Dwarven Shrine MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Number	187
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Increases hand size and potential plays, enhancing red deck strategies for card advantage.
Additional mana from Dwarven Shrine can lead to versatile and powerful spellcasting.
Instant speed activation offers dynamic responses and strategic surprise plays.

Text of card

Whenever a player plays a spell, Dwarven Shrine deals X damage to that player, where X is twice the number of cards in all graveyards with the same name as that spell.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dwarven Shrine allows you to delve into your deck and enhance your hand, playing into the strategy of incrementally outpacing your opponent by bolstering your available resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card can potentially increase your mana pool, allowing for more grandiose plays or the ability to cast multiple spells in a single turn, thereby swiftly advancing your board state.

Instant Speed: With the flexibility of actuating at instant speed, Dwarven Shrine gives you the versatility to react during your adversary’s turn, thereby maximizing strategic depth and preserving the element of surprise within the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dwarven Shrine demands that you discard another card whenever you cast a red spell, which can deplete your hand quickly and leave you at a disadvantage, especially in long games where resources are critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Dwarven Shrine is particularly rigid in its mana requirement, needing two red mana to cast. This can be restrictive and make it difficult to include in multi-colored decks that require a more flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including double red, Dwarven Shrine can be considered costly for the damage boost it provides. In a game where speed and efficiency are paramount, other options might overshadow this shrine’s utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dwarven Shrine is adaptable to various red deck builds, offering crucial mana acceleration for aggressive strategies that aim to outpace the opponent.

Combo Potential: This card can be a powerful engine in decks that exploit damage-dealing spells or abilities, amplifying their effects to turn the tides of the game rapidly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by creature-heavy decks, Dwarven Shrine’s ability to increase the output of your damage spells keeps you one step ahead, making it a relevant choice for curbing the board presence of numerous adversaries.

How to beat

The Dwarven Shrine is a card that can be both an asset and a liability, offering a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. To effectively neutralize its potential threat, players should consider strategies that limit the number of Dwarves on the field or utilize cards that can dismantle enchantments directly. Employing a deck with robust removal options such as Disenchant or Naturalize can prove to be effective in eradicating the Shrine’s presence.

Another tactic is to shift the game towards non-Dwarf creature types, thereby circumventing the Shrine’s damage-dealing capability. Should the Shrine become too potent on your opponent’s side, transformative sideboard cards that adjust your strategy post-game one can be fundamental in overcoming this obstacle. It is important to adapt your game plan not only around the power the Dwarven Shrine offers but also its potential for being a double-edged sword that can backfire on its controller.

When facing a Dwarven Shrine, players must continuously assess the state of the game, maintaining a balance between pressure and control, to ensure that this unique enchantment does not dictate the flow of the match.

Cards like Dwarven Shrine

Dwarven Shrine holds a unique position in MTG’s array of damage-dealing enchantments. Its ability to inflict damage to a player casting a spell that shares a name with one in their graveyard sets it apart from many other red cards. Shrine of Burning Rage, for instance, while accumulating charge counters with every red spell cast, doesn’t penalize opponents for repetitive spell casting.

In contrast, Pyrostatic Pillar is akin to Dwarven Shrine in its approach to damage opponents when they cast spells with low casting costs. Nonetheless, Pillar doesn’t target the graveyard, thereby allowing Dwarven Shrine to shine in metagames where repetitious casting is prevalent. Also, Eidolon of the Great Revel provides a similar function, with a slightly broader range, impacting any spell with a low mana cost, not just duplicates from the graveyard.

Evaluating these comparisons, Dwarven Shrine may niche itself effectively in decks geared towards control and disruption. In games where opponents frequently rely on certain key cards, Dwarven Shrine’s ability to discourage or punish redundant casting can prove to be a compelling tactical advantage.

Shrine of Burning Rage - MTG Card versions

Eidolon of the Great Revel - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dwarven Shrine by color, type and mana cost

Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions

Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Shrine MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Dwarven Shrine and other MTG cards: