Righteous WarHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Protection Shield

Righteous War provides two distinct static abilities. White creatures you control gain protection from black, meaning they cannot be damaged, enchanted, equipped, blocked, or targeted by anything black. Simultaneously, your black creatures gain protection from white, granting them the same immunities against white sources. Creatures that are both white and black will benefit from both shields, gaining protection from both colors.

How it Resolves and Persists

As an enchantment, Righteous War does not have an activated or triggered ability to resolve once it is on the battlefield. Its effect is continuous. As soon as the spell resolves and enters the battlefield, the protection applies immediately to all applicable creatures. If a creature enters the battlefield under your control later, it instantly gains the relevant protection. If Righteous War leaves the battlefield, these protections vanish immediately.

Common Mistakes: Multicolored Sources

A common point of confusion involves multicolored spells. Protection from black also protects a creature from a spell that is both black and green. If a source has the protected color as one of its colors, the protection applies fully. Note that 'Protection from Black' does not prevent your own black spells from targeting your white creatures, as the ability specifically stops targeting from black sources regardless of who controls them.

Strategic Implementation

This card is best utilized in decks with a high density of monocolored creatures or specific multicolored threats. It excels at bypassing blockers in an Orzhov mirror match or protecting key utility creatures from targeted removal like Doom Blade or Swords to Plowshares. It essentially makes your army uninteractive for opponents relying heavily on those two colors.

Interaction examples

Maintaining Your Resources

Phyrexian Arena

With Righteous War on the battlefield, your black creatures gain protection from white. While Phyrexian Arena draws you cards and causes life loss during your upkeep, Righteous War does not prevent this life loss. Protection only prevents damage, and 'losing life' is not damage. Your creatures remain protected from external white threats while your Arena continues to provide card advantage.

Shielding the Tax Collector

Smothering Tithe

If you control a white creature, such as a token generated by a spell, Righteous War grants it protection from black. While you have Smothering Tithe in play, your opponent might try to use a black removal spell to kill your creatures in frustration over the tax. Because of Righteous War, any black targeting spells or abilities will be illegal targets for your white creatures, forcing your opponent to pay the Tithe or let you grow your hoard of Treasures.