Paraselene MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Number	26
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ryan Yee

Key Takeaways

Paraselene excels at removing multiple enchantments, disrupting opponents while sparing your board.
Resource advantage gained indirectly as opponents spend more to rebuild their board.
Operates at sorcery speed, allowing precise spell sequencing and tactical planning.

Text of card

Destroy all enchantments. You gain 1 life for each enchantment destroyed this way.

"Moonlight has a way of showing all things as they truly are—for better or for worse." —Zilla of Lambholt

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Paraselene shines in its ability to dismantle enchantments, clearing the battlefield of multiple threats with a single card. This can significantly disrupt opponents’ strategies while potentially leaving your own board state unaffected. It’s an effective way to swing the momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Paraselene itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly aid your strategy by removing costly enchantments. This levels the playing field and may force your opponents to invest more resources into re-establishing their board presence, granting you a resource advantage in the longer term.

Instant Speed: Paraselene is an enchantment that operates at sorcery speed, thus it influences gameplay by allowing you to strategically plan your turn without the need to keep mana reserved for reactive plays. This informs your tactical decisions, providing a clear path for the sequencing of spells during your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Paraselene demands that you discard a card to harness its effect. This could prove to be a setback when your hand is already depleted, turning a potential game-changer into a painful sacrifice.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost is locked into a very specific mana combination. Requiring a mix of white and generic mana, this spell may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t prioritize white mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at the higher end of the spectrum, Paraselene faces stiff competition from other removal options. Its utility may be overshadowed by spells offering similar effects at a lower cost, affecting its inclusion in optimized decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Paraselene offers flexibility as it fits into a plethora of decks that seek to manage enchantments. It’s particularly effective in formats where enchantments are prevalent, clearing multiple threats or exiting lockdowns in a single sweep.

Combo Potential: Beyond its obvious use in enchantment-heavy metas, Paraselene can combo with strategies that gain benefits from enchantment removal or graveyard play. By wiping the board of enchantments, it can be a setup for graveyard recursion or enable prowess-like mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where enchantment-based decks are prominent, Paraselene gains additional importance. It can serve as a powerful sideboard card or even main-deck inclusion to neutralize enchantment-themed opponents, keeping your deck competitive and adaptive.

How to beat

Paraselene is one of those cards that can influence the battlefield dramatically, especially if you’re facing an opponent harnessing the power of enchantments. In the world of Magic: The Gathering, this sorcery card shines bright when it sweeps away multiple enchantments, simultaneously weakening your adversary and potentially clearing the path for your victory. In a meta where enchantments are key, Paraselene can tilt the balance in a game.

To effectively counteract Paraselene, smart deck building is essential. Cards that offer indestructibility, like Avacyn, Angel of Hope, ensure your enchantments remain on the battlefield even after Paraselene resolves. Utilizing instant-speed enchantments that can be played in response to Paraselene, such as Blossoming Defense, can also provide your key permanents with a shield against this cleansing wave. Another strategy is to leverage the graveyard, using mechanics like reanimation, which can quickly bring your enchantments back into play, diminishing Paraselene’s impact.

Understanding how Paraselene works gives players an upper hand in both preparation and during gameplay. By anticipating it and adapting your tactics, you can ensure your strategy remains unhampered by this potent enchantment-removal card, maintaining the integrity of your deck’s synergy and strength.

Cards like Paraselene

Paraselene shines in the realm of enchantment removal within Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique twist on a common effect. When examining similar MTG cards, one can draw parallels to Tranquility, a classic card with a similar effect: it destroys all enchantments on the field. Paraselene extends this by rewarding players with life gain for each enchantment destroyed, providing not just a clean slate but also a potential for a significant life boost.

Another card worth considering is Back to Nature, which has an edge in mana efficiency costing only two mana for a broad sweep of enchantments. Although it doesn’t offer life gain, its lower cost and instant speed make it a formidable option in faster-paced decks. Then there’s Fracturing Gust, a powerful contender that both destroys enchantments and artifacts while providing life gain. However, it demands five mana and sits at a higher slot on the mana curve compared to Paraselene. This can be pivotal in games where timing is crucial.

Deciding which card to include depends on the strategy and pace of your deck. Yet, with its balance between effect and reward, Paraselene is a card that holds its ground, especially when enchantment-heavy metagames arise, making it a wise choice for life-gain decks in MTG.

Cards similar to Paraselene by color, type and mana cost

Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions

Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions

Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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