Angelic Benediction MTG Card


Angelic Benediction offers battlefield control by tapping opponent creatures at instant speed. While versatile in white decks, it’s less effective without creatures attacking or in non-white strategies. Effective use requires balancing four mana cost with other impactful deck options.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Exalted

Text of card

Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, you may tap target creature.

"Even in single combat, I am never alone." —Rafiq of the Many


Cards like Angelic Benediction

Angelic Benediction is an enchantment card that offers tactical advantages on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It draws a parallel to cards like Always Watching, which grants creatures vigilance and a strength boost without tapping them. While Always Watching affects all your creatures consistently, Angelic Benediction targets a single creature each turn, but it comes with the added benefit of tapping a potential blocker.

Comparably, Glorious Anthem stands in the same realm of enhancements by providing all your creatures with an additional +1/+1, albeit without the tactic of tapping opposing forces. On the other end of the spectrum lies Serra’s Blessing, an enchantment that grants your creatures vigilance directly, sharing a similar theme but without the offensive tapping strategy that characterizes Angelic Benediction.

Evaluating these enchantments highlights Angelic Benediction’s unique position. Its ability not only to advance your offensive line but also to disrupt opponents tactically, gives it an edge in certain decks. Thus, the card holds its own as a valuable tactical asset in creature-based strategies in the vast collection of Magic: The Gathering.

Always Watching - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Serra's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Always Watching - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Serra's Blessing - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Angelic Benediction by color, type and mana cost

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Castle - MTG Card versions
Karma - MTG Card versions
Conversion - MTG Card versions
Angelic Voices - MTG Card versions
Seeker - MTG Card versions
Drought - MTG Card versions
Justice - MTG Card versions
Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions
Field of Souls - MTG Card versions
Light of Day - MTG Card versions
Opal Titan - MTG Card versions
Ivory Mask - MTG Card versions
Parallax Wave - MTG Card versions
Worship - MTG Card versions
Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions
Moat - MTG Card versions
Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Haunting - MTG Card versions
Drawn Together - MTG Card versions
Proper Burial - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Angelic Benediction lets you tap an opponent’s creature, which can effectively negate their next attack. This strategic control can prevent your opponent from gaining card advantage through combat tricks or on-attack effects, indirectly contributing to your own card superiority on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Angelic Benediction itself does not directly accelerate resources in the vein of ramp or treasure creation, its ability to tap opponents’ potential blockers can enable your attacks to go through more consistently. This can lead to damage that might translate into accelerated victory conditions or activate your own card abilities that give you a resource advantage.

Instant Speed: Angelic Benediction operates at instant speed due to its Exalted trigger condition occurring whenever a creature you control attacks alone. This gives you the flexibility to decide which of your opponent’s creatures to tap, responding to the ever-changing battlefield dynamics and leaving your adversaries guessing about your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Angelic Benediction necessitates a certain board presence to fully take advantage of its abilities. This card requires you to have a creature attack each turn to gain its benefits, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you are unable to maintain a consistent board presence due to heavy removal or control decks.

Specific Mana Cost: With a white mana requirement in its casting cost, Angelic Benediction fits primarily within white or white-inclusive decks, which may not align with every player’s strategy or the color palette of their existing decks. This requirement can restrict its versatility across the diverse range of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana investment to cast Angelic Benediction can be considered hefty by some players, especially when you weigh it against other cards with similar or more impactful abilities. For the same cost, there are alternative options that might provide immediate impact or more comprehensive control elements, making it a tough choice for deck inclusion when considering mana curve efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Angelic Benediction slides seamlessly into a variety of white decks, giving creatures a boost and enabling tactical swings that can turn the tide. Its broad utility makes it a valued addition to both aggressive and control-focused styles of play.

Combo Potential: With its ability to tap potential blockers, this enchantment pairs excellently with cards that benefit from attacking unopposed. Whether it’s unlocking heroic abilities or supporting battalion triggers, Angelic Benediction can serve as the linchpin in some crafty combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values combat tricks and board presence, Angelic Benediction offers a significant advantage. Ensuring your key creatures can attack and potentially avoid blockers can be essential against various popular deck archetypes.


How to beat

Angelic Benediction brings an air of divine strategy to your Magic: The Gathering deck, with its ability to tap opposing creatures and give your attackers a significant advantage during combat. A key tactic in disrupting this celestial card’s power lies in neutralizing the aspect of tapping. Cards like Sudden Spoiling can temporarily strip creatures of their abilities, bypassing the tactical edge provided by Angelic Benediction.

In a different approach, remember that Angelic Benediction requires a considerable investment of four mana to cast. Hence, applying early pressure with a swift aggro deck can overwhelm a player before they gather the resources needed to deploy this enchantment. Additionally, direct enchantment removal spells, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, are quintessential tools that dismantle the Benediction’s influence on the battlefield efficiently.

Overall, tackling Angelic Benediction relies on agility and decisive blows. By anticipating your opponent’s maneuvers, deploying swift threats, and keeping enchantment removal at the ready, overcoming this divine intervention becomes a calculated victory rather than a miracle.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricate dance of combat in MTG involves more than just powerful creatures; it’s about the subtle plays that can turn a tight game in your favor. Angelic Benediction is a prime example of such subtlety, offering both defensive and offensive capabilities to enhance your strategic prowess. The card’s ability to tap down potential threats secures a safer path for your attackers and can serve as a key component in both aggressive and controlling decks. If you’re looking to harness the full potential of your white-aligned deck or seeking to experiment with new tactics, dive deeper into the numerous applications of Angelic Benediction. Upgrade your gameplay and enrich your collection by integrating this enchanting piece of strategy. Learn more with us and witness how this singular card could elevate your deck’s performance in your next clash.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angelic Benediction MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic, 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 Angelic Benediction and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Angelic Benediction Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Michael Komarck.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 32003NormalBlackMichael Komarck
22009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 192003NormalBlackMichael Komarck
32012-07-13Magic 2013M13 42003NormalBlackMichael Komarck
42014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 192015NormalBlackMichael Komarck

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Angelic Benediction has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Angelic Benediction card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-10-01 Exalted abilities will resolve before blockers are declared.
2008-10-01 Exalted bonuses last until end of turn. If an effect creates an additional combat phase during your turn, a creature that attacked alone during the first combat phase will still have its exalted bonuses in that new phase. If a creature attacks alone during the second combat phase, all your exalted abilities will trigger again.
2008-10-01 If you attack with multiple creatures, but then all but one are removed from combat, your exalted abilities won’t trigger.
2008-10-01 If you declare exactly one creature as an attacker, each exalted ability on each permanent you control (including, perhaps, the attacking creature itself) will trigger. The bonuses are given to the attacking creature, not to the permanent with exalted. Ultimately, the attacking creature will wind up with +1/+1 for each of your exalted abilities.
2008-10-01 In a Two-Headed Giant game, a creature “attacks alone” if it’s the only creature declared as an attacker by your entire team. If you control that attacking creature, your exalted abilities will trigger but your teammate’s exalted abilities won’t.
2008-10-01 Some effects put creatures onto the battlefield attacking. Since those creatures were never declared as attackers, they’re ignored by exalted abilities. They won’t cause exalted abilities to trigger. If any exalted abilities have already triggered (because exactly one creature was declared as an attacker), those abilities will resolve as normal even though there may now be multiple attackers.
2012-07-01 The creature you target with the last ability will become tapped before blockers are declared.