Authority of the Consuls MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Authority of the Consuls enhances defense by granting life and hindering opponent creature plays.
  2. It offers utility across various deck types and shines against creature-heavy strategies.
  3. Strategies to overcome it include instant-speed removal, counterspells, and adaptive play.

Text of card

Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped. Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you gain 1 life.

Citizens are free to do as they wish, within the confines of the Consulate's laws.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Authority of the Consuls provides a subtle yet sustainable card advantage by passively deterring opponents from casting creatures due to the tap effect, potentially stranding cards in their hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, the life gain aspect of Authority of the Consuls can be considered a form of defensive resource acceleration, giving you more turns and effectively ‘more life’ to utilize your resources.

Instant Speed: Although Authority of the Consuls is not an instant itself, its continual effect round the clock simulates an instant-like readiness, impacting creatures as soon as they enter the battlefield and providing benefits from the moment it’s played.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Authority of the Consuls requires a strictly white mana to cast, potentially restricting its integration in multicolored or colorless decks. Players must account for this when building their mana base, ensuring they have the necessary resources to cast it when needed.

Discard Requirement: While Authority of the Consuls itself does not necessitate discarding cards, its presence in your hand could compel you to discard other valuable cards if faced with an opponent’s hand disruption strategy. This can force difficult decisions and possibly diminish your hand’s overall potential.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its relatively low casting cost of one white mana, in the fast-paced environment of some MTG formats, even a single mana investment can be significant. Some players might consider other one-mana spells that impact the board immediately or offer more aggressive advantages over the passive benefits provided by this enchantment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Authority of the Consuls is a flexible card that can be incorporated into a variety of deck types, particularly those looking to control the tempo of the game. Its ability to tap down opponents’ creatures as they enter the battlefield can be universally useful.

Combo Potential: This card shines by setting up numerous interactions with tap and untap mechanics or abilities that trigger when a creature enters the battlefield tapped. It can also be a vital component in life-gain strategies, providing a steady source of health.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame dominated by creature-based aggro decks, Authority of the Consuls can be a game-changer, slowing down the opponents’ offenses and providing crucial time to establish board control while passively gaining life.


How to beat Authority of the Consuls

Authority of the Consuls is a card that can disrupt your tempo and alter the pace of the game in MTG. It is a one-mana white enchantment that causes your opponent’s creatures to enter the battlefield tapped, while also granting you life each time a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent’s control. Although it may seem a small disruption, it can have significant implications on the strategies involving haste or creatures that aim to block immediately.

To mitigate the effects of Authority of the Consuls, you’ll want to incorporate instant-speed removal or enchantment destruction cards in your deck. Naturalize or Disenchant are classic examples which can efficiently remove this troubling enchantment. Another approach is to employ counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to prevent the card from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Lastly, shifting your strategy to be less creature-focused with an emphasis on non-creature spells or building up for a big turn can diminish the enchantment’s impact.

Remember, the best way to beat Authority of the Consuls is to be adaptable and to have answers ready in your deck. Prepare to change your game plan if necessary, but also understand that swift removal or counter-acting its effect is key to maintaining your deck’s strategy intact.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Magic the Gathering is an art, and every card, like Authority of the Consuls, is a brushstroke in the picture you’re painting of your victory. It rewards the tactician who embraces control and the strategist who values incremental gains. Perfect for thwarting creature-heavy opponents and gaining precious life points, this enchantment can shift the tides of a duel in your favor. We’ve delved deep into its uses and counters, giving you the edge needed to outplay and outlast. Want to refine your deck-building skills and enhance your gameplay with similar cards? Dive in with us as we unwrap more MTG secrets and strategies to expand your collection and gameplay expertise. Your path to becoming an MTG connoisseur starts here.


Cards like Authority of the Consuls

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Authority of the Consuls is a powerful tool for players who aim to control the tempo of the game. A highly regarded card reminiscent of Authority of the Consuls is Blind Obedience. Like Authority of the Consuls, Blind Obedience delays opponent creatures entering the battlefield by tapping them, but it also extends this hindrance to artifacts and features Extort, providing the potential for life drain and added utility.

Thalia, Heretic Cathar is another card that echoes the control elements of Authority of the Consuls. Thalia not only forces opponent creatures to enter tapped but also affects nonbasic lands. The broadened scope of interruption can be a tipping point in many matchups. However, Thalia serves as a creature on the battlefield, susceptible to removal or being outmatched by the opponent’s creatures.

When weighing the effects, Authority of the Consuls holds a unique position in Magic: The Gathering, affording early-game advantage and life gain in a single enchantment. Its entire package offers a strategic edge, especially against decks that rely on speedy, untapped creatures to win.

Blind Obedience - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Heretic Cathar - MTG Card versions
Blind Obedience - Gatecrash (GTC)
Thalia, Heretic Cathar - Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)

Cards similar to Authority of the Consuls by color, type and mana cost

White Ward - MTG Card versions
Green Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Strength - MTG Card versions
Lance - MTG Card versions
Consecrate Land - MTG Card versions
Animate Wall - MTG Card versions
Black Ward - MTG Card versions
Blue Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Armor - MTG Card versions
Red Ward - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Brainwash - MTG Card versions
Green Scarab - MTG Card versions
Blue Scarab - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Armor of Faith - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Armor - MTG Card versions
Flickering Ward - MTG Card versions
Limited Resources - MTG Card versions
Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions
White Ward - Revised Edition (3ED)
Green Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Holy Strength - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Lance - Revised Edition (3ED)
Consecrate Land - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Animate Wall - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Black Ward - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Blue Ward - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Holy Armor - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Red Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Land Tax - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Brainwash - The Dark (DRK)
Green Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Blue Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Spirit Link - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Armor of Faith - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Kithkin Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Flickering Ward - Tempest (TMP)
Limited Resources - Exodus (EXO)
Mask of Law and Grace - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Authority of the Consuls MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh 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 Authority of the Consuls and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Authority of the Consuls Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Lake Hurwitz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 52015normalblackLake Hurwitz
22016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 5s2015normalblackLake Hurwitz
32016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 5p2015normalblackLake Hurwitz
42020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 92015normalblackLake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Authority of the Consuls has restrictions

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

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks