Gloom MTG Card


Gloom counters white-heavy strategies by upping white spell costs, crucial in certain metagames. Deck versatility and enchantment removal are essential to mitigate the constraining effects of Gloom. While impacting deck diversity, Gloom’s unique disruption offers potential for powerful combos.
Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

White spells cost 3 more mana to cast. Circles of Protection cost 3 more mana to use.


Cards like Gloom

Gloom stands out as a unique enchantment in MTG, with its specific effect of increasing the cost of white spells and abilities. It’s a strategic tool for disrupting your opponents, especially those relying on white mana. Similar disruption can be found in cards like Damping Sphere, which increments the cost of spells for each spell a player has cast during the turn. While it affects all colors indiscriminately, it can hamper strategies centered around casting numerous spells in a single turn.

Another comparable card is Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, which increases the cost of noncreature spells. While Thalia affects all noncreature spells regardless of color, her reach is slightly more general than Gloom’s targeted approach to white spells. Mana Web also parallels Gloom’s disruptive nature by constraining opponents’ mana use, though it does so by restricting the usable mana pool after one land is tapped.

Analyzing the impact of these cards, Gloom’s color-specific tax sets a distinctive niche for itself among MTG’s array of taxing effects. Its ability to single out white-dominated strategies gives it a useful role in certain metagames, contrasting the broader but less targeted applicability of cards like Damping Sphere and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben.

Damping Sphere - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Mana Web - MTG Card versions
Damping Sphere - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Mana Web - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gloom by color, type and mana cost

Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Chant - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Krovikan Fetish - MTG Card versions
Dauthi Embrace - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Lurking Evil - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gloom disrupts your opponent’s ability to generate card advantage through white spells and abilities, letting you stay ahead in resources and control the tempo of the game.

Resource Acceleration: While indirectly, Gloom can accelerate your resources by saving you mana that would otherwise be used to counter or deal with costly white spells, effectively fine-tuning your strategy and mana allocation.

Instant Speed: The power of Gloom lies in its permanence once on the battlefield. Though not an instant itself, its continuous effect is akin to having an immediate response to all white spells, deterring opponents from casting them and giving you an ever-present strategic advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gloom demands players to let go of valuable hand cards to manifest its effect. This particular aspect can put you at a disadvantage when your hand size is insufficient or the discarded card is of strategic importance. Careful hand management becomes critical when incorporating Gloom into your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring both black and generic mana in its cost, Gloom necessitates a commitment to the black mana base. This specificity can potentially restrict deck diversity and may not seamlessly integrate into multicolor decks that do not prioritize black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana expenditure to get Gloom on the battlefield is considered steep by many players. With three mana attributed to its casting, including double black mana, other cards might offer similar or reduced disruptive effects at a more economical cost, leading players to opt for alternative control tools.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gloom is an enchantment that thrives in environments where white spells are prevalent. Its ability to hinder opponents’ white spells by increasing their casting cost makes it a strategic asset in multicolored decks or those facing white-heavy opponents.

Combo Potential: In conjunction with cards that specifically penalize or benefit from increased spell costs, Gloom can be a cog in a larger machine. This opens up possibilities for unique and powerful combos within certain deck archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: Should the meta embrace strategies that heavily rely on white spells for control or creature plays, Gloom steps up as a potent countermeasure. It allows you to capitalize on the meta’s tendencies, turning opponent’s strategies to your advantage.


How to beat

Gloom is a unique enchantment in Magic the Gathering that can pose interesting challenges for players fond of white spells. As a card that increases white spell casting costs, Gloom can put a damper on an opponent’s strategy, especially if they rely heavily on white mana. To tackle this card, it’s essential for MTG players to diversify their mana base or implement alternative colored spell options in their deck to mitigate this increased cost.

In MTG, flexibility is key. Including cards that can destroy enchantments or utilizing counterspells to prevent Gloom from hitting the field at all can also be effective strategies. Furthermore, cards with abilities that bypass casting costs can circumnavigate the effects of Gloom, keeping your game plan intact. Managing resources intelligently and having a versatile deck will enable players to outmaneuver the hindrances posed by Gloom and maintain the upper hand throughout their MTG matches.

Ultimately, defeating Gloom requires foresight and adaptability. By having a backup plan and being prepared for potential disruptions to your mana flow, you can ensure that your strategy remains unaffected, allowing you to game on without falling prey to the constraints of Gloom.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gloom 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 Gloom and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gloom Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1101993NormalBlackDan Frazier
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1111993NormalBlackDan Frazier
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1111993NormalWhiteDan Frazier
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1111993NormalBlackDan Frazier
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1111993NormalBlackDan Frazier
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1131993NormalBlackDan Frazier
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1131993NormalWhiteDan Frazier
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1131993NormalWhiteDan Frazier
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1391993NormalWhiteDan Frazier
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1391993NormalBlackDan Frazier
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1651997NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
122011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 831997NormalBlackDan Frazier
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1072015NormalBlackDan Frazier
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4041997NormalBlackDan Frazier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gloom has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gloom 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 The additional mana is paid at the same time the spell/ability is cast/activated.
2004-10-04 The extra mana is not considered part of the activation cost. It is a separate cost.
2004-10-04 The extra mana is part of the total cost, so cost reducers can be applied to this cost.
2016-06-08 Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “
-ost:
-ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.