Spiritual Guardian MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 27
2018-07-14 - Number 11
2020-08-13 - Number 21
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Spiritual Guardian comes into play from your hand, you gain 4 life.
Hope is born within.
Cards like Spiritual Guardian
Spiritual Guardian stands tall in the realm of lifegain creatures in MTG. This celestial protector echoes the functionality of other cards like Loxodon Hierarch, which also grants immediate life when it hits the battlefield. What sets Spiritual Guardian apart is its sole focus on life gain, offering a greater amount at 4 life, compared to the Hierarch’s 4 life spread out with other abilities.
When it comes to cost and effect comparison, one might gaze at the Serra Angel. While both five-mana spells, the Serra Angel boasts vigilance and flying, trading the prompt life boost for persistent aerial control. The Guardian may not offer evasion or continual board presence, but its higher life gain could be the clutch factor in stabilizing against faster decks.
Evaluating these cards on a scale, the advantage of Spiritual Guardian in a lifegain strategy is evident. Its immediate impact can tip the scales in your favor, especially in longer games where life total buffers become increasingly significant. Its effectiveness is undeniably situational, yet in the right context, its benefits to a life-centric deck are robust and should not be overlooked.
Cards similar to Spiritual Guardian by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spiritual Guardian is in itself a source of life gain immediately upon entering the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it compensates by providing a solid body on the field and the life gain can sometimes be equivalent to drawing a card by preserving your presence in the game longer.
Resource Acceleration: Although Spiritual Guardian doesn’t provide traditional resource acceleration like artifact mana or land ramp, having it on the battlefield can indirectly save the mana you’d otherwise spend on life-gain spells or abilities, so you can direct those resources towards more impactful plays.
Instant Speed: Spiritual Guardian isn’t a spell you can cast at instant speed, but its effect upon entering the battlefield has a similar feel to an instant life-gain spell in terms of providing a sudden boost in your health total. This can be incredibly valuable in those moments where timing is crucial, and can sometimes help you stabilize against aggressive opponents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Depending on the iteration of Spiritual Guardian, the need to remove another card from your hand can be a setback. Maintaining card advantage is crucial, and such a requirement can stifle your game if not timed well.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes white mana, Spiritual Guardian may not seamlessly fit into all deck archetypes. This restriction can hinder deck-building flexibility and might not synergize with multicolored or mana-intensive strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Spiritual Guardian requires a substantial mana investment to summon to the battlefield. With a mana value that may compete with other pivotal plays in a game, opting for this card might reduce your ability to cast multiple spells in a single turn or leave adequate mana open for responses.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spiritual Guardian brings consistent life gain to the table, an attribute that can be crucial in decks that are built to outlast opponents. It’s a card that serves well in both aggressive and defensive strategies, making it a solid choice for a variety of deck builds.
Combo Potential: This card can trigger lifegain synergies the instant it hits the battlefield. Whether it’s weaponizing life totals with cards like Aetherflux Reservoir or bolstering your creatures with Archangel of Thune, Spiritual Guardian can be the linchpin in a number of life-centric combos.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive red decks and burn strategies are prevalent, the consistent life bump from Spiritual Guardian provides a valuable buffer. Plus, its substantial toughness makes it a respectable blocker against a swath of common threats.
How to beat
Spiritual Guardian can be a formidable presence on the battlefield with its ability to gain you 4 life upon entering the battlefield. Its 3/4 body can also be a significant defensive line. However, its strengths are not without weaknesses. The key to defeating Spiritual Guardian lies in timing and resource management. Since it costs a hefty 5 mana and does not possess any form of evasion like flying or trample, its impact can be mitigated.
Players could use countermagic when their opponent casts the Guardian, ensuring it never hits the board. Another effective strategy is to remove it directly using spells such as Murder or Doom Blade. Aggressive decks can also outpace the Guardian by establishing a strong board presence early on, which makes the life gain less relevant. For control or midrange strategies, ensuring you have card advantage through draw spells or playing more efficient creatures will often mean surpassing the Guardian’s one-time effect and ultimately winning you the game.
Ultimately, while Spiritual Guardian has the potential to swing life totals, it is by no means invincible. It is a card that can be answered with a well-timed response, clever deckbuilding, or simply by outpacing your opponent in the race to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spiritual Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Arena New Player Experience Cards, 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 Spiritual Guardian 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
Printings
The Spiritual Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 27 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Terese Nielsen | |
| 2 | 2018-07-14 | Arena New Player Experience Cards | OANA | 11 | 2015 | Normal | Black | J.P. Targete | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Arena Beginner Set | ANB | 21 | 2015 | Normal | Black | J.P. Targete |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spiritual Guardian has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |