Shapers' Sanctuary MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Shapers’ Sanctuary refills your hand, balancing the loss from targeted creature spells or abilities.
  2. Instant-speed play allows dynamic responses within your game, fitting various strategies.
  3. Mana cost and conditions limit usage, making it more suitable for creature-centered green decks.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may draw a card.

Protection is woven into every vine and branch.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shapers’ Sanctuary offers constant potential for card draw each time a creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls. This means that in decks with numerous creatures, it can lead to significant card advantage over the course of a game, keeping your hand replenished.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Shapers’ Sanctuary accelerates your resources by effectively replacing creatures that have become removal targets. This maintains your board presence and can deter opponents from targeting your creatures, indirectly preserving your mana and spells for more aggressive tactics.

Instant Speed: One of the key advantages of Shapers’ Sanctuary is its ability to be played at instant speed, allowing you to respond to threats or actions from your opponent immediately. It seamlessly integrates into your game plan, enabling you to adapt and benefit from any target spells or abilities during either player’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks for Shapers’ Sanctuary is that its trigger requires that your creatures be targeted by spells or abilities an opponent controls. This conditional requirement means that in games where your creatures aren’t the focus of opposing interactions, the card’s ability may remain dormant, rendering it a less efficient inclusion in your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Shapers’ Sanctuary has a specific mana cost that requires green mana. This can be restrictive as it demands green mana sources in your deck, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to decks that are centered around green or have a sufficient number of green mana sources to guarantee its early game playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Shapers’ Sanctuary is not highly expensive, with a single green mana cost, it competes with other one-mana green spells that might offer more immediate board impact or protection. Players may prefer other mana-efficient options that influence the board state directly rather than a conditional draw engine which may not always provide value.


Reasons to Include Shapers’ Sanctuary in Your Collection

Versatility: Shapers’ Sanctuary offers a unique ability in green decks that typically struggle with card draw. It’s a one-mana enchantment that allows you to draw a card whenever a creature you control becomes the target of an opponent’s spell or ability, making it a useful tool against removal-heavy decks.

Combo Potential: This card shines in creature-heavy decks that bait removal. Each time one of your creatures becomes a target, you are essentially replacing it with another card in hand, keeping your resources flowing and enabling combos with the new draws.

Meta-Relevance: In the current MTG gameplay where interaction is key, Shapers’ Sanctuary is a potent addition. It deters opponents from targeting your creatures and can significantly alter their strategy, providing you an edge in creature-centric matchups.


How to beat

Shapers’ Sanctuary is a unique green enchantment that rewards players whenever a creature they control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls by letting them draw a card. Though it appears daunting, countering this card’s benefits is not insurmountable. Removing it directly with enchantment destruction, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, is the most straightforward method. These spells can be deployed quickly before the card advantage becomes overwhelming.

An alternative strategy is to avoid targeting your opponent’s creatures directly with spells or abilities. Instead, opt to leverage board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God, which clear the board without targeting individual creatures and thus don’t trigger Shapers’ Sanctuary’s effect. Another effective tactic is to use cards that apply global effects that don’t target, such as Cursed Totem, which shuts down activated abilities without triggering the Sanctuary.

These approaches ensure that the presence of Shapers’ Sanctuary on the battlefield doesn’t translate into a substantial advantage for your opponent. By carefully navigating around its mechanics or addressing it swiftly with removal, you can mitigate its impact and maintain a competitive stance in your game.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re on the hunt for ways to keep your hand flush with options and your opponents second-guessing their every move, Shapers’ Sanctuary could be the jewel to crown your green-centric deck. As you’ve seen, it can effortlessly turn your opponent’s maneuvers into your gain, refueling your hand with each targeted creature. Yet, it pays to ponder when and where to weave it into your strategy to extract its maximum value. Whether countering removal-heavy opponents or harnessing its trigger for combo plays, consider your metagame and deck composition carefully. Hungry for more insights and in-depth MTG tactics? Embark on the path to deeper knowledge and enhance your collection with informed picks right here with us.


Cards like Shapers' Sanctuary

Shapers’ Sanctuary is a unique enchantment in Magic the Gathering that offers considerable advantage when it comes to protecting your creatures on the battlefield. Comparable to this card are options such as Heroic Intervention, which also provides a form of defense by granting your creatures indestructible. While Heroic Intervention applies a temporary shield during the heat of combat, Shapers’ Sanctuary offers a longer-term benefit by drawing you a card whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls.

Another card worth mentioning is Blossoming Defense, which serves as a single-use protective measure, giving a creature not just hexproof, but also a minor boost in strength. Both Blossoming Defense and Heroic Intervention are instant, allowing reactive play, whereas Shapers’ Sanctuary stays in play, continually triggering its effect under the right circumstances. Additionally, Asceticism offers a similar recurring protectiveness but provides hexproof to all creatures and has the added perk of regeneration abilities, although at a significantly higher mana cost.

All in all, MTG players who want to safeguard their creatures have a few interesting choices. Shapers’ Sanctuary stands out by providing continuous card advantage as a deterrent to opponents considering targeting your creatures, marking its place as a valuable inclusion for creature-centered strategies in Magic the Gathering.

Heroic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions
Asceticism - MTG Card versions
Heroic Intervention - Aether Revolt (AER)
Blossoming Defense - Kaladesh (KLD)
Asceticism - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Shapers' Sanctuary by color, type and mana cost

Web - MTG Card versions
Living Artifact - MTG Card versions
Fastbond - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions
Instill Energy - MTG Card versions
Cocoon - MTG Card versions
Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Elven Fortress - MTG Card versions
Earthlore - MTG Card versions
Revelation - MTG Card versions
Carapace - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Woods - MTG Card versions
Mortal Wound - MTG Card versions
Spider Climb - MTG Card versions
Elephant Grass - MTG Card versions
Storm Front - MTG Card versions
Bequeathal - MTG Card versions
Elven Palisade - MTG Card versions
Hidden Spider - MTG Card versions
Carpet of Flowers - MTG Card versions
Web - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Living Artifact - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Fastbond - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Wild Growth - Fallout (PIP)
Instill Energy - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Cocoon - Legends (LEG)
Concordant Crossroads - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Elven Fortress - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Earthlore - Ice Age (ICE)
Revelation - Chronicles (CHR)
Carapace - Homelands (HML)
Gift of the Woods - Alliances (ALL)
Mortal Wound - Visions (VIS)
Spider Climb - Visions (VIS)
Elephant Grass - Visions (VIS)
Storm Front - Tempest (TMP)
Bequeathal - Exodus (EXO)
Elven Palisade - Exodus (EXO)
Hidden Spider - Urza's Saga (USG)
Carpet of Flowers - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shapers' Sanctuary MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan Promos and Ixalan Promos, 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 Shapers' Sanctuary and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shapers' Sanctuary Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2017-09-29. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 206s2015normalblackZezhou Chen
22017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 206p2015normalblackZezhou Chen
32017-09-29IxalanXLN 2062015normalblackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shapers' Sanctuary has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-09-29 Players can cast spells and activate abilities after the triggered ability of Shapers’ Sanctuary resolves but before the spell or ability that caused it to trigger does. Notably, the card you draw may be able to counter that spell or ability.
2017-09-29 The triggered ability of Shapers’ Sanctuary resolves before the spell or ability that caused it to trigger.

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