find Shrine of Piercing Vision a worthwhile consideration. It stands out with its potential for a significant late-game impact, offering a strategic advantage that can shape the course of a duel.
Cards similar to Shrine of Piercing Vision by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shrine of Piercing Vision facilitates strategic deck manipulation by letting you peek at the top card of your library at any time, providing foresight into upcoming draws. Additionally, it lets you dig deeper into your deck for key cards once you’ve accrued enough charge counters.
Resource Acceleration: While it does not directly generate mana, this artifact can significantly accelerate your resource game. By allowing you to sift through your library efficiently, Shrine of Piercing Vision ensures that the spells you need to cast arrive in your hand right on time, reducing instances of missed land drops or crucial plays.
Instant Speed: Although the shrine’s abilities are not at instant speed, its utility in a deck that uses instant speed synergies cannot be overstated. It complements this style of play by setting up your draws to ensure you have the right responses or threats when you need them, and it can be a surprise element your opponents may not account for when planning their turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Shrine of Piercing Vision demands a consistent investment of resources to make the most out of its scry ability. Regrettably, this requirement can backfire by forcing you to discard other valuable cards from your hand, potentially undercutting your long-term strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a need for both general and blue mana, the Shrine fits best in decks that are aligned with, or heavily feature, blue mana. This can restrict deckbuilding options and may not fit seamlessly into a multi-colored strategy without careful mana curve considerations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging two mana for an artifact that doesn’t impact the board immediately can be steep, especially when there are alternative cards that provide more immediate card selection or draw benefits for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shrine of Piercing Vision offers flexible late-game planning, allowing players to sift through their deck and prepare future turns. It’s an ideal card for control and combo decks looking to secure the necessary components for a winning strategy.
Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or strategies that utilize charge counters, this shrine can turn into a pivotal piece. It interacts well with proliferate mechanics, enhancing its ability to dig deeper into your deck.
Meta-Relevance: As the gaming environment fluctuates, having cards that can adapt is crucial. Shrine of Piercing Vision provides continuous deck filtering, which is essential in meta games where drawing the right card at the right time can determine the outcome of a match.
How to beat
Shrine of Piercing Vision is a unique artifact that allows players to delve deeper into their decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its power lies in the slow accumulation of knowledge counters that eventually lead to a substantial card advantage. The key to overcoming this persistent artifact is to stifle its card drawing capability before it gains too much momentum.
Enchantment removal spells are paramount to dismantling the Shrine before it can activate. Cards such as Disenchant offer an efficient solution to this problem, allowing a player to remove the artifact for a minimal mana investment. Another tactic involves disrupting the opponent’s strategy so they can’t effectively utilize the card advantage gained from the Shrine, using cards like Thoughtseize to seize essential pieces from their hand.
In essence, a combined approach of direct removal and hand disruption can effectively nullify the benefits of Shrine of Piercing Vision. By prioritizing the removal of this card from the battlefield or preventing its optimal use, you can diminish the opportunity for your opponent to gain the upper hand in your MTG matchup.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shrine of Piercing Vision MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Shrine of Piercing Vision and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shrine of Piercing Vision has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |