Temple of Enlightenment MTG Card
2014-02-07 - Number 163
2020-01-24 - Number 246
2020-01-24 - Number 246p
2020-01-24 - Number 246s
2020-01-24 - Number 349
2021-11-19 - Number 185
2022-02-18 - Number 180
2022-11-18 - Number 206
2023-04-21 - Number 432
2023-08-04 - Number 1041
2023-10-13 - Number 1116
2023-10-13 - Number 906
2023-10-13 - Number 525
2023-10-13 - Number 315
2024-02-09 - Number 302
2024-03-08 - Number 832
2024-03-08 - Number 518
2024-03-08 - Number 1046
2024-03-08 - Number 304
2024-06-14 - Number 386
2002-06-24 - Number 79871
| Card sets | Released in 21 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
| Abilities | Scry |
Text of card
Temple of Enlightenment enters the battlefield tapped. When Temple of Enlightenment enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.) : Add or to your mana pool.
Cards like Temple of Enlightenment
In the vast array of lands within the MTG universe, the Temple of Enlightenment holds a unique place. This land is a part of the Temples cycle, shared with counterparts like Temple of Mystery and Temple of Malice, each enabling scry and providing mana for two specific colors. Temple of Enlightenment stands out with its focus on blue and white mana, key for control and tempo decks.
Another card worth comparing is Hallowed Fountain. This land also provides blue and white mana but differs with its ‘shock land’ mechanic, offering the option to come into play untapped at the cost of 2 life. Unlike Temple of Enlightenment, it doesn’t provide the incremental value of scrying. On the other hand, Prairie Stream can be deemed a relative, entering the battlefield possibly untapped, contingent on controlling two or more basic lands, with no additional upside of scrying or taking life-bound decisions.
Choosing the right land can profoundly influence a player’s success, and while Temple of Enlightenment may not provide immediate game speed like Hallowed Fountain, its ability to set up future draws with a simple scry is a subtle but potent advantage for strategic gameplay in MTG.
Cards similar to Temple of Enlightenment by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Temple of Enlightenment. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Five-color Combo | Legacy | Painter | Charlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1 |
 | Decklist | Free form | Set Roulette Feburary 2024 | |
 | Bant Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Five-color Burn | Modern | Calibrated Blast | $10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 9:00 am |
 | Azorius Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
 | Lotus Field Combo | Pioneer | Hidden Strings | Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Bant Lotus Field | Pioneer | Hidden Strings | NRG Series $10,000 Showdown - Chicagoland, Illinois (Pioneer) |
 | Bant Sphinx Ramp | Free form | Set Roulette Feburary 2024 | |
| Bant Walls | Free form | Set Roulette Feburary 2024 | |
 | Bant | Free form | Set Roulette Feburary 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Temple of Enlightenment enables strategic scrying to improve draws and support card quality, thereby indirectly contributing to card advantage throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: Entering the battlefield tapped yet providing dual-color mana streamlines your resource acceleration, giving you access to both white and blue mana pools for diverse spellcasting options.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the temple’s scry effect upon entering the battlefield synergizes well with instant speed plays, smoothing out draws to ensure you have the right responses when you need them.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When Temple of Enlightenment enters the battlefield, its scry ability is beneficial, but it doesn’t alter the fact that you must discard a card if you wish to take advantage of entering untapped. This trade-off can be detrimental when your hand is already sparse.
Specific Mana Cost: Although the land contributes to both white and blue mana, it’s pivotal to acknowledge that its specificity can hamper deck flexibility. Decks not focused on Azorius colors may find the Temple less useful, limiting its inclusivity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In high-speed games where tempo is king, the conditional nature of the Temple’s mana availability can be a stumbling block. Players may opt for lands that provide immediate, unconditional mana without the potential tempo loss.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Temple of Enlightenment offers a dual land advantage, providing essential mana fixing which is crucial in multicolored decks. Its ability to tap for either white or blue mana makes it an adaptable choice for various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: Its scry 1 feature upon entering the battlefield not only sets up your draws but can also work in tandem with cards that benefit from top-deck manipulation, easily integrating with strategies that rely on this mechanic.
Meta-Relevance: Given its place in the current meta, where manabase stability is key, Temple of Enlightenment holds its ground by smoothing out mana curves and enabling consistent play for control and midrange decks alike.
How to beat
The Temple of Enlightenment enters the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering as more than just a land card – it’s a tactical piece that can influence the ebb and flow of the game. As a dual land that requires entering tapped unless you meet its condition, it grants players access to both white and blue mana, bolstering strategies that pivot around versatility and timing.
Overcoming the advantage provided by the Temple of Enlightenment involves disrupting the opponent’s mana base and timing. Using land destruction or effects that restrict the use of specific types of lands can prove effective. Incorporating cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can thwart your opponent’s land strategy, potentially setting their game plan back. Also consider utilizing counter spells to nullify the scry ability of the Temple, preventing your opponent from smoothing out their draws.
A successful strategy against the Temple of Enlightenment hinges on understanding that while it offers a slight delay due to its entering tapped, an opponent’s deck might be dependent on its scry ability for consistency. Thus, planning around disrupting or accelerating your own plays to exploit this could be key in outmaneuvering decks that include this card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Temple of Enlightenment MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Born of the Gods, 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 Temple of Enlightenment 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 Temple of Enlightenment Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2014-02-07 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 79871 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | ||
| 2 | 2014-02-07 | Born of the Gods | BNG | 163 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 246 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 4 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death Promos | PTHB | 246p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 5 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death Promos | PTHB | 246s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 6 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 349 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 7 | 2021-11-19 | Crimson Vow Commander | VOC | 185 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 8 | 2022-02-18 | Neon Dynasty Commander | NEC | 180 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 9 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 206 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 10 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 432 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 11 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 1041 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 12 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 1116 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Devine | |
| 13 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 906 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Devine | |
| 14 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 525 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Devine | |
| 15 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 315 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Devine | |
| 16 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 302 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Piotr Dura | |
| 17 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 832 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arthur Yuan | |
| 18 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 518 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arthur Yuan | |
| 19 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 1046 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arthur Yuan | |
| 20 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 304 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arthur Yuan | |
| 21 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 386 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Temple of Enlightenment has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Temple of Enlightenment card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-15 | Scry appears on some spells and abilities with one or more targets. If all of the spell or ability's targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't scry. |
| 2013-09-15 | When you scry, you may put all the cards you look at back on top of your library, you may put all of those cards on the bottom of your library, or you may put some of those cards on top and the rest of them on the bottom. |
| 2013-09-15 | You choose how to order cards returned to your library after scrying no matter where you put them. |
| 2013-09-15 | You perform the actions stated on a card in sequence. For some spells and abilities, that means you'll scry last. For others, that means you'll scry and then perform other actions. |