Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Rarity, Print Run, and Five-Color Potential
In the grand tapestry of Core Set 2021, Sanctum of All stands out not just for its impressive mana cost but for its bold, five-color identity. This legendary Enchantment — Shrine comes with a demanding {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} mana cost, a rare slot in a world where most shrines are color-specific or less ambitious in color commitment. The card’s rarity isn’t merely a label on a page; it reflects a deliberate design choice by Wizards of the Coast to reward patient, multi-color strategies that are both powerful and fragile to assemble in a multiplayer format 🧙♂️🔥. Johannes Voss’s art helps sell that fantasy of a sanctum that contains the essences of all shrines, a nexus where color and tradition collide in a glittering convergence.
The print run reality for Sanctum of All, as captured in the Scryfall data, shows a single, definitive printing in Core Set 2021 (set code M21) with both foil and nonfoil finishes. It was not reprinted in subsequent sets, and there is no etched or alternate frame version listed in the dataset. That matters for collectors and EDH players alike: while foil copies tend to fetch a premium in the long haul, the card’s five-color identity and its niche “six Shrines” synergy also give it consistent—but measured—demand in commander circles where five-color identity is a frequent talking point 🧩💎. The rarity designation and lack of reprint mean a relatively stable ceiling on supply, even as modern decks push five-color engines toward ever more ambitious configurations.
Market figures in the data set show modest price points that reflect both supply and demand: a USD price around $0.93 for non-foil and around $1.40 for foil; EUR values sit similarly modest. That combination—low entry price for new players and a foil premium for collectors—makes Sanctum of All an accessible centerpiece for a five-color Shrine strategy, especially in casual to mid-power tables where the card’s up-to-the-upkeep tutor ability can shine with the right board state 🧙♂️🎲.
Why a Five-Color Shrine matters in print reality
Sanctum of All isn’t a one-trick pony. Its upkeep-triggered tutor to fetch a Shrine from your library or graveyard creates a persistent engine that can grow with the number of Shrines you control. If you’ve managed to assemble six or more Shrines, the ability earns a second trigger for each Shrine you control, effectively doubling your prized triggers at the moment you need them most. In practical terms, this means you can accelerate your shrine-based plan with a single card that acts as both a tutor and a catalyst for your board state. The five-color cost ensures that the card itself demands an ambitious mana base, one that supports a broad mana spectrum and resilient mana fixing in a five-color strategy 🔥⚔️.
From a design perspective, Sanctum of All fits neatly into the broader Shrine concept—an evergreen engine within a multicolor ecosystem. While early Shrine cycles in Magic’s history leaned into tribal or color-pie themes, Sanctum of All uses that motif as a force multiplier. It isn’t just a mana rock; it’s a strategic pivot that can enable several lines of play, from aggressive exploitation of Shrine triggers to subtle, long-game control where you gradually assemble the board state you need. The card’s place in Core Set 2021 also signals Wizards’ intention to celebrate five-color synergy in a single, iconic frame, inviting players to experiment with a deck that doesn’t shy away from the complexity of a mana-base built to support every color at once 🧙♂️💎.
Design, Lore, and the Art of the Shrine
The Sanctum of All artwork—courtesy of Johannes Voss—captures a sense of mythic gravity befitting a shrine that promises access to all others. The black border, frame, and “legendary” designation emphasize its status as a centerpiece of any shrine-centric plan. The five-color mana cost visually reinforces the idea of unity across the five planes, a thematic thread that resonates with players who love EDH and multi-color control builds. In terms of lore flavor, the card’s text alludes to a sanctuary that stands as a conduit to de facto multi-color power, inviting a parade of shrines to the battlefield and offering a way to bring them online in a controlled, strategic fashion 🧭🎨.
From a gameplay perspective, Sanctum of All is more than a mana sink. It is a strategic accelerator that rewards careful planning and resource management. The interplay between tutor power and creature-free setup makes it a natural fit for decks that want redundancy—multiple Shrines on the battlefield, multiple ways to fetch more Shrines, and the resilience that comes from a commander-friendly, five-color toolkit. If you enjoy the thrill of a well-timed shrine chain, Sanctum of All gives you a way to tilt the game toward your favor while rewarding thoughtful sideboard and sequencing decisions ⚔️.
Collector Value and Playground Potential
For collectors, the card’s rarity, coupled with its single-print status in M21, makes Sanctum of All a thoughtful addition to a Shrine or five-color collection. Foil copies are notably more collectible, and with modern reprint cycles unpredictable, a foil Sanctum of All may prove a neat hedge in a long-term collection strategy. On the playground side, five-color decks—particularly in EDH—can leverage Sanctum of All to mount a late-game plan that feels both showy and deeply satisfying. The card’s tutor ability, combined with the potential to double Shrine triggers, signals a pathway to dramatic, splashy turns that often become memorable moments in multiplayer formats 🧙♂️💥.
Meanwhile, the card’s price point and availability make it approachable for new players who want to dip a toe into five-color Shrine synergy without breaking the bank. The combination of rarity and manageable price means Sanctum of All can act as a gateway card—one that teaches about fetch mechanics, Shrine synergies, and the importance of a well-constructed mana base in a multi-color build. And if you’re in the mood for a desk upgrade during long drafting sessions, a compatible, stylish accessory like the Neon Desk Mouse Pad can complement those marathoning nights of deckbuilding and playtesting 🔥🎲.
As you plan your five-color Shrine shell, don’t overlook the small opportunities Sanctum of All provides to pivot into graveyard recursion, library manipulation, and strategic tutoring. It is a card that rewards players who keep a steady rhythm—upkeep triggers, library shuffles, and the careful staging of a shrine army into a winning battlefield. The narrative of Sanctum of All—one that invites all colors to a shared sanctuary—fits neatly into a game world that loves grand plans, big moments, and just enough chaos to keep every match feeling fresh 🧙♂️💎.
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