Penance, an enchantment that many are likely unfamiliar with, is seeing a price spike. The bizarre enchantment offers a strong, but selective effect for a strong drawback. Preventing damage from a black or red source may be enticing at some Commander tables, but the reason why this card is seeing a spike is likely due to its activation cost.
There is a good chance that the new Aminatou, Veil Protector is the cause for Penance’s price spike. The card is both an enchantment and synergizes with the Miracle mechanic that Aminatou boasts. The card has spiked from 30 cents to $5 over the past few weeks, as a result.
Penance
- Mana Value: 2W
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Card Type: Enchantment
- MTG Sets: Exodus
- Card Text: Choose a card from your hand and put that card on top of your library: Prevent all damage from a black or red source.
Penance is certainly a weird Magic card. In most cases, the tradeoff offered here is almost never worth it. Paying a card to shut off damage from a black or red permanent is probably a losing strategy. It would be much better to simply remove the permanent with a card instead. That said, the ability to repurpose dead cards into damage prevention can be worthwhile.
While Penance is pretty bad in isolation, it works amazingly well with Aminatou, Veil Protector. Since Aminatou is interested in drawing massive enchantments from the top of your library can easily set up massive plays.
Aminatou gives your enchantments a Miracle cost, basically reducing the casting cost of the card by four mana. Penance can reset any enchantment in your hand back on the top of your deck. This ensures it’s ready for a cost reduction from Aminatou when you draw it as the first card for your turn.
Alongside Aminatou, there are a few powerful Miracle cards also getting reprinted. This could also increase potential interest in Penance, even outside of Aminatou, Veiled Protector decks themselves. Between being an upgrade to a Duskmourn Precon, and supporting the Miracle keyword getting some support, it’s no wonder that Penance is seeing an increase in interest so suddenly.
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