Mangara's Blessing MTG Card


Mangara's Blessing - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Number25
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDavid A. Cherry

Key Takeaways

  1. Boost your strategy by drawing cards and untapping lands with Mangara’s Blessing.
  2. Instant speed casting allows for adaptable and timely gameplay maneuvers.
  3. The card poses mana and discard challenges, making deck compatibility essential.

Text of card

Gain 5 life. When a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Mangara's Blessing, you gain 2 life and return Mangara's Blessing from your graveyard to your hand at end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mangara’s Blessing offers a significant boost in your hand by allowing you to draw additional cards. This supports strategic planning and can turn the tide by providing you with more options to counter your opponent’s moves.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to untap your lands, Mangara’s Blessing facilitates a surge in mana availability. This acceleration can be crucial for deploying key spells earlier than expected, giving you a competitive edge on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Mangara’s Blessing at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility to your gameplay. It means you can respond to your opponent’s actions swiftly, adapting to the game’s flow without losing tempo.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside players face with Mangara’s Blessing is the necessity to discard a card upon casting. This can strain your hand especially when you’re running low on cards, potentially putting you at a disadvantage in longer games where resources are key.

Specific Mana Cost: Mangara’s Blessing has a color-specific mana requirement that necessitates a white mana source. This restriction can limit the card’s versatility, confining it to decks that can reliably provide white mana, and may not fit well in multicolor decks that lean towards other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost leaning on the higher side for its effects, some players might find Mangara’s Blessing a bit too costly. There are alternatives in the game that might offer similar benefits for a reduced mana investment, making Mangara’s Blessing a less favorable choice in a tightly-built deck that values efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mangara’s Blessing can be a key card in various decks, offering both protection and card advantage. Its ability to shield your permanents from removal can be incredibly valuable, especially in formats where interaction is heavy.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in combination with cards that benefit from being targeted or that trigger upon casting spells. Its potential to synergize within such setups can lead to powerful and game-changing interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment teeming with targeted removal or in which board presence is crucial, Mangara’s Blessing stands out. Its presence can deter opponents from using their removal spells or force them to waste resources, which could tip the scales in your favor during a match.


How to beat

Mangara’s Blessing is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, contributing an element of both protection and versatility to gameplay. Expert players know that the card’s strength lies in its ability to safeguard key permanents and its potential for thwarting the opponent’s removal strategies. To effectively counter this card, one must be strategic in their play.

To bypass the protective nature of Mangara’s Blessing, it’s wise to bait out the card’s use. This can be done by targeting less crucial permanents first, compelling your opponent to decide whether or not to use their Blessing prematurely. Additionally, using spells that require an opponent to sacrifice a permanent can circumvent the Blessing’s abilities as such spells do not target a specific entity. Board wipes can also be effective as they impact the entire game state and can’t be offset by single-target protection like Mangara’s Blessing.

In sum, understanding and anticipating the various protective roles Mangara’s Blessing can play is crucial. Implementing a strategy that applies pressure on the opponent to use their Blessing unwisely can provide the opening needed to emerge victorious in your Magic: The Gathering matches.


Cards like Mangara's Blessing

Mangara’s Blessing is an intriguing spell that brings protection and resilience to the battlefield in MTG. It can be likened to cards like Gods Willing, which also provide protection from a color of your choice, giving your creature that crucial evasion or survival mechanism. However, Mangara’s Blessing takes it a step further by offering card draw if the targeted creature is legendary, adding significant value for decks featuring legendary creatures.

Another card worth mentioning is Shelter, which not only grants protection but also allows you to draw a card unconditionally. While this is a stable effect, it doesn’t have the bonus of potentially drawing two cards with Mangara’s Blessing when targeting a legendary creature. Then there’s Apostle’s Blessing, which demands either one mana and two life points to cast, a flexible option for more aggressive or life-savvy plays compared to the color-specific protection and card draw of Mangara’s Blessing.

Wrapping up the assessment, Mangara’s Blessing offers a unique combination of protection and card advantage, especially valuable in decks that capitalize on legendary creatures. Its ability to potentially double as card draw gives it a distinctive edge over similar spells in the game.

Gods Willing - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Apostle's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Gods Willing - Theros (THS)
Shelter - Odyssey (ODY)
Apostle's Blessing - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Mangara's Blessing by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Armed Response - MTG Card versions
Renewed Faith - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Army of Allah - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Holy Light - Masters Edition (ME1)
Blood of the Martyr - Chronicles (CHR)
Piety - Renaissance (REN)
Martyrdom - Alliances (ALL)
Harsh Justice - Portal (POR)
Kor Chant - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Just Fate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Waylay - Urza's Saga (USG)
Warrior's Honor - Anthologies (ATH)
Radiant's Judgment - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Restrain - Invasion (INV)
Prismatic Strands - Commander 2019 (C19)
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Teferi's Protection - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Oblation - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Wing Shards - Commander 2017 (C17)
Armed Response - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Renewed Faith - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mangara's Blessing MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Mangara's Blessing and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mangara's Blessing has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 The 2 life from having it discarded is gained when the triggered ability resolves, not at end of turn. Only the return to hand is done at end of turn.
2004-10-04 The Mangara’s Blessing card is only returned if it is still in the graveyard at end of turn and never left the graveyard in the meantime.

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