Parapet MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Visions
Set code	VIS
Number	14
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Poole

Key Takeaways

Parapet’s instant speed activation enhances flexibility and reactive defensive capabilities.
It may require a card discard, presenting strategic gameplay trade-offs.
Parapet’s defensive utility offsets aggressive strategies, stabilizing board presence.

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

You may choose to play Parapet as an instant; if you do, bury it at end of turn. All creatures you control get +0/+1.

There is no wall that can't be improved by making it taller.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Parapet ensures you maintain a steady flow of defense options. While it doesn’t draw cards outright, its persistent presence provides a strategic advantage, much like having an extra card in your hand every turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although Parapet itself isn’t a source of mana, it fortifies your battlefield, allowing other resources to be allocated to more aggressive strategies or to build up your mana base without the immediate need for further defensive spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Parapet’s effect at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions. This can be pivotal in shielding key creatures or yourself from unexpected threats during your opponent’s turn, without having to commit to a defensive stance during your own turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to this card is the necessity to discard another card from your hand to initiate its ability. This can disrupt your gameplay, especially if your hand is already depleted or if you’re holding onto key cards for later strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The card has a specific mana requirement that may not seamlessly fit into all deck types. Players utilizing multicolored decks may find the mana cost restrictive, limiting the card’s versatility and potentially making it a dead draw in situations where the requisite mana isn’t available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to resource investment, the mana cost for activating the abilities of Parapet may be on the higher side compared to other options in the game. This can lead to inefficiencies in mana usage, as players might be able to cast more impactful spells or summon more influential creatures with the same amount of resources.

Reasons to Include Parapet in Your Collection

Versatility: Parapet offers a range of defensive capabilities, making it a solid inclusion in decks that aim to fortify their defenses and protect valuable planeswalkers or other key permanents on the field.

Combo Potential: As a card that can influence board stability, Parapet works well with strategies that revolve around delaying the game, setting up for big plays, or controlling the pace at which your opponents can deal damage.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies prevail, Parapet can be a crucial part of your deck, helping to offset the tempo of rush decks and providing the necessary staying power to reach your late-game win conditions.

How to beat

The Parapet card introduces a reliable defensive option for deck builders in MTG. Its primary function is to serve as an additional layer of fortification, complementing creatures with high toughness. However, even the sturdiest walls have their weaknesses, and overcoming Parapet requires tactical play and the right strategies.

To effectively tackle this obstacle, consider using removal spells that can bypass its defensive stature. Direct destruction spells like Murder or Doom Blade can swiftly eliminate the obstruction without engaging in combat. For a more universal approach, cards that target nonland permanents or provide -X/-X effects, such as Maelstrom Pulse or Dismember, can effectively clear any stalwart defenders including Parapet. Additionally, spells that force players to sacrifice defending permanents can prove to be invaluable, as they negate strategies heavily reliant on individual walls or creatures.

In essence, overcoming a Parapet card’s defense is about finding the right balance between aggression and resource management. Incorporating flexible removal options in your deck ensures that you stay ahead of defensive strategies, maintaining the tempo and progressing toward victory.

Cards like Parapet

Parapet stands out as a defensive structure within MTG, offering up interesting parallels and contrasts when compared with other defensive cards. One card that comes to mind is Wall of Omens, which also provides a barrier against attackers. While Wall of Omens has the advantage of drawing a card upon entry, Parapet maintains a strong defense without providing card advantage.

Another card worth mentioning is Fog Bank, which offers an impressive resistance by negating all damage that would be dealt to it in combat. Unlike Parapet, Fog Bank can completely neutralize high-power threats, although it does not contribute to your own offensive tactics. Then there’s Guard Gomazoa, which shares the damage prevention aspect with Fog Bank and also cannot be destroyed by lethal damage in combat, further enhancing its defensive role.

Assessing the defensive capabilities and strategic placement in one’s deck, Parapet offers a stalwart defensive position but lacks the card draw or total damage immunity seen in some of its peers. Its resilience and strategic utility for certain build types help it to stand as a reliable, if unremarkable, element in Magic: The Gathering’s array of defending cards.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Parapet MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Parapet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Parapet has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Parapet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	The sacrifice occurs only if you cast it using its own ability. If you cast it using some other effect (for instance, if it gained flash from Vedalken Orrery), then it won’t be sacrificed.