Reverent SilenceHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Reverent Silence has a simple but devastating effect: it destroys all enchantments on the battlefield. This includes your own enchantments as well as your opponents'. Its most notable feature is its alternative casting cost. If you control at least one land with the Forest subtype, you may choose to cast this spell without paying its mana cost by granting each other player 6 life.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you check if you control a Forest to decide if you want to use the alternative cost. If you do, your opponents gain 6 life as part of the casting process. When the spell resolves, it identifies every permanent on the battlefield with the 'Enchantment' type. All of these permanents are destroyed simultaneously and put into their owners' graveyards. Note that cards with 'Indestructible' will remain on the battlefield, as the spell specifically uses the 'destroy' keyword.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is forgetting that you must control a Forest to use the free casting cost; any land with the Forest type works, including non-basic lands with the subtype. Another error is thinking you only give life to one player; the card explicitly states 'each other player,' which is particularly relevant in multiplayer formats like Commander. Finally, remember that this spell is a sorcery, so you cannot cast it in response to an opponent's play unless you have a way to grant the spell flash.

When to Play It

Reverent Silence is best utilized when the board is flooded with problematic enchantments like Ghostly Prison or powerful Sagas. It is particularly effective in decks that don't rely on enchantments themselves, or when the 6 life given to opponents is negligible compared to the advantage gained by clearing the board. It serves as an excellent 'panic button' when you are low on mana but have established your mana base.

Interaction examples

Setting Up the Forest

Cultivate

On turn three, you cast Cultivate to search for two basic Forest cards. You put one onto the battlefield tapped. On your next turn, because you now control a Forest, you can cast Reverent Silence for its alternative cost. You have each other player gain 6 life, and in exchange, you destroy all enchantments on the board while keeping your four mana open for other spells.

Mana Efficiency

Kodama's Reach

If your opponent has played several threatening enchantments early in the game, you can use Kodama's Reach to ensure you have a Forest in play. Once the Forest is on the battlefield, you can immediately cast Reverent Silence for free. This allows you to wipe the board of enchantments and still have mana available to cast a creature or another spell from your hand during the same turn.