Veil of Secrecy MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Instant — Arcane |
Abilities | Splice |
Released | 2005-02-04 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Betrayers of Kamigawa |
Set code | BOK |
Number | 59 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Arnie Swekel |
Text of card
Target creature is unblockable and can't be the target of spells or abilities this turn. Splice onto Arcane— Return a blue creature you control to its owner's hand. (As you play an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)
Cards like Veil of Secrecy
Veil of Secrecy stands out in the family of protector spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares common ground with cards like Mizzium Skin that also provide a measure of defense against targeted spells or abilities. What differentiates Veil of Secrecy is the addition of the “Ninjutsu” mechanic, which not only saves a creature from being targeted but can also set the stage for a sneak attack.
Looking at other similar options, there’s Apostle’s Blessing, giving either protection from colors or artifacts. While Veil of Secrecy offers Shroud until end of turn, Apostle’s Blessing requires a definition of what is being protected from, yet it brings more versatility in circumventing a wider range of obstacles. Then we encounter Turn Aside, an efficient one-mana spell that counters any spell targeting a creature or artifact. Turn Aside doesn’t offer the unblockable trait that comes with Veil of Secrecy—a significant advantage when ensuring that critical combat damage goes through.
When considering the utility and potential craftiness that Veil of Secrecy brings to the table, it can be a sneaky addition to decks, especially where surprise tactics and timing are key to victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Veil of Secrecy by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Veil of Secrecy can be a valuable asset in stealth strategy decks, enabling you to protect key creatures from targeted spells while subtly setting up potential combos. By returning it to your hand with its splice onto arcane ability, you can consistently make your creatures elusive to your opponent’s removal, all while maintaining your hand size.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resource acceleration, the ability to protect your mana-efficient creatures with Veil of Secrecy ensures that your resources remain on the board and available for further plays. This saves mana in the long term as you won’t have to recast creatures as often after they’re targeted.
Instant Speed: The card’s instant speed gives you flexibility, allowing you to wait until the optimal moment to cast it. Whether it’s during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, this speed helps you to better manage your mana and strategize your plays, keeping your opponents guessing and your creatures safe.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Veil of Secrecy asks a player to have a creature card to target, potentially limiting its utility if the field is empty or creature count is low.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost requires blue mana, making it potentially restrictive outside of mono-blue or two-color decks with a blue component.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a single-target protection effect, the one blue mana and one generic mana can feel steep, especially when you can’t guarantee the outcome or strategic advantage of the momentary protection it offers.
Reasons to Include Veil of Secrecy in Your Collection
Versatility: Veil of Secrecy serves as a flexible addition to any deck keen on protecting its key creatures. The ability to grant shroud temporarily thwarts targeted removals and can be pivotal during critical turns.
Combo Potential: Leveraging its arcane subtype, Veil of Secrecy can be seamlessly integrated into spell-based combo decks. This can especially enhance strategies that revolve around instants and sorceries or casting multiple spells in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where control decks and spot removal are prevalent, having Veil of Secrecy can help you maintain board presence and keep your important creatures in play, potentially changing the course of the match.
How to beat Veil of Secrecy
Veil of Secrecy stands out in MTG gameplay by bestowing shroud and unblockability on a creature for a turn. The challenge it poses is significant due to its ability to not only protect a critical creature from targeted spells but also to allow it to slip through defenses unscathed. To counteract this, focus on using board wipes or global removals that don’t target individual creatures, such as Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict, which can clear the board without having to target. Alternatively, anticipate its casting by holding counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, which can effectively prevent Veil of Secrecy from resolving and upending your strategy. Control decks that can limit hand sizes will also reduce the opponent’s ability to harness the card to its full potential, indirectly countering the threat by addressing the hand that wields it. Moreover, creatures with reach or those who can block multiple attackers provide a more proactive line of defense against creatures emboldened by Veil of Secrecy’s temporary but potent effects.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Veil of Secrecy MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Veil of Secrecy 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 Veil of Secrecy has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Veil of Secrecy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2013-06-07 | A card with a splice ability can’t be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it. |
2013-06-07 | If all of the spell’s targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. |
2013-06-07 | You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word “target” on the resulting spell. |
2013-06-07 | You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell. |