Guardian Angel MTG Card


Guardian Angel can turn the tide by preventing targeted or all-encompassing damage at critical moments. The card’s ability to react at instant speed provides unparalleled strategic control over the game. Though potent, Guardian Angel carries trade-offs like a discard requirement and mana specificity.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Prevents X damage from being dealt to any one target. Any further damage to the same target this turn can be canceled by spending 1 mana per point of damage to be canceled.


Cards like Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel stands out as a unique defensive option within the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. It offers players a chance to prevent damage from either a single source with pinpoint accuracy or from multiple sources during a turn, granting them a versatile shield. This distinct ability sets it apart but relates it to cards like Healing Salve, which can also prevent damage or recover life points, offering protection or a relief in crucial moments. Yet, Healing Salve lacks the flexibility of controlling the amount of damage one prevents.

Next up is Righteousness, a spell ideally cast during the combat phase that significantly boosts a creature’s defense, potentially saving it from destruction and turning the tides of battle. Though it doesn’t prevent damage to the player like Guardian Angel, the impact on combat can be equally dramatic. And then there’s Safe Passage, another useful spell which negates all damage dealt to you and creatures you control for a turn, akin to a widespread shield, much like the global protection Guardian Angel can provide when invested with enough mana.

Guardian Angel’s unique ability to safeguard against varying levels and sources of damage makes it a noteworthy comparison when evaluating versatile defensive spells in Magic: The Gathering, especially in situations where precise control over damage prevention is crucial.

Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Safe Passage - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Safe Passage - MTG Card versions

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

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Scent of Jasmine - MTG Card versions
Moment of Silence - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Scent of Jasmine - MTG Card versions
Moment of Silence - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Guardian Angel card offers a unique tactical edge by providing protection to your creatures or yourself from a certain amount of damage. This can effectively save your key pieces on the board, potentially leading to card advantage as you preserve your assets while your opponent depletes theirs.

Resource Acceleration: While Guardian Angel doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the form of additional mana or tokens, it delivers indirect acceleration by safeguarding your mana investments. Protecting your creatures can maintain your board state, allowing you to allocate resources more efficiently in future turns without having to rebuild.

Instant Speed: Guardian Angel shines at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s actions. Whether it’s during combat or in response to a damaging spell, the ability to cast Guardian Angel when it’s most impactful allows you to make strategic decisions on the fly, potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Guardian Angel demands the player to discard a card, which can be a tactical drawback when hand advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With its white mana requirement, Guardian Angel can be restrictive for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s cost might be seen as steep considering the one-time prevention effect it offers, potentially diminishing its appeal in faster-paced games.


Reasons to Include Guardian Angel in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardian Angel is a flexible card that can be a crucial part of your defense strategy across various deck types. It’s not just for angel-themed decks; its ability to prevent damage makes it a strong consideration for any player looking to bolster their defensive options.

Combo Potential: This card’s utility in protecting your life total and key creatures can be combined with other cards to create powerful synergies. Imagine using it to safely set up combos that require your board to stay intact for one critical turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where aggro decks are prevalent, having Guardian Angel could swing the tide in your favor. Its role in the current meta should not be underestimated, as it can effectively counter strategies that rely on dealing significant damage in a single turn.


How to beat

Guardian Angel is a classic defense spell in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to prevent damage dynamically based on the mana they sink into it. To surpass this versatile card, it’s critical to play around its strengths. Smart use of baiting spells can drain the mana a player would reserve for Guardian Angel, leaving them vulnerable afterward. Alternatively, relying on damage that can’t be prevented, such as with spells that have the Infect mechanic or ones that deal direct life loss instead of damage, can circumvent Guardian Angel’s protective abilities.

Moreover, using instant-speed spells that can disrupt at unexpected times will force the Guardian Angel’s controller to guess when to use their mana, leading to potential misplays. In more competitive environments, spells like Skullcrack that prevent damage prevention for the turn can negate the utility of Guardian Angel completely. Thus, timing your spells strategically, resource management, and employing the right direct-damage alternatives are the keys to outsmarting and beating Guardian Angel on the battlefield.


Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Guardian Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 211993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 221993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 221993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 221993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 221993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 211993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 211993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 211993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
92022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3181997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
102022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 212015NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian Angel has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal