Orim's Touch MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Kicker
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Number	23
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Roger Raupp

Key Takeaways

Orim’s Touch can foil an opponent’s plans with its instant speed and does not deplete your card hand.
A white mana color focus and discard requirement limit its flexibility in multi-colored or resource-rich decks.
This card’s potential for protection and combo plays make it a versatile asset, especially in aggressive metas.

Text of card

Kicker o1 (You may pay an additional o1 as you play this spell.) Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn. If you paid the kicker cost, prevent the next 4 damage that would be dealt to that creature or player this turn instead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Orim’s Touch shines by potentially neutralizing a threat without costing you a card. It essentially saves a creature from damage, bolstering your defensive options and maintaining your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not typically known for resource acceleration, Orim’s Touch maximizes your mana efficiency by enabling you to protect key creatures at a very low mana cost. This efficient use of resources can be pivotal in staying ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Orim’s Touch lies in its timing. Acting at instant speed allows you to respond adeptly to your opponent’s actions, keeping them guessing whether you have the means to thwart their attacks or surprise them during combat phases.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Orim’s Touch requires you to discard another card to utilize its effect. This can potentially hinder your hand advantage, especially when you’re in need of maintaining a variety of options during gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: The card has a color-intensive mana cost, which includes white mana. This may not align well with multicolor decks that are not heavily white-oriented, potentially causing a stumble in your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Orim’s Touch may appear steep for its immediate impact on the game. Players often prefer lower cost alternatives for prevention effects, leaving this card outshine by others that provide more versatile or powerful utilities for the same or lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Orim’s Touch shines across multiple deck types due to its ability to offer targeted protection. It’s especially potent in decks that aim to shield key creatures or preserve life totals during crucial turns.

Combo Potential: This card opens up the floor to synergies with abilities that are triggered by the casting of spells, or that relate to life gain, enabling a variety of combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with aggressive decks, Orim’s Touch becomes an essential tool for fending off early threats and maintaining stability until you can execute your win conditions.

How to beat Orim’s Touch

Orim’s Touch stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an effective damage prevention spell. It’s akin to other spells like Healing Salve, which offers a similar protective ability to shield creatures or players from harm. Yet, Orim’s Touch is distinct due to its buyback cost, allowing players to reuse it multiple times throughout the game.

Conversely, when facing Orim’s Touch, one might consider disruption strategies. Cards like Spell Pierce or Duress can efficiently handle it by either countering or forcing a discard before it becomes an enduring problem on the board. Additionally, employing spells that grant hexproof or shroud can render Orim’s Touch ineffective, as it requires a target to function.

To summarize, while Orim’s Touch can provide a consistent safety net, its impact can be mitigated. Implementing precise disruption or protection strategies can neutralize its advantages, maintaining the pacing of your strategy without the obstacle of repeated damage prevention.

Cards like Orim's Touch

Orim’s Touch is a distinctive protective spell in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to healing or damage prevention spells such as Heal, which also serves as a quick fix to prevent damage. Orim’s Touch stands out with its ability to prevent damage to a creature or player, a trait shared with spells like Righteous Aura. However, contrast to Righteous Aura’s mana cost and upkeep, Orim’s Touch is more flexible with its lower mana requirement and instant speed.

Exploring further, Benevolent Unicorn is another comparison point, offering a repeatable effect of damage reduction. While this unicorn provides a continuous benefit, Orim’s Touch shines with its one-time, targeted protection that can be pivotal during a key turn or combat phase. Faith’s Shield is one more relevant comparison. This spell can provide protection based on the faith counter, potentially shielding more than Orim’s Touch, yet lacking the simplicity and direct application of Orim’s instant spell.

To encapsulate, Orim’s Touch finds its niche within MTG as a swift and practical tool to safeguard players and creatures in critical moments. Its efficacy in specific scenarios provides it with a noteworthy spot amongst similar spells offering protective measures.

Cards similar to Orim's Touch by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Orim's Touch MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Orim's Touch and other MTG cards: