Glarecaster MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Bird Cleric
Abilities	Flying
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	30
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Frazier

Key Takeaways

Glarecaster’s instant speed ability allows for surprise damage redirection, impacting opponents’ decisions.
High mana cost is balanced by its potential to change the tide of combat in your favor.
Redirection effect creates unique board control, making Glarecaster a valuable addition to specific strategies.

Text of card

Flying o5o W: The next time damage would be dealt to Glarecaster or you this turn, that damage is dealt to target creature or player instead.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Glarecaster’s ability to redirect damage can effectively neutralize an opponent’s direct damage spells, potentially saving your creatures or planeswalkers from being destroyed. This tactical flexibility ensures you maintain your board presence while potentially causing your opponent to waste resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Glarecaster itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its high mana cost of six is a nod to its potent and game-changing ability. In the right deck, its presence can deter opponents from committing to certain plays, indirectly influencing the pace of the game to your advantage.

Instant Speed: The key strength of Glarecaster is the ability to use its effect at instant speed. This allows players to wait until the most impactful moment to redirect damage, be it from spells or combat. The threat of activation alone can significantly alter your opponent’s strategy, potentially leading to a more favorable board state for the Glarecaster controller.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Glarecaster’s activation demanding the discard of a card, players might find themselves at a disadvantage when their hand is already depleting, potentially compromising their position in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Glarecaster’s casting cost includes white mana, which could be restrictive for multi-color decks not heavily invested in white. This mana requirement potentially limits its inclusion to mainly white or white-centric decks, thereby reducing its overall versatility in the MTG multiverse.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six-mana cost to cast Glarecaster is on the higher end for creature cards. When considering its ability cost, the overall investment might outweigh the benefits when compared to other creatures that could provide more value or have a lower threshold to become impactful in a match.

Reasons to Include Glarecaster in Your Collection

Versatility: Glarecaster offers a unique defensive flexibility that can turn the tides during combat. Its ability to redirect damage can be applied in various situations, making it a utility player in both casual and competitive formats.

Combo Potential: This card can become a cornerstone in combos that focus on preventing or manipulating damage. It works well with cards that protect your life total or with effects that encourage opponents to attack you. This opens up opportunities to outmaneuver your opponent strategically.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with direct damage spells or creatures with impactful attack triggers, Glarecaster’s ability to redirect damage back to the opponent or their creatures can be unexpectedly impactful, helping to maintain board control while potentially dissuading opponents from aggressive tactics.

How to beat

The Glarecaster, with its ability to redirect damage, offers a strategic edge in MTG battles. This unique feature allows players to alter the course of combat, prioritizing protection and survival. To circumvent the Glarecaster’s defenses, one must neutralize its presence swiftly and surely. Utilizing removal spells like Murder or Path to Exile can ensure the Glarecaster is effectively dealt with before its ability becomes a game changer.

Another effective technique is to exhaust the resources necessary for its ability activation. Strategies that limit mana accessibility can hinder a player’s capability to utilize the Glarecaster’s potential fully. On the other hand, spells that prevent abilities from triggering, such as Pithing Needle or Sorcerous Spyglass, can seal its abilities, negating its effect on the game. Therefore, understanding and anticipating the Glarecaster’s influence on the battlefield is paramount to maintaining control and eventually overcoming this formidable card.

Ultimately, by prioritizing the removal of key creatures and disrupting the opponents’ mana base or ability activations, players can mitigate the threat posed by the Glarecaster. This approach can shift the momentum in your favor, paving the way for victory in your MTG matchups.

Cards like Glarecaster

Glarecaster stands as an intriguing creature within Magic: The Gathering, sharing space with other high-impact flyers such as Stormscape Battlemaster. Glarecaster’s distinct ability to redirect damage to any target provides a unique defensive tactic, whereas, Stormscape Battlemaster emphasizes more on aggressive strategies by buffing other creatures.

At the same comparison table, we have Radiant, Archangel. Unlike Glarecaster, which has a specific ability-oriented toward control, Radiant accentuates a growing threat based on other flyers in play, rewarding players for a wide board state. Additionally, Empyrial Archangel offers a slightly different take on protection, presenting a robust shield with its all-encompassing shroud and damage absorption.

The consideration for including Glarecaster in your deck hinges on its versatile damage redirection, standing as a formidable foe on the board with the capability to deter opponents’ targeting strategies. Its place in the pantheon of MTG flying creatures is cemented by its ability to outmaneuver opponents’ direct threats while offering an unexpected angle of control.

Cards similar to Glarecaster by color, type and mana cost

Personal Incarnation - MTG Card versions

Archon of Coronation - MTG Card versions

Crovax, Ascendant Hero - MTG Card versions

Spirit of the Hearth - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glarecaster has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If both you and this card would be dealt damage at the same time, or if either you or this card would be dealt damage from multiple sources at the same time, the redirection will apply to both chunks of damage.