Repel the Abominable MTG Card


Repel the Abominable - Eldritch Moon
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2016-07-22
Set symbol
Set nameEldritch Moon
Set codeEMN
Number38
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDan Scott

Key Takeaways

  1. It offers strategic advantage by protecting creatures, preserving players’ offensive potential.
  2. Enables stronger subsequent plays by saving resources usually spent on defense.
  3. Instant speed allows for surprise plays that can pivot the game’s outcome.

Text of card

Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn by non-Human sources.

"Fight for a better future, even if you may not live to see it." —Grete, Order of Saint Traft


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Repel the Abominable enhances strategic depth by providing a unique form of card advantage. While it may not draw you more cards, it can preserve the creatures you’ve already played, effectively negating your opponent’s attempt to diminish your board presence and keeping your hand stocked with threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Repel the Abominable doesn’t directly generate mana or other resources, the ability to prevent damage to yourself and each creature you control for a turn can lead to resource acceleration by saving your mana and creatures that would otherwise be spent on defensive plays. This allows you to allocate resources more aggressively in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The power of instant speed cannot be understated with Repel the Abominable. You can disrupt your opponent’s calculations during combat by casting it when they least expect it, potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor. This flexibility enables dynamic play and keeps opponents guessing, which can be decisive in close matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some instant spells in the game that can be played without additional costs, Repel the Abominable requires players to have a human on the battlefield. This can create limitations, especially if your board is diverse and doesn’t focus predominantly on the human creature type.

Specific Mana Cost: Repel the Abominable demands two white mana for casting, which means it fits best in mono-white or bi-color decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana. Players running multicolor decks may find it restrictive or less synergistic with their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana, including two of the same color, can be steep for its effect. Given that it protects only non-Human creatures from damage, its scope is relatively narrow, particularly when compared with other protective spells or abilities that are available for a similar, or even lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Repel the Abominable shines in various settings as it provides a key defensive option for any deck utilizing primarily human creatures. Its ability to nullify damage from non-human sources ensures your key players remain active on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies aiming to protect crucial combo pieces that are humans. By safeguarding these components, you can execute your game-winning sequence uninterrupted.

Meta-Relevance: Given a meta abundant with burn spells or effects that deal damage across the board, Repel the Abominable acts as a safeguard. It can effectively counter these common threats, preserving your life total and board presence in one efficient move.


How to engage with

Repel the Abominable stands out in MTG as a multifaceted defensive spell capable of turning the tide in creature-heavy matchups. Strategically, it’s akin to a shield, selectively fending off damage from non-Human sources—a trait that can be instrumental in combatting decks that rely on a menagerie of creature types. To effectively counter Repel the Abominable, players can adopt several approaches that revolve around deck composition and timing.

Firstly, consider populating your deck with Human creatures, which circumvent Repel the Abominable’s protection. Cards like Champion of the Parish or Thalia’s Lieutenant enhance a Human-centric strategy while also bolstering your board presence. Additionally, leveraging instant-speed removal spells, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can dismantle your opponent’s defenses before they have the chance to cast Repel the Abominable, ensuring your creatures’ damage goes through.

Ultimately, understanding when to play around your opponent’s potential answers and when to press your advantage is key. By prioritizing threats that Repel the Abominable doesn’t affect and holding removal for pivotal moments, MTG players can adeptly navigate around this formidable card and maintain the upper hand in their encounters.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons of adding Repel the Abominable to your MTG arsenal, consider the broader implications it has on gameplay. Whether it’s integrating into a human-centric strategy for safeguarding key creatures or leveraging its instant speed to surprise opponents, this card offers unique advantages. Adaptability is key in MTG, and knowing the meta as well as the timing for when to deploy this spell can elevate your defensive capabilities significantly. For insights on optimizing your deck and effectively using cards like Repel the Abominable, dive into our resources. Enhance your strategic play and make every match a testament to your prowess.


Cards like Repel the Abominable

Repel the Abominable stands out in the realm of protective spells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to spells such as Rootborn Defenses, which also permits creatures to dodge fatal damage. Nonetheless, Repel the Abominable comes with its own unique twist – it can shield all non-Human creatures, not just yours, from damage for a turn. This makes it a versatile choice during your opponents’ turns as well, potentially altering the outcome of multi-player battles.

Another comparable card is Make a Stand, which gives all your creatures indestructible until end of turn. Although Make a Stand doesn’t restrict its protection based on creature type, it fails to offer the all-encompassing damage prevention provided by Repel the Abominable. Moreover, Hallowed Burial presents an intriguing point of comparison. While not a direct protection spell, it allows for a thorough reset by putting all creatures at the bottom of their owners’ libraries, bypassing the indestructibility that Make a Stand provides.

In summary, while comparing Repel the Abominable to its counterparts, we notice the intricacies that position it uniquely in defensive strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its selective yet comprehensive protective ability can be a game-changer in creature-heavy matchups.

Rootborn Defenses - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Burial - MTG Card versions
Rootborn Defenses - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Make a Stand - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Hallowed Burial - Eventide (EVE)

Cards similar to Repel the Abominable by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Bathe in Light - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Sacred Boon - Ice Age (ICE)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Bathe in Light - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Repel the Abominable MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon, 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 Repel the Abominable and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Repel the Abominable has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-07-13 If a spell or ability causes damage to be dealt, it will indicate what object deals the damage. The object dealing damage might not be the spell itself.
2016-07-13 Sources that have no creature type at all are non-Human sources, as are sources with creature types that don’t include Human. A creature that is Human and has other types, such as a Human Werewolf, is still a Human source.

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