Blinding Angel MTG Card


Blinding Angel limits opponents’ moves, offering a strategic edge during extended duels. It calls for board stability and mana precision, presenting deck-building challenges. Despite its higher mana cost, its versatile control makes it a valuable addition.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever Blinding Angel deals combat damage to a player, that player skips his or her next combat phase.

"Their eyes will shrivel and blacken before faith's true light."


Cards like Blinding Angel

Blinding Angel is a stand-out card in Magic: The Gathering, particularly for its unique combat trigger ability which prevents opponents from attacking during their next turn after it deals combat damage to them. This ability has some parallel with the likes of Peacekeeper, who also hinders the combat phase, albeit through a different mechanism. Peacekeeper prevents all creatures from attacking, but at the cost of a maintenance fee each turn.

Contrastingly there’s Stonehorn Dignitary, another creature with a similar disruption effect, causing the opponent to skip their next combat phase when it enters the battlefield. Unlike Blinding Angel, the Dignitary’s ability is not reliant on dealing combat damage, making it a more immediate but once-off disruption. Additionally, there’s the tactical advantage offered by cards like Maze of Ith, which can remove an attacking creature from combat, effectively neutralizing a threat temporarily without changing the common battle landscape quite like Blinding Angel does.

Each of these cards offers strategic control over the battlefield, but Blinding Angel sits uniquely at the intersection of creature-based combat control and repeatable use, providing ongoing value for players who favor a defensive, control-oriented playstyle in Magic: The Gathering.

Peacekeeper - MTG Card versions
Stonehorn Dignitary - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions
Peacekeeper - MTG Card versions
Stonehorn Dignitary - MTG Card versions
Maze of Ith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blinding Angel by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Shu Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Shu Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blinding Angel excels at controlling the course of the game. Each successful attack prevents your opponent from their next untap step, effectively shutting down a large portion of their resources. This passive card advantage can be the deciding factor in a prolonged match, as it hinders your opponent’s ability to respond on subsequent turns.

Resource Acceleration: While Blinding Angel itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it can indirectly affect the pace of the game. By delaying your opponent’s plays, it allows you to utilize your turns more efficiently. Over time, this can result in a significant advantage as you develop your board, utilize mana, and cast more impactful spells without the immediate threat of retaliation.

Instant Speed: While Blinding Angel is not an instant speed magic card, its ability to incapacitate an opponent’s turn creates opportunities akin to instant speed interactions. You are afforded the luxury to time your attacks with Blinding Angel to best disrupt your opponent’s strategy. In doing so, you effectively buy yourself time—akin to the flexibility offered by instant speed spells—to adapt and execute your game plan while throwing off your opponent’s.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blinding Angel necessitates the player to maintain a strong board presence to fully capitalize on its combat damage ability. This can be challenging when opponents force you to discard, potentially reducing your chances of landing the card’s vital effect.

Specific Mana Cost: Blinding Angel requires a specific combination of mana, necessitating two white mana and three of any color. This can be a barrier in multicolored decks that might struggle with color fixing or prioritize mana for other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Blinding Angel’s impact on the game must be significant to justify the investment. Given the range of creatures and spells capable of influencing the board for a similar, if not lower, mana cost, this can place it at a disadvantage in fast-paced or highly competitive environments.


Reasons to Include Blinding Angel in Your Collection

Versatility: Blinding Angel has the flexibility to fit into a variety of white-based control or midrange decks. Its ability to potentially lock an opponent out of combat phases makes it adaptable to multiple strategies seeking to contain aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: When paired with ways to repeatedly blink or untap this card, you unlock additional avenues to exploit its unique combat phase denial effect. Cards like Conjurer’s Closet or Flickerform can turn it into a formidable tool that can consistently disrupt your adversary’s plans.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where combat-heavy decks are prevalent, Blinding Angel demonstrates significant value. Its presence on the board can impose a serious handicap on opponents relying on dealing combat damage to achieve victory, making it a particularly strategic inclusion against certain popular archetypes.


How to beat

Blinding Angel is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that presents a strategic challenge with its ability to prevent opponents from attacking during their next turn after dealing combat damage to them. This can create a lockout situation that may seem daunting, but it’s not unbeatable. First, consider using removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Doom Blade to deal with Blinding Angel before it can connect. Also, countermagic such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can preemptively stop the Angel from hitting the battlefield altogether.

Additionally, you can bypass the Angel’s ability entirely with cards that either don’t involve attacking, like those with direct damage or “burn” spells like Lightning Bolt, or that don’t target players, like mill strategies. Creature abilities that can block or destroy attacking creatures without dealing combat damage are also crucial. Consider including cards like Ensnaring Bridge or Nighthawk Scavenger in your deck to outmaneuver Blinding Angel’s disruptive tactic. By diversifying your strategy and maintaining control over the board, you can overcome the challenge posed by Blinding Angel, turning the tides of the game in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blinding Angel MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and Eighth Edition, 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 Blinding Angel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blinding Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-02-14NemesisNEM 31997NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 82003NormalWhiteTodd Lockwood
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 8★2003NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 72003NormalWhiteTodd Lockwood
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 7★2003NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
62019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13792015NormalBorderlessHelge C. Balzer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blinding Angel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blinding Angel 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 If you are damaged by more than one, the effects are cumulative and you skip multiple combat phases.