Hindering Light
Hindering Light: Instant, Shards of Alara. Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control. Draw a card. Prices and printings on Mana Grove.
- Mana cost
- {W}{U}
- Mana value
- 2
- Type
- Instant
- Colour identity
- White and blue (WU)
- Rarity
- Common
- Set
- Shards of Alara (ALA)
- Released
- 2008-10-03
- Collector number
- 173
- Artist
- Chris Rahn
Build around this card with Grover
About Hindering Light
Hindering Light is a Magic: The Gathering card, a common white and blue instant from Shards of Alara (ALA), an expansion set released in October 2008. It is collector number 173 in that set, with art by Chris Rahn. It costs {W}{U} (one white and one blue mana) to cast, for a mana value of 2. Its colour identity is white and blue. It is legal in Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, Commander, Duel Commander, Oathbreaker, Pauper Commander, PreDH, Brawl, Historic, Timeless, Gladiator and Penny Dreadful. It has been printed in 2 sets, from Shards of Alara (2008) to Breaking News (2024). The latest aggregated market price for this printing is $0.29 (normal finish, as of 2026-10-23).
Card text
Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
Draw a card.
Centuries of careful practice have elevated the casting of protective spells to an art form. What little offensive magic remains on Bant stands little chance of breaching them.
Market price
Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $0.29 (as of 2026-10-23).
The figure covers this printing only; other printings carry their own price on their own page.
Format legality
Legality of Hindering Light by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.
| Modern | Legal |
|---|---|
| Legacy | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Duel Commander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper Commander | Legal |
| PreDH | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny Dreadful | Legal |
Other printings of Hindering Light
Hindering Light has been printed in 2 sets. The other printings are listed newest first, with the rarity and release year of each.
| Printing | Rarity | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking News (OTP) #46 | Uncommon | 2024 |
Official rulings
Two official rulings apply to Hindering Light, newest first.
- Hindering Light can target a spell that has multiple targets, as long as at least one of those targets is you or a permanent you control.
- You may choose to target a spell that “can’t be countered.” If you do, the first part of Hindering Light’s effect won’t do anything, but you’ll still get to draw a card.
Similar cards
Other instant cards with a white and blue colour identity, ranked by how often they appear in Commander decks.