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
- $6.86
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 DreadfulNot legal
- 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 potent defensive tool to punish decks that relied on casting spells during an opponent's turn. Its inclusion in the Eighth Edition core set in 2003 marked its transition into the modern era of the game, serving as a staple sideboard card intended to counter the prevalence of instant-speed interaction and control strategies.
The card’s artwork was provided by Mark Tedin, a longtime contributor to the game known for his surreal and mechanical aesthetic. Tedin's illustration captures the artifact's function through a complex, geometric grid structure, emphasizing the theme of a barrier being erected against magical interference. The design was received by players as a specialized but necessary piece of technology for competitive play, prized for its ability to stabilize the tempo of a match.
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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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