Greater Realm of Preservation MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 18
1997-03-24 - Number 31
2007-09-10 - Number 13
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances card advantage and control, allowing players to effectively counter opponents’ threats each turn.
- Indirect resource acceleration through board control and damage mitigation, bolstering your position.
- Offers flexibility through instant speed activation, expanding defensive capabilities during gameplay.
Text of card
o1oo W Prevents all damage against you from one red or black source. If a source does damage to you more than once in a turn, you must pay o1o W each time you want to prevent the damage.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Greater Realm of Preservation grants a significant boost in maintaining card superiority. The ability to potentially nullify opponent’s threats each turn not only protects your key pieces but can also sift their resources while you stay ahead.
Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct acceleration tool, by mitigating damage and controlling the board, this card indirectly conserves your life total and resources. This preservation of assets can be pivotal in achieving a winning position more rapidly.
Instant Speed: Being an enchantment that can be activated at instant speed provides a dynamic defensive layer. It allows you to react to threats immediately and on your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and forcing them to play around your open mana and potential responses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Greater Realm of Preservation demands a card discard to activate one of its key abilities. This can be problematic when your hand is nearly empty or the cards you possess are crucial for maintaining an edge in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a combination of white and blue mana for casting, thereby potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that can consistently generate both colors. Players not running a white and blue deck may find it challenging to accommodate.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a fair amount of mana investment, the card comes with a cost that might be considered steep for its protective abilities. With other cards in play offering similar or better defensive options at a lower mana cost, this could make Greater Realm of Preservation a less desirable choice for those looking to optimize their mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Greater Realm of Preservation offers significant flexibility for players constructing decks around life gain strategies or those seeking protection from certain colors. It can seamlessly fit into and enhance a variety of deck archetypes, serving as both defense and a facilitator for life-oriented synergies.
Combo Potential: This enchantment can synergize with cards that benefit from life gain or protection effects. It can be a key piece in powerful combos, using its activation to thwart opponents’ tactics while cementing your board advantage or triggering lifegain interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive multicolor decks are prevalent, Greater Realm of Preservation steps up as a relevant defensive tool. Its capacity to selectively guard against a wide range of threats makes it a timely addition to any collection, capable of adapting to shifts within the playing field.
How to beat
Greater Realm of Preservation in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge. This enchantment offers protection by allowing its controller to pay mana to prevent damage from red or black sources, which can be quite frustrating to play against. One effective strategy to counteract it is to employ enchantment destruction cards, which are abundant across various colors. Green, for example, has a suite of spells like Naturalize or Return to Nature which can directly remove enchantments from the battlefield.
Another tactic to consider is using blue’s counterspell abilities. By anticipating your opponent’s play and countering the Greater Realm of Preservation before it has a chance to resolve, you can keep the board clear of this problematic card. It’s also worth mentioning that since the card requires mana to activate its ability, playing around your opponent’s mana availability can be key. Applying pressure and forcing them to use mana during their own turn can restrict their capacity to use the card’s ability effectively, diminishing its protective strength.
Overall, the key to beating Greater Realm of Preservation lies in direct enchantment removal, strategic counterspells, and clever mana play, proving once again the depth of strategy Magic: The Gathering offers.
Cards like Greater Realm of Preservation
Greater Realm of Preservation is an enchantment well-esteemed by many defensive strategists in the MTG universe. Like its cousin, Circle of Protection: White, it offers the power to shield players from harm. Circle of Protection: White provides specific protection against white creatures, whereas Greater Realm of Preservation extends that safety net, covering both red and black creature attacks.
Another familiar spell on this front is Story Circle, which offers versatility in its protection, allowing players to choose the color of spells or creatures it guards against. Although it’s flexible, Greater Realm of Preservation offers immunity against two colors inherently, without additional costs per use. This dual defense gives it an edge for players facing red and black decks.
Sanctuary Lockdown shares a similar aura of protection in the form of empowering your own creatures and can also lock down opponents’ actions. This illustrates the diversity in defensive strategies, showing that while the Greater Realm of Preservation focuses on outright avoidance, other cards like Sanctuary Lockdown take a more proactive stance in mitigating threats.
Stacking up these options, Greater Realm of Preservation emerges as a valuable tool for those aiming to shore up their defenses against specific threats, making it a formidable choice in any protection-focused MTG deck.
Cards similar to Greater Realm of Preservation by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Greater Realm of Preservation MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fifth Edition, 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 Greater Realm of Preservation and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Greater Realm of Preservation Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 18 | 1993 | Normal | Black | NéNé Thomas | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 31 | 1997 | Normal | White | Steve Luke | |
| 3 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 13 | 1997 | Normal | Black | NéNé Thomas |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Greater Realm of Preservation has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
