Veiled Apparition MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Number	107
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Andrew Robinson

Key Takeaways

Enhances card advantage through effective hand replenishment, beneficial in multiple MTG strategies.
Demands careful mana management, possibly limiting deck versatility and player choices.
Stands out in the meta for its potential in control and combo-centric decks, avoiding common removal.

Text of card

When one of your opponents successfully casts a spell, if Veiled Apparition is an enchantment, Veiled Apparition becomes a 3/3 creature with flying and "During your upkeep, pay o1o U or sacrifice Veiled Apparition" and that counts as an Illusion.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Veiled Apparition can be a subtle yet impactful way to edge ahead in card management. Playing this spirit-themed card correctly can help replenish your hand, keeping your options varied and your plays unpredictable.

Resource Acceleration: This card fits beautifully in strategies that aim to ramp up their resources. Casting Veiled Apparition might also synergize with decks that benefit from having a high number of cards in hand, setting the stage for powerful turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Veiled Apparition at instant speed presents a strategic advantage, providing flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions. It allows you to adapt to the evolving game state, potentially making it a versatile tool in both defense and setup for future turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Veiled Apparition may necessitate the disposal of valuable cards, diminishing your hand and potentially impacting your game plan adverseley if you’re already at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored mana is usually an element of Veiled Apparition’s cost, demanding an exact blend of colors, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck types and could restrict deck-building versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the utility it provides, Veiled Apparition comes with a mana value that may be perceived as steep relative to alternatives that either cost less or offer a broader range of benefits for a similar investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Veiled Apparition can be a key component in decks focused on control and tempo. Its ability to phase out means it can avoid removal, making it a resilient threat or defender depending on the matchup.

Combo Potential: This card’s phasing mechanic offers interesting combo opportunities with enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield triggers. It can be a cog in engines that manipulate these interactions for value or board control.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current landscape that includes a mix of aggressive and midrange decks, Veiled Apparition’s elusive nature makes it relevant. As players look for ways to circumvent direct interaction, having a card that naturally evades targeted spells keeps it applicable across various playing fields.

How to Beat

Veiled Apparition brings a layer of strategy to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its key feature is its ability to become unblockable as long as you’ve cast a historic spell this turn (artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic). To counteract this stealthy creature, enhanced board awareness is crucial. Removal spells that don’t rely on targeting, like board wipes or spells that force a player to sacrifice a creature, prove effective against an otherwise elusive target.

Timing is also pivotal when facing Veiled Apparition. Since its unblockability hinges on the casting of historic spells, tactically playing spells on your turn to interrupt an opponent’s historic spell-synchronized assaults can shift the tide in your favor. Additionally, versatile countermeasures, such as the additional use of instant-speed removal or counterspells during an opponent’s turn when they’re poised to cast a historic spell, can nullify the benefits Veiled Apparition offers. With an informed approach and prepared responses, this deceptive threat can be overcome.

By employing strategic spell play and maintaining versatile answers to the conditions set by Veiled Apparition, players can navigate around its potential to remain veiled and launch a successful offense or defense. Understanding and anticipating the historic spell synergy within your opponent’s deck becomes the linchpin in managing this hidden menace on the MTG battlefield.

Cards like Veiled Apparition

Veiled Apparition introduces a unique dynamic into the realm of blue cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card brings to mind Phantasmal Bear, another blue creature known for its cost-efficiency and impactful presence early in the game. While Phantasmal Bear arrives on the battlefield for just a single blue mana, it is susceptible to targeting, requiring you to sacrifice it upon being chosen as a target for spells or abilities.

Comparable to our featured apparition is Silent Departure, an enabler for return-to-hand effects which Veiled Apparition can capitalize on. Silent Departure allows you to bounce opponents’ creatures and gives you the flexibility of flashing it back from the graveyard. Although it doesn’t place a creature on the board, it serves a complementary role for the Veiled Apparition by clearing the path for successful attacks.

Lastly, Mist Raven mirrors some of the functionality by providing a creature that also returns a target creature to its owner’s hand. The difference lies in Mist Raven’s higher casting cost and immediate impact as opposed to the more gradual payoff provided by Veiled Apparition. When assessing the merits of each, Veiled Apparition holds a strategic position for players looking to steadily build their board presence.

Cards similar to Veiled Apparition by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Veiled Apparition MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Veiled Apparition and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Veiled Apparition has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Veiled Apparition 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	It changes into a creature even if the spell is countered.
2004-10-04	It triggers when the spell is cast, which means it becomes a creature before that spell resolves.
2004-10-04	When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment.
2004-10-04	You choose whether to pay or not on resolution. If not, then you sacrifice the creature. You can choose to not pay if you do not control the creature on resolution.
2008-08-01	A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.