Prismatic Lace MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	84
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David O'Connor

Key Takeaways

Prismatic Lace enables strategic color changes, offering an advantage in control and flexibility in gameplay.
Its instant speed allows for unexpected plays, but a discard cost and specific mana needs are drawbacks.
A unique card, Prismatic Lace has strong combo and meta potentials despite similarities to other color-shift cards.

Text of card

Target permanent becomes the color(s) of your choice. Costs to tap, maintain, or use an ability of that permanent remain unchanged.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you cast Prismatic Lace, you have the option to change the text of a card by altering its color. This can potentially disrupt an opponent’s strategy or enhance your own game plan, effectively giving you an edge in the battle of resources without losing the card itself.

Resource Acceleration: Prismatic Lace offers flexibility in mana usage. It allows you to modify the color of your spells or permanents, aiding in color fixing, ensuring that you are not held back by color restrictions. This can accelerate your access to diverse mana resources, keeping your plays smooth and unhindered.

Instant Speed: The true power of Prismatic Lace lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed. This reactive nature lets you adapt to changes on the battlefield immediately, utilize it as a surprise element, and potentially counteract an opponent’s action that relies on specific color interactions—thus ensuring that your resources are used at the most opportune moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Prismatic Lace has the potential to add a splash of versatility to your deck, it does come with the downside of necessitating a card to be discarded. This particular cost means that it might deplete your hand when you least expect it, possibly leaving you in a precarious position without necessary resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Another hurdle you might encounter with Prismatic Lace lies in its mana cost. Requiring one blue mana can be restrictive, especially if you are running a multi-color deck without a reliable source of blue mana. This limitation can sometimes stall your gameplay, affecting your overall strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s overall mana cost may also be seen as steep, considering what the card accomplishes. Altering a permanent’s color can be unique and potentially game-changing in the right situation, but at three mana of any one color plus one blue, there are instances where the card’s cost doesn’t quite equate to its impact on the game, especially when compared to other utility spells in the same mana range.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Prismatic Lace offers a unique way to modify the color of your spells on the fly, making it a helpful tool in multicolor decks or in strategies that rely on specific color requirements for card interactions.

Combo Potential: As a card that can change the color of permanents, Prismatic Lace enables interesting combinations with cards that benefit from color-specific conditions, potentially unlocking powerful synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by color-centric hate cards or where color-dependant abilities are prevalent, Prismatic Lace may prove to be a strategic asset, giving you the flexibility to adapt and counter your opponents’ strategies effectively.

How to beat

Prismatic Lace is a unique card in MTG that has the ability to turn any permanent into a mono-colored object of your choice. While this may seem daunting to overcome, understanding the nature of color-change mechanics can tip the scales in your favor. One effective strategy is utilizing cards that don’t depend on color identity, such as artifacts or colorless creatures, which are immune to Prismatic Lace’s effects. Additionally, maintaining a deck with varied mana sources ensures you’re not locked out of casting your spells due to sudden color shifts.

Another tactic is to leverage removal spells that aren’t color-restricted. Generic destruction or exile effects can deal with a Prismatic Lace-altered permanent without fretting over the color it becomes. Moreover, cards with protection from certain colors can unexpectedly benefit if Prismatic Lace is used by an opponent to your advantage. Lastly, quick responses are key; playing instants or abilities that disrupt or counter Prismatic Lace before its ability resolves can prevent the planned alteration entirely, keeping your board state secure and your strategy intact.

Approaching Prismatic Lace with adaptive plays and a flexible deck build will put you in a solid position to navigate around its tricky conversion and emerge victorious in your MTG matchups.

Cards like Prismatic Lace

Prismatic Lace is a unique entry into the realm of color manipulation within Magic: The Gathering. This card shares similarities with cards like Glamerdye, which offers the ability to change the text of a spell or permanent by replacing one color with another as you see fit. Where Prismatic Lace diverges is in its distinct flexibility, permitting the alteration of any number of colors for a single target, which can dramatically shift the dynamics of the battlefield.

Another card to compare is Alter Reality, which lets you change the text of a permanent or spell by switching out a color word. This, too, is a shift in control, but limited to one instance per casting. Prismatic Lace doesn’t have this restriction; however, it comes with a heftier mana cost for its boundless chromatic versatility. Spectral Shift is also worth mentioning, providing a similar color-change effect with the added advantage of being able to target any spell, not just those controlled by you. Even so, Prismatic Lace stands out with the potential to affect multi-colored entities in a single, sweeping action.

In summary, when comparing the various color alteration options available in Magic: The Gathering, Prismatic Lace is a potent choice for players looking to adapt to constantly changing game states, providing unparalleled control over the color attributes of spells and permanents.

Cards similar to Prismatic Lace by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prismatic Lace 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 Prismatic Lace and other MTG cards: