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Sustaining Spirit
ALL · Alliances #18 · Rare · released 1996-06-10
{1}{W}
Creature — Angel Spirit
Cumulative upkeep {1}{W} (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
Damage that would reduce your life total to less than 1 reduces it to 1 instead.
"Faith is our greatest protector."
—Halvor Arensson, Kjeldoran Priest
Sustaining Spirit is a rare white creature from Alliances (1996). It has been printed 2 times across 2 sets, from 1996 to 2008. Its recent market price is about $1.24. It is legal in Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Oathbreaker and Penny Dreadful.
USD$1.24
Format legality
Where you can play Sustaining Spirit in sanctioned and popular formats.
StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
HistoricNot legal
BrawlNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
All printings (2)
Prices range from $1.24 to $1.24 across finishes. Cheapest printing: Alliances at $1.24.
| Set | No. | Rarity | Price | Foil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliances This page | 18 | Rare | $1.24 | — |
| Masters Edition II | 36 | Rare | — | — |
More from Alliances
Rulings
Official rulings from Wizards of the Coast (7).
- 2008-10-01Sustaining Spirit won’t prevent you from losing the game if your life total is 0 or less or some other effect causes you to lose the game.
- 2008-10-01The second ability is not a prevention effect. It stops unpreventable damage from reducing your life total below 1.
- 2008-10-01The ability doesn’t change how much damage is dealt; it just changes how much life that damage makes you lose. An effect such as Spirit Link will see the full amount of damage being dealt.
- 2008-10-01If an effect asks you to pay life, you can’t pay more life than you have.
- 2008-10-01The second ability applies only if your life total is being reduced by damage. Other effects or costs (such as “lose 1 life” or “pay 1 life”) can reduce your life total below 1 as normal.
- 2008-10-01Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep {1}” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay {4} or sacrifice the permanent.
- 2004-10-04Does not affect damage if you are already at zero or negative life. You still take it all.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sustaining Spirit legal in Commander?
Yes — Sustaining Spirit is legal in Commander (EDH).
What formats is Sustaining Spirit legal in?
Sustaining Spirit is legal in Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Oathbreaker and Penny Dreadful.
How many times has Sustaining Spirit been printed?
Sustaining Spirit has been printed 2 times across 2 sets, from 1996 to 2008.
What is the cheapest printing of Sustaining Spirit?
The cheapest printing is Alliances (#18) at about $1.24.
Who illustrated Sustaining Spirit?
This printing of Sustaining Spirit was illustrated by Rebecca Guay.