Shards of Alara

ALA · 250 cards · Released

Akrasan Squire
Creature — Human Soldier

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

Bant's armies are primarily composed of members of the Mortar caste, loyal commoners who haven't yet earned a sigil.

1/1
Angel's Herald
Creature — Human Cleric

, , Sacrifice a green creature, a white creature, and a blue creature: Search your library for a card named Empyrial Archangel, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Rigorous faith and belief are rewarded on occasion, and richly so.

1/1
Angelic Benediction
Enchantment

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

Angelsong
Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Clash of sword and cry of beast fall mute when angels sound the call to prayer.

Bant Battlemage
Creature — Human Wizard

, : Target creature gains trample until end of turn.

, : Target creature gains flying until end of turn.

"A night attack will be easy. We'll make an air raid over the Akrasan border. Just get me some flint to light the war torches."

2/2
Battlegrace Angel
Creature — Angel

Flying

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

Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gains lifelink until end of turn.

4/4
Cradle of Vitality
Enchantment

Whenever you gain life, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each 1 life you gained.

Naya's trees grow tall and sturdy. Their foliage intertwines to form dewcups, rainwater pools where the elves gather to celebrate life.

Dispeller's Capsule
Artifact

, , Sacrifice this artifact: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.

"I find its symmetry pleasing. It rids our world of offensive refuse while disposing of itself."

—Dolomarus, Proctor of the Clean

Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Legendary Planeswalker — Elspeth

[+1]: Create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.

[+1]: Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn.

[−8]: You get an emblem with "Artifacts, creatures, enchantments, and lands you control have indestructible."

Loyalty: 4
Ethersworn Canonist
Artifact Creature — Human Cleric

Each player who has cast a nonartifact spell this turn can't cast additional nonartifact spells.

"The noble work of our order is to infuse all life on Esper with etherium. Our goal will be reached more rapidly if new life is . . . suppressed."

2/2
Excommunicate
Sorcery

Put target creature on top of its owner's library.

Rebels and other malcontents forced into the ritual awake lost in Topa's vast savannahs. Those who find their way back return humble and repentant.

Guardians of Akrasa
Creature — Human Soldier

Defender (This creature can't attack.)

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

"Only by the bravery of those who put loyalty above glory is our home kept safe."

—Elspeth

0/4
Gustrider Exuberant
Creature — Human Wizard

Flying

Sacrifice this creature: Creatures you control with power 5 or greater gain flying until end of turn.

"The elves claim the canopy. The nacatl claim the mountains. I suppose you think we ought to stay on the jungle floor?"

1/2
Invincible Hymn
Sorcery

Count the number of cards in your library. Your life total becomes that number.

Bantians believe those who are born into the highest caste and live a life of discipline and virtue can ascend to become angels.

Knight of the Skyward Eye
Creature — Human Knight

: This creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn. Activate only once each turn.

The Order of the Skyward Eye does the bidding of an evil force, unwittingly stirring fear and mistrust across Bant in accordance with his plans.

2/2
Knight of the White Orchid
Creature — Human Knight

First strike

When this creature enters, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Both guide and guard on open plain.

2/2
Knight-Captain of Eos
Creature — Human Knight

When this creature enters, create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens.

, Sacrifice a Soldier: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

The strength of Bant's caste system is the unfailing loyalty of its meekest members.

2/2
Marble Chalice
Artifact

: You gain 1 life.

The cup was a gift from the sphinx Tameron, who hoped that those who drank from it would live long enough to decrypt the sphinxes' wisdom.

Metallurgeon
Artifact Creature — Human Artificer

, : Regenerate target artifact.

"By the time I got there, the heart had stopped. Fortunately, I was able to replace it with something better."

1/2
Oblivion Ring
Enchantment

When this enchantment enters, exile another target nonland permanent.

When this enchantment leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner's control.

A circle of light and a word of confinement.

Ranger of Eos
Creature — Human Soldier Ranger

When this creature enters, you may search your library for up to two creature cards with mana value 1 or less, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.

At his side, humble beasts become weapons more deadly than sharpened steel.

3/2
Resounding Silence
Instant

Exile target attacking creature.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle this card, exile up to two target attacking creatures.

Rockcaster Platoon
Creature — Rhino Soldier

: This creature deals 2 damage to each creature with flying and each player.

"Aven bandits can be sly. You've got to fill the sky with boulders—and then seek cover immediately."

—Knight-Captain Wyhorn

5/7
Sanctum Gargoyle
Artifact Creature — Gargoyle

Flying

When this creature enters, you may return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.

As their supplies of etherium dwindled, mechanists sent gargoyles farther and farther afield in search of salvage.

2/3
Scourglass
Artifact

, Sacrifice this artifact: Destroy all permanents except for artifacts and lands. Activate only during your upkeep.

"Soon I will sleep, eyes closing to a world tarnished with flesh, and then wake to a polished vision."

—Sharuum

Sighted-Caste Sorcerer
Creature — Human Wizard Sorcerer

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

: This creature gains shroud until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)

1/1
Sigiled Paladin
Creature — Human Knight

First strike

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

Each sigil marks the recognition of a great deed and signifies a duty owed to the one who granted it.

2/2
Soul's Grace
Instant

You gain life equal to target creature's power.

An avatar he sculpts of fellowship and light.

Sunseed Nurturer
Creature — Human Druid Wizard

At the beginning of your end step, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may gain 2 life.

: Add .

Sunseeders quest for areas of open sky. They train plowbeasts to beat back the dense jungle long enough to cultivate a crop.

1/1
Welkin Guide
Creature — Bird Cleric

Flying

When this creature enters, target creature gets +2/+2 and gains flying until end of turn.

"Those talons really dig into your skin, but it's better than being dropped."

—Rafiq of the Many

2/2
Yoked Plowbeast
Creature — Beast

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"It is sacrilege to confine a gargantuan to the grinding of straight lines. I will pray that it remembers who is the master of this land."

—Syeena, elvish godtoucher

5/5
Call to Heel
Instant

Return target creature to its owner's hand. Its controller draws a card.

On Bant, a sigil is both a prize of honor and a bond of duty. The one who bears it may be called to fulfill that charge at any moment.

Cancel
Instant

Counter target spell.

"What you are attempting is not against the law. It is, however, extremely foolish."

Cathartic Adept
Creature — Human Wizard

: Target player mills a card.

"Forget. Only then will there be space for hope between the pain and fear."

1/1
Cloudheath Drake
Artifact Creature — Drake

Flying

: This creature gains vigilance until end of turn.

A permanent storm rages over the plain of Cloudheath, and drakes ride its currents—two reminders that some elements of Esper will not be controlled.

3/3
Coma Veil
Enchantment — Aura

Enchant artifact or creature

Enchanted permanent doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

Etherium does not know sleep. Only magic can teach it the resting state of cold steel.

Courier's Capsule
Artifact

, , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw two cards.

In ages past, Esper couriers bore messages written on ornate scrolls. The medium has grown more sophisticated, but the principle remains the same.

Covenant of Minds
Sorcery

Reveal the top three cards of your library. Target opponent may choose to put those cards into your hand. If they don't, put those cards into your graveyard and draw five cards.

Before signing anything on Grixis, always read the fine print.

Dawnray Archer
Creature — Human Archer

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

, : This creature deals 1 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.

Their shots are fired most often as signals—or at those who didn't get the message.

1/1
Esper Battlemage
Artifact Creature — Human Wizard

, : Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to you this turn.

, : Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

She can heal the flesh, or exploit its many weaknesses.

2/2
Etherium Astrolabe
Artifact

Flash

, , Sacrifice an artifact: Draw a card.

"Speculation is foolish when the tools of certainty are available."

—Cinna, vedalken consul

Etherium Sculptor
Artifact Creature — Vedalken Artificer

Artifact spells you cast cost less to cast.

The greatest masters of the craft abandon tools altogether, shaping metal with hand and mind alone.

1/2
Fatestitcher
Creature — Zombie Wizard

: You may tap or untap another target permanent.

Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

1/2
Filigree Sages
Artifact Creature — Vedalken Wizard

: Untap target artifact.

"We of the Sanctum Arcanum have pondered every word on every page of the Filigree Texts. If you can't say the same, don't bother speaking."

2/3
Gather Specimens
Instant

If a creature would enter the battlefield under an opponent's control this turn, it enters under your control instead.

"It's free to do whatever it wants. I've merely told it what that is."

—Xorin, Architect of Will

Jhessian Lookout
Creature — Human Scout

She stands ready, always watchful, knowing that weeks of peace and serenity can be overturned by a single distant sail.

2/1
Kathari Screecher
Creature — Bird Soldier

Flying

Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

2/2
Kederekt Leviathan
Creature — Leviathan

When this creature enters, return all other nonland permanents to their owners' hands.

Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

5/5
Master of Etherium
Artifact Creature — Vedalken Wizard

Master of Etherium's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control.

Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1.

"Only a mind unfettered with the concerns of the flesh can see the world as it truly is."

*/*
Memory Erosion
Enchantment

Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player mills two cards.

"The Filigree Texts do not compel you to act in accordance with their precepts. They only specify the consequences should you fail."

—Lodus of the Ethersworn

Mindlock Orb
Artifact

Players can't search libraries.

Rogue mechanists once rummaged through the wastes of the Tidehollow, constructing unauthorized golems to threaten the hegemony of the sphinxes. The orbs put a stop to that.

Outrider of Jhess
Creature — Human Knight

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

The island nation of Jhess is under constant siege from Valeron on the mainland. Riders traverse the coastline, always on the lookout for sails or aven.

2/2
Protomatter Powder
Artifact

, , Sacrifice this artifact: Return target artifact card from your graveyard to the battlefield.

"There is no such thing as scrap metal. All such material can be repaired with the proper bonding agent."

—Quennus, metallurgeon

Resounding Wave
Instant

Return target permanent to its owner's hand.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle this card, return two target permanents to their owners' hands.

Sharding Sphinx
Artifact Creature — Sphinx

Flying

Whenever an artifact creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may create a 1/1 blue Thopter artifact creature token with flying.

Whether mechanical or biological, life finds a way to propagate itself.

4/4
Skill Borrower
Artifact Creature — Human Wizard

Play with the top card of your library revealed.

As long as the top card of your library is an artifact or creature card, this creature has all activated abilities of that card. (If any of the abilities use that card's name, use this creature's name instead.)

1/3
Spell Snip
Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"Magic cast through a hand of flesh is just as weak as the flesh itself."

—Lodus of the Ethersworn

Sphinx's Herald
Artifact Creature — Vedalken Wizard

, , Sacrifice a white creature, a blue creature, and a black creature: Search your library for a card named Sphinx Sovereign, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

He calls a riddle through the gaps of cloven clouds, hoping for an answer.

1/1
Steelclad Serpent
Artifact Creature — Serpent

This creature can't attack unless you control another artifact.

"From the highest towers to the deepest sea, all life must be touched by etherium."

—Lodus of the Ethersworn

4/5
Tezzeret the Seeker
Legendary Planeswalker — Tezzeret

[+1]: Untap up to two target artifacts.

[−X]: Search your library for an artifact card with mana value X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

[−5]: Artifacts you control become artifact creatures with base power and toughness 5/5 until end of turn.

Loyalty: 4