Spectral Cloak MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 1994-06-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Legends |
| Set code | LEG |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Rob Alexander |
Text of card
Target creature cannot be the target of instants, sorceries, fast effects, or enchantments unless creature is tapped.
Cards like Spectral Cloak
Spectral Cloak is a unique artifact that has its own niche within Magic: The Gathering. This particular card bears similarity to other artifacts that offer evasion abilities, such as Whispersilk Cloak. Both cards are designed to give a creature the potential to avoid being blocked, yet Spectral Cloak differs in its activation requirement, needing mana for each attack. In contrast, Whispersilk Cloak provides a static ability that also grants shroud, preventing the creature from being the target of spells or abilities.
Another comparable card is Prowler’s Helm, which ensures that creatures can only be blocked by Walls. Spectral Cloak offers broader unblockability, but at the cost of continuous mana investment. Furthermore, there’s Trailblazer’s Boots, a card that confers nonbasic landwalk, which, in many game scenarios, is tantamount to providing unblockability. However, unlike the consistent effect of Trailblazer’s Boots, Spectral Cloak requires a more strategic approach, with players needing to judiciously manage their resources to maximize its benefit.
When considering cards that grant evasion, Spectral Cloak presents a versatile option in Magic: The Gathering, ideal for commanders that can generate substantial mana to repeatedly harness its power, thus ensuring their forces remain elusive threats on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Spectral Cloak by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Spectral Cloak offers significant strategic depth by enabling creatures to slip by unnoticed, potentially leading to advantageous trades or damage delivery that can tilt the scales of the game in your favor. It improves the quality of your interactions and can indirectly contribute to gaining card advantage over your opponent by preserving your creatures or facilitating successful attacks.
Resource Acceleration: While Spectral Cloak itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can effectively protect your key creatures that contribute to ramping up your mana or generating other valuable resources by making them harder to block. Ensuring these creatures survive can be crucial for maintaining the tempo and pace at which you develop your board state and available resources.
Instant Speed: Spectral Cloak’s ability to be activated at instant speed offers a high level of tactical flexibility. This can catch an opponent off-guard during combat or even during their end step, keeping them constantly having to account for the potential invisibility of your threats. Such unpredictability in when you may activate its ability adds another layer of complexity to your strategic plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite the benefits that Spectral Cloak provides to the targeted creature, players are required to discard a card. This condition can be a significant setback, especially in a tight game where each card in hand could make a notable difference.
Specific Mana Cost: Spectral Cloak demands a particular mana combination to cast, which could be challenging to meet in a multi-colored deck. The necessity for blue mana restricts its synergy, confining it to decks that can accommodate such a requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the utility that Spectral Cloak offers, its mana cost is on the higher side. Players might find it taxing to allocate such an amount of mana, which could be used to cast creatures or other spells with potentially greater impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spectral Cloak enables creatures to slip past defenses, making it a powerful tool for any deck that aims to execute combat surprises or safeguard key creatures. It can adapt to both aggressive and control strategies, providing flexibility in your game plan.
Combo Potential: Combining Spectral Cloak with creatures that have tap abilities or other combat triggers can lead to brilliant tactical plays. It can also aid in setting up potent interactions, leveraging the element of surprise to your advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creature interaction often decides the winner, Spectral Cloak can tip the scales. Its ability to make creatures unblockable ensures it remains relevant, potentially outmaneuvering prevalent board control mechanisms.
How to beat
Spectral Cloak emerges as a unique tool in the arsenal of MTG strategies, granting evasion by making creatures unblockable. Aligned with cards like Whispersilk Cloak or Prowler’s Helm, Spectral Cloak offers an edge – the ability to evade blockers. Unlike the Cloak, though, which provides shroud and thus complete protection, Spectral Cloak does not shield the creature from targeted spells or abilities – a key vulnerability to exploit.
Dealing with a Spectral Cloak requires a tactic shift. Spot removal spells that target the equipped creature, such as Path to Exile or Go for the Throat, are effective as they circumvent the need to block. Alternatively, artifact destruction spells like Nature’s Claim or Disenchant that can target the Cloak directly serve as direct counters. Board wipes, too, are an avenue that can clear the path as they don’t rely on blocking to remove creatures.
Ultimately, Spectral Cloak can be a challenging card to face, but with a mix of removal and counter-artifact measures, it’s a manageable threat on the battlefield. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key to formulating a successful strategy against it.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spectral Cloak MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Spectral Cloak and other MTG cards:
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- 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 Spectral Cloak has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spectral Cloak card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-08-01 | Does not destroy Auras already on the creature. |