This 1996 Alliances release features the Phantasmal Sphere, a rare blue Illusion creature with unique upkeep mechanics, identified by card number 32.
Phantasmal Sphere
1996 • Magic: The Gathering • Alliances
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Description
Released in 1996 as card number 32 in the Alliances expansion, Phantasmal Sphere remains a distinct identity within the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Illustrated by Mark Tedin, this Rare blue Illusion creature features a mana cost of {1}{U} and boasts a Power/Toughness of 0/1. Its gameplay design centers on a complex upkeep trigger: at the beginning of your upkeep, you place a +1/+1 counter on this creature and must sacrifice it unless you pay {1} for each counter. When it leaves the battlefield, it forces a target opponent to create a blue Orb creature token with flying, with power and toughness equal to the number of counters on it. For collectors, this card represents a specific era of Magic design where mechanical complexity began to define creature roles. Whether you are building a vintage collection or researching the history of the Blue Orb tokens, this product offers a tangible connection to the game's foundational years. The card's unique interaction between counters and token generation makes it a fascinating study in early Magic design philosophy.
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Card Details
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Catalog Profile
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Featured Subject
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Featured
Phantasmal Sphere
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
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Rare
Mark Tedin
Card Stock
English
{1}{U}
Creature — Illusion
0 / 1
U
Card Text
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Flying At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then sacrifice this creature unless you pay {1} for each +1/+1 counter on it. When this creature leaves the battlefield, target opponent creates an X/X blue Orb creature token with flying, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on this creature.