Tattoo Ward MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Number	54
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ben Thompson

Key Takeaways

Grants creature protection and card draw, bolstering both defense and hand size.
Instant speed play keeps opponents on their toes and facilitates strategic responses.
Mana cost and discard requirements may challenge deck synergy and efficiency.

Text of card

Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has protection from enchantments. This effect doesn't remove Tattoo Ward. Sacrifice Tattoo Ward: Destroy target enchantment.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Tattoo Ward, you’re not only enchanting a creature for protection but also gaining the potential to draw a card when the enchantment is sent to the graveyard. This additional draw can keep your hand replenished, increasing your chances of maintaining or overtaking control of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tattoo Ward itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it helps preserve your board presence, which indirectly maintains your resources. Keeping your creatures shielded against targeted removal means you’re more likely to have the necessary forces to assert dominance in the longer term.

Instant Speed: One of the versatile aspects of Tattoo Ward is its ability to be played at instant speed, offering you flexibility in your game plan. You can respond swiftly to threats or tactics from your opponent, effectively shielding your key creatures in the heat of battle when it’s most crucial.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tattoo Ward necessitates the discarding of another enchantment card which can potentially reduce your hand advantage and limits the card’s utility if you’re not running an enchantment-heavy deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Centered on a white mana cost, Tattoo Ward’s casting can pose a challenge in multicolored decks that may struggle to generate the required white mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its effects, players may find themselves weighing the benefits against other enchantment cards that offer similar protection at a lower cost or provide additional value.

Reasons to Include Tattoo Ward in Your Collection

Versatility: Tattoo Ward offers flexibility as an enchantment that provides protection. It’s not only a desirable addition for decks that prioritize defense but also a strategic fit for decks that may require targeted protection against certain spells or abilities.

Combo Potential: The aura’s ability to ward off a spell or ability once adds an extra layer of intrigue. Players can harness this trait for combos by equipping creatures that benefit from enchantments or have synergies with protective effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given a competitive scene where removal spells are prevalent, Tattoo Ward becomes a key player. It helps maintain board presence by shielding your valuable creatures from targeted spells, carving a niche for itself in the current metagame.

How to beat

Tattoo Ward is a unique enchantment known for its protective abilities in the universe of Magic: The Gathering. It offers a shield to your creatures, making them invulnerable to specific types of spells or effects that your opponents may throw at you. Given its potential to alter the course of the game by safeguarding key pieces on your board, finding a strategy to navigate around Tattoo Ward can be crucial.

To efficiently handle Tattoo Ward, it’s vital to consider using cards with blanket removal effects, as these circumvent the specific protection granted by Tattoo Ward. Global enchantment removals, like Planar Cleansing or Merciless Eviction, can prove to be effective options, clearing the board indiscriminately. Alternatively, taking advantage of sacrifice effects forces the opponent to make decisions that Tattoo Ward does not protect against. For example, Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil’s sacrifice ability can apply pressure without directly targeting the protected creature. Therefore, broad strategies that do not rely on targeting can be key in dealing with Tattoo Ward’s defense mechanism.

Ultimately, overcoming Tattoo Ward requires a shift in the conventional targeted removal approach, urging players to employ more universal solutions or sacrifice effects. Recognizing and adapting to this enchantment’s limitations will help you dismantle your opponent’s defenses and pave your way to victory.

Cards like Tattoo Ward

Tattoo Ward is a unique enchantment creature card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Pentarch Ward and Cho-Manno’s Blessing, which provide creatures with the ability to gain protection from a color of your choice upon enchantment. Tattoo Ward shines in its ability to not only grant protection but also remove already placed enchantments, a twist that sets it apart from its counterparts.

While comparing it to Alexi’s Cloak, Tattoo Ward offers the distinct advantage of enchantment removal, though Alexi’s Cloak gives flash, allowing a much more reactive play style. Tattoo Ward’s enchantment elimination can often turn the tides by disrupting opponent strategies reliant on detrimental auras attached to your creatures. On the other hand, Faith’s Fetters provides a different route for handling threats by disabling any permanent’s abilities and also offers a life gain component, which Tattoo Ward lacks.

Ultimately, each card has its utility in a player’s deck. Still, Tattoo Ward’s specific combination of protection and a built-in disenchant feature makes it a versatile option for players seeking to preserve their creatures against multifaceted threats in Magic: The Gathering.

Cho-Manno's Blessing - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tattoo Ward by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tattoo Ward 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 Tattoo Ward and other MTG cards: