Whitesun's Passage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	27
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Avon

Key Takeaways

Instants like Whitesun’s Passage can disrupt opponents by negating their damage with life gain.
It synergizes with life-triggered effects for powerful combinations during gameplay.
Consider deck strategy as it occupies valuable space without drawing cards.

Text of card

You gain 5 life.

All over the Razor Fields, Whitesun is celebrated. Even the followers of the rebel Juryan, far from the Cave of Light, bow their heads in reverence.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whitesun’s Passage provides an immediate life boost, which can be especially relevant in games where maintaining a high life total is pivotal. Although it doesn’t draw you cards directly, the life gain can offer indirect card advantage by negating the damage (and therefore the card value) your opponent has generated.

Resource Acceleration: While Whitesun’s Passage doesn’t offer traditional mana acceleration, it’s a low-cost spell that can fit into your curve effortlessly. Playing this card during critical moments can effectively save resources such as creatures that would need to block or allow for a setup for subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed is where Whitesun’s Passage shines. You can strategically time your life gain, potentially saving a creature from burn spells or turning the tides in combat. Instant speed also means you can keep mana open to respond to your opponent’s threats, utilizing Whitesun’s Passage when it can have the most impact.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Whitesun’s Passage requires a specific white mana to play, which can be restrictive if your deck isn’t heavily invested in white mana or if you’re up against mana-color fixing issues during gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost for Whitesun’s Passage isn’t exorbitant, it does cost two mana for a single effect that gains you life. In comparison to other cards with life gain abilities, the cost-effectiveness of Whitesun’s Passage may not be optimal, especially when you’re trying to maintain momentum and board presence.

Discard Requirement: Although Whitesun’s Passage does not have a discard requirement itself, it’s important to note that including it in your deck could displace other key cards. Because deck space is limited, every card choice counts, and one that only offers life gain might necessitate discarding another card that provides a more critical functionality.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The lifegain from Whitesun’s Passage can be a simple yet effective inclusion in decks that thrive on maintaining a high life total. Its low mana cost makes it easy to fit into a variety of turns without disrupting your game plan.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that trigger effects whenever you gain life, Whitesun’s Passage can serve as a catalyst for potent synergies, turning a modest life boost into a formidable advantage.

Meta-Relevance: Against fast, aggressive decks aiming to reduce your life quickly, this card acts as a timely buffer, giving you those crucial extra points of life that could mean the difference between a loss and a comeback victory.

How to Beat

Whitesun’s Passage presents itself as a life-gaining spell that can sometimes disrupt an opponent’s strategy in Magic: The Gathering. At first glance, a spell that grants a player 5 life seems quite simple, but in the game’s complex landscape, every point of life can be crucial for survival against aggressive decks. Understanding the ins and outs of how to navigate around Whitesun’s Passage’s life buffer can provide players with an edge.

One way to mitigate the impact of this life-gain spell is by employing strategies that aren’t solely reliant on dealing 20 damage to the opponent. For example, using cards that force the opponent to draw from an empty library or deploying “mill” cards can be effective. Additionally, including cards with the infect mechanic, which focus on accumulating poison counters instead of traditional damage, can bypass life total entirely.

Diversifying your threats is also key. Deck builders might consider an array of direct damage spells, creatures with evasive capabilities, and cards that can respond to life-gain triggers. In essence, life-gain spells like Whitesun’s Passage can be overcome through a comprehensive strategy that accounts for alternative win conditions and versatile gameplay approaches.

Cards like Whitesun's Passage

Whitesun’s Passage is a unique spell in the Magic: The Gathering realm with life-gaining potential. It stands in comparison with cards like Rest for the Weary, which also offers a life boost, granting a player twice the life points under landfall conditions. Whitesun’s Passage provides a straight gain of 5 life, distinct from Rest for the Weary, where the landfall is a variable catalyst.

Another lifegain contender is Revitalize, which not only increases life by three but allows for a card draw, favoring those seeking to replenish their hand while bolstering their life total. Sunspear Shikari, while not a direct lifegain card, awards life through lifelink, a conditional ability requiring it to deal combat damage to be effective. Whitesun’s Passage guarantees an immediate and unconditional life increase, which can be critical in maintaining a lead or surviving an opponent’s onslaught.

Each of these cards targets life restoration, yet they cater to different strategies within the game. Whitesun’s Passage, with its straightforward approach, offers players a reliable surge in life total, complementing a deck focused on longevity and defense in Magic: The Gathering’s intricate dance of survival and strategy.

Cards similar to Whitesun's Passage by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whitesun's Passage MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Whitesun's Passage and other MTG cards: