Circle of Protection: Red MTG Card


Offers effective defense against red decks, potentially tilting card advantage without drawing more cards. Its low casting cost and instant speed activation allow for efficient mana use and flexible protection. While useful, the need for white mana and a mana tap for each activation may limit versatility.
Card setsReleased in 33 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

o1: Prevents all damage against you from one red source. If a source does damage to you more than once in a turn, you must pay 1 mana each time to prevent the damage.


Cards like Circle of Protection: Red

The Circle of Protection: Red from Magic: The Gathering is a classic defensive card that sees a player safeguarding themselves from red spells. Its parallels are found across the other Circles of Protection catered to different colors. For instance, Circle of Protection: Blue shares the same tactical approach, offering protection from blue spells and effects for the same mana cost. Both cards provide strategic defense, yet they specialize against threats from their respective color alignments.

Circle of Protection: Green mirrors the functionality and mana cost of Circle of Protection: Red, targeting green spells and abilities instead. The choice between these two comes down to the prevalent deck types in your playgroup or the meta you expect to encounter. Circle of Protection: White operates under a similar premise, safeguarding you from white’s potentially overwhelming swarm strategies or life-gain triggers.

Ultimately, the Circle of Protection series offers tailored defenses suitable for any colored threats that might come your way in the game of Magic: The Gathering. Each one is a staple of sideboard planning, allowing players to adapt their protection strategies to the chromatic challenges they may face.

Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Green - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Green - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Circle of Protection: Red by color, type and mana cost

Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Serra Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
Angelic Renewal - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Serra Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
Angelic Renewal - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Circle of Protection: Red shines when it comes to thwarting red-heavy strategies. By negating damage from red sources, you effectively diminish the card value of your opponent’s red spells, tipping the balance of card advantage in your favor without needing to draw additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t accelerate mana in the traditional sense, its low casting cost allows for efficient use of mana resources. You can establish an early defense against red threats, which can be pivotal for your game plan, allowing you to allocate resources to other areas of board and hand development.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Circle of Protection: Red at instant speed offers tactical flexibility that can be crucial in gameplay. You can respond precisely to the threats at the right moment, whether that’s nullifying the impact of direct damage spells or combat damage from red creatures, which helps maintain your life total and onboard presence without committing mana preemptively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Even though Circle of Protection: Red provides a strategic advantage against red spells and effects, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. To activate its ability, you must be prepared to tap mana each time, which could deprive you of resources for other spells and actions within your turn.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s defense mechanism is singularly focused, requiring a precise white mana to cast. Its utility is therefore mostly confined to decks with a white mana base, potentially limiting its integration into multi-colored or other strategy-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering other protection or prevention options available, certain players might find the mana investment to activate Circle of Protection: Red’s ability a bit steep. Each use costs an additional mana, which, over the course of a game, adds up and might not be the most mana-efficient choice for a deck’s defensive measures.


Reasons to Include Circle of Protection: Red in Your Collection

Versatility: Circle of Protection: Red is a key card for its ability to shield you from red sources, which are common in many aggressive decks. This card’s flexibility allows it to be a strategic defensive addition for both control and mid-range decks seeking protection from red spells and creatures.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can be used in combinations with cards that encourage your opponent to target you with red damage, turning their aggression into a futile effort. It works well in decks that aim to control the pace of the game, giving you time to set up your winning strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames heavily featuring red decks or burn strategies, Circle of Protection: Red can become an invaluable sideboard card. It provides an edge by neutralizing a significant portion of your opponent’s arsenal, making it a meta-relevant choice for tournaments and casual play alike.


How to beat

Circle of Protection: Red is a unique defensive enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a shield specifically against red spells and effects. To overcome this card, it’s essential to diversify your strategy beyond mono-red assaults. Introducing spells from other parts of the color pie can circumvent Circle of Protection: Red’s limitation. For instance, incorporating blue’s counter spells or black’s removal spells can effectively nullify the enchantment’s defensive capabilities by targeting it directly or by providing alternative win conditions that don’t rely on red damage. Moreover, green offers enchantment removal options like Naturalize, which can dismantle the protective circle swiftly, paving the way to resume your offensive strategy. A multi-color approach or adding a dimension of control to your gameplay can significantly enhance your chances of outmaneuvering Circle of Protection: Red’s safeguard.

Remember, in Magic: The Gathering, flexibility and adaptability often hold the key to victory. By being prepared to switch tactics and modify your deck composition, you can effectively handle specialized defensive measures such as Circle of Protection: Red and maintain the upper hand in your matches.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Circle of Protection: Red MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Circle of Protection: Red and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Circle of Protection: Red Magic the Gathering card was released in 24 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 121993NormalBlackMark Tedin
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 131993NormalBlackMark Tedin
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 131993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 131993NormalBlackMark Tedin
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 131993NormalBlackMark Tedin
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 121993NormalBlackMark Tedin
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 121993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 121993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 171993NormalBlackMark Tedin
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 171993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
111995-06-03Ice AgeICE 151993NormalBlackPete Venters
121996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC et17sb1993NormalGoldMark Tedin
131996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC bl15sb1993NormalGoldPete Venters
141996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC shr15sb1993NormalGoldPete Venters
151996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC bl17sb1993NormalGoldMark Tedin
161996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ml15sb1993NormalGoldPete Venters
171996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ml17sb1993NormalGoldMark Tedin
181996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 31993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
191996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 31993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
201997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 201997NormalWhiteGerry Grace
211997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 jk20sb1997NormalGoldGerry Grace
221997-10-14TempestTMP 111997NormalBlackHarold McNeill
231999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 111997NormalWhiteGerry Grace
242001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 9★1997NormalBlackGary Ruddell
252001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 91997NormalWhiteGary Ruddell
262002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 313752003NormalBlackMark Tedin
272003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 132003NormalWhiteGary Ruddell
282003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 13★2003NormalBlackGary Ruddell
292004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 jn13sb2003NormalGoldGary Ruddell
302005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 11★2003NormalBlackChristopher Rush
312005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 112003NormalWhiteChristopher Rush
322022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3101997NormalBlackMark Tedin
332022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 132015NormalBlackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Circle of Protection: Red has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Circle of Protection: Red 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 A source of damage is a permanent, a spell on the stack (including one that creates a permanent), or any object referred to by an object on the stack. A source doesn’t need to be capable of dealing damage to be a legal choice.
2004-10-04 Can be used even when there is no damage to prevent. It prevents the next damage (if any) from the source this turn.