Rhystic Circle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2000-06-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Prophecy |
| Set code | PCY |
| Number | 19 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Alan Pollack |
Key Takeaways
- Rhystic Circle deters enemy attacks, optimizing mana and preserving player resources on the battlefield.
- Its instant speed activation provides flexibility, aligning defense with each turn’s strategic plays.
- While versatile and useful in specific contexts, its mana requirements can be restrictive.
Text of card
o1: Any player may pay o1. If no one does, the next time a source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.
The circle buys time—an important commodity in battle.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rhystic Circle provides continued protection which can deter opponents from attacking or using targeted abilities, thus potentially maintaining your card resources while depleting theirs.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources, Rhystic Circle’s low casting cost allows you to keep mana open for other strategies, effectively optimizing your mana usage during the game.
Instant Speed: Rhystic Circle’s ability can be activated at instant speed, offering you the flexibility to respond to threats as they arise and strategically manage your mana each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Rhystic Circle can be an obstacle for players who lack the necessary cards in hand to fulfill its ongoing activation cost, potentially leading to a loss of card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Rhystic Circle requires a precise mana alignment to both cast and utilize its ability, demanding white mana which might not be readily available in multicolor decks or when facing a mana shortage.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires three mana and additional payments to maintain its defensive capabilities, Rhystic Circle might be a costly investment compared to other protective options available that offer comparable or enhanced security at a lower or more flexible cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Rhystic Circle offers unique defensive capabilities, allowing players to potentially fend off multiple threats with a single mana investment. Its ability to protect against various creature types makes it a utility card in many different deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy with strategies that untap lands or generate copious amounts of mana, giving players the ability to shield themselves from an onslaught of attacks while setting up their game-winning moves.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state saturated with aggressive creature decks, Rhystic Circle has relevant functionality. The card can deter opponents from swinging in, thus preserving your life total and allowing for counterplays or a buildup to late-game dominance.
How to beat
Rhystic Circle is an intriguing enchantment in MTG that offers a unique form of protection. Its ability to potentially shield you from damage can be quite troublesome for your opponents. The card allows you to pay a single mana whenever a source would deal damage to you or a creature you control, and if the damage is not prevented, if the opponent does not pay 1 more. This can create a shield around you, but like any defense, it has its weak spots.
The trick to dismantling the protection of Rhystic Circle is to overwhelm it with multiple sources of damage. Since the ability requires mana to be paid for each source of damage, stretching your opponent’s mana thin can render the Circle ineffective. Aggressive strategies with numerous low-cost creatures or burn spells can force your opponent to make tough decisions on what to protect. Another strategy is to use uncounterable spells or abilities that can’t be prevented, bypassing the Circle’s protection altogether.
Adapting your gameplay to include spells or effects that do not allow your opponent the opportunity to pay, such as through split-second spells or during a turn where they are tapped out, will ensure that your damage goes through. By understanding and exploiting these vulnerabilities, you can nullify Rhystic Circle and maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches.
Cards like Rhystic Circle
Rhystic Circle is an intriguing protective enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that allows you to potentially negate damage by paying mana. It shares similarities with other damage prevention cards like Circle of Protection, which targets specific colors and requires mana to activate—Rhystic Circle being more flexible as it can potentially protect against any color as long as you have the mana available.
Comparably, Ghostly Prison functions in a similar defensive manner. It forces opponents to pay more mana to attack you, thus passively preventing damage by making attacks less economically viable. While Ghostly Prison affects the battlefield at a more macro level, Rhystic Circle gives you the micro ability to manage threats and direct damage targeted at you. Another related card is Propaganda, which imposes a similar tax on attackers in blue, dictating the pace at which opponents can safely assault you.
Digging deeper into the nuances of each card, it’s clear that Rhystic Circle holds its ground among its counterparts, offering versatile defense options in a player’s arsenal. Its unique dynamism in responding to threats makes it a noteworthy option for decks requiring protection from various damage sources.
Cards similar to Rhystic Circle by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rhystic Circle MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Rhystic Circle 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rhystic Circle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rhystic Circle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Can’t be used to prevent damage to your creatures, just to you. |
