Defense Grid
Eighth Edition 296 • rare
- Set
- Eighth Edition
- Collector number
- 296
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- 2 generic mana
- Type
- Artifact
- Colors
- Colorless
- Artist
- Mark Tedin
- Market price
- $7.25
What it does
Each spell costs 3 generic mana more to cast except during its controller's turn.
"A good deal of tyranny goes by the name of protection."— Crystal Eastman, "Equality or Protection"
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricLegal
- TimelessLegal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Defense Grid was first introduced in the Urza's Saga expansion in 1998, designed as a powerful artifact to punish decks that rely on instant-speed interaction. It reflects the tactical environment of the late 1990s, where 'blue-control' strategies dominated the competitive landscape. By increasing the mana cost of spells played during an opponent's turn by three, it forces players to commit their resources during their main phase, fundamentally altering the tempo of a match.
The Eighth Edition printing, which includes collector number 296, marked the game's shift into the 'Modern' card frame aesthetic. The artwork, illustrated by Greg Staples, captures the cold, mechanical nature of the card's function with a detailed, metallic drone-like construct. When released in this core set, it was received as a essential sideboard staple for aggressive decks, cementing its legacy as one of the most efficient defensive tools in the history of the game.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Defense Grid
Defense Grid is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Eighth Edition 296 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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