View from Above MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2009-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conflux |
| Set code | CON |
| Number | 38 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Howard Lyon |
Text of card
Target creature gains flying until end of turn. If you control a white permanent, return View from Above to its owner's hand.
"This air feels so heavy and thick. There are no winds to speak of. I fear the knowledge that comes from a place like this."
Cards like View from Above
View from Above is a unique spell from the world of MTG that resonates with players who enjoy wielding the power of flying creatures. This card shares a thematic link with other spells that bolster aerial assault, such as Jump, which also provides a temporary flying ability. However, View from Above stands out due to its potential reuse when controlling a white permanent, lending it a strategic edge in certain decks focused on flying synergies.
Wings of Hubris is another card that gifts flight to a creature, but unlike View from Above, it’s an artifact with a one-time use. Furthermore, View from Above dovetails nicely with spells like Skyblinder Staff, which not only offers flying but also makes it harder for creatures to block the enchanted flyer. Skyblinder Staff, though potent, lacks the recurring mechanism inherent to View from Above when synergizing with white permanents.
Analyzing these various enchantments and artifacts reveals that View from Above, while not as immediately impactful as some of its counterparts, provides potential for repeated utility in the right deck – a trait that savvy MTG players can exploit to claim the skies in their favor.
Cards similar to View from Above by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The View from Above card gives you the potential to repeatedly gain card advantage if you control a white or blue Wizard. This repeatable process can provide a significant edge over your opponent by ensuring a steady flow of card utility.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or resources, View from Above can accelerate your game plan by ensuring that your key creatures remain available for crucial plays. This can indirectly increase your resource efficiency by avoiding the need to recast creatures.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast View from Above at instant speed offers flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment or to respond to your opponent’s actions. This can be especially powerful during the combat phase or in response to removal spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: View from Above necessitates returning a white creature you control to your hand, which can set back your board presence significantly, especially if you’re relying on that creature for defense or an ongoing effect.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of View from Above is exclusively white and blue mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to only Azorius or similar control-based decks and limiting its utility in more varied mana-base builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an effect that grants flying and potentially recasting capability, its two mana requirement may be seen as steep when compared to other cards that provide flying at a lower cost or without an additional condition.
Reasons to Include View from Above in Your Collection
Versatility: View from Above is not restricted to a single deck archetype. It is a great inclusion in decks that focus on flyers or spell synergy, as it allows creatures to gain flying until end of turn, multiple times if you control a white permanent.
Combo Potential: This card opens the door to numerous combo possibilities. It can be used in conjunction with cards that benefit from casting multiple spells in a single turn or from creatures attacking with flying. Repeatable casting can lead to significant value over the course of a game.
Meta-Relevance: With flying being a less commonly blocked form of evasion, View from Above can be particularly effective in metas where ground defense is prioritized. Furthermore, its ability to be reused if you have the right board state can give it a recurring role in matches, making it a consistent threat.
How to beat
View from Above is a card that can be a thorn in the side of many players due to its ability to repeatedly provide flying to a targeted creature as long as you control a white or blue creature. This declarative recourse can create an advantageous position in aerial combat and prolong the battle in your opponent’s favor.
To effectively counter View from Above, priority should be given to removal spells that can target a range of permanents. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can manage the creatures you face, thereby nullifying the reusable nature of View from Above. Another strategy involves using countermagic like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to directly counter the spell, stopping the repetitive flying effect it could provide.
It’s beneficial to constantly monitor the board state and keep removal or counter options at the ready, especially when your opponent banks on synergy-driven cards like View from Above. Negating their strategy early keeps you firmly in control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase View from Above MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 View from Above 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 View from Above has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering View from Above card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | If View from Above doesn’t resolve for any reason (for example, if its target has become illegal), none of its effects happen. It will be put into your graveyard as normal. |
| 2009-02-01 | If you control a white permanent, View from Above moves from the stack to your hand as part of its resolution. It never hits the graveyard. If you don’t control a white permanent, View from Above is put into the graveyard from the stack as normal. |
| 2009-02-01 | This checks the colors of permanents you control as it resolves. |