Force of VirtueForce of Virtue | Art by Livia Prima

Welcome, white mages and creature protectors. Today, I want to share a specific set of white cards from Magic: The Gathering's rich history with you. This group of white cards is a special subset capable of being cast without mana. Does casting a card for zero mana sound appealing?

It behooves me to mention white's only card with a casting cost. Intervention PactIntervention Pact can save you from game-ending damage. However, you will need to pay at your next upkeep, or you'll lose the game. Thankfully, white gives players other opportunities to cast cards for zero mana.

One such example is Orim's CureOrim's Cure, a card that could be older than you. Paying two mana to prevent the next four damage dealt to any target is underwhelming. More importantly, the ability to cast Orim's CureOrim's Cure for free by tapping a creature and controlling a Plains makes it slightly better. While I realize Orim's CureOrim's Cure may not appear in most Commander decklists, it is a step above draft chaff.

Fortunately, there are several Commander-playable white cards you can cast for free. Let's discuss white's best free spells that are worth your attention.

7. SunscourSunscour

I want to start with the arguably playable SunscourSunscour from Coldsnap. We agree that seven mana to destroy all creatures is awful. You may as well play Day of JudgmentDay of Judgment, FumigateFumigate, or DoomskarDoomskar instead. Yet, you may cast SunscourSunscour for no mana at the price of exiling two white cards. The opportunity to destroy creatures for no mana is attractive, but losing two additional cards in hand is not.

So, where does it make sense to run SunscourSunscour? If you don't plan to cast SunscourSunscour for free, skip to the next white card for discussion. Otherwise, you may find success slotting SunscourSunscour in a deck. After exiling two cards to SunscourSunscour, you need enough cards remaining in your hand to cast something beneficial. Blue's card draw capabilities may be enough to offset SunscourSunscour's alternative casting cost. Lastly, don't forget that the cards you exile to Sunscour don't have to be just white. They can be multicolored cards, as long as one of their colors is white.

6. LashknifeLashknife

It's understandable if you've never seen someone cast LashknifeLashknife in Commander. Like SunscourSunscour, LashknifeLashknife, from Nemesis, received only one printing. Moreover, LashknifeLashknife's ability is of niche use. Giving a creature first strike is mediocre, even when you can do so for zero mana. So why are we discussing it? Because it has a possible home in the 99 of two white commanders.

Light-Paws, Emperor's VoiceLight-Paws, Emperor's Voice is an incredible commander option for Aura-centric decks. You can quickly power up Light-Paws, Emperor's VoiceLight-Paws, Emperor's Voice with Auras from your hand and library to deal lethal commander damage. Furthermore, you can cast LashknifeLashknife for free to then attach another Aura with two or less mana from your library.

I like how you can use Light-Paws, Emperor's VoiceLight-Paws, Emperor's Voice itself as a tappable creature to meet LashknifeLashknife's zero mana condition. Also, LashknifeLashknife's casting cost enables more Aura options to fetch a second one from your library. A few fantastic two-mana Auras to pull from your library are: All That GlittersAll That Glitters, Spirit MantleSpirit Mantle, Sheltered by GhostsSheltered by Ghosts, and Daybreak CoronetDaybreak Coronet.

The other synergistic commander choice is Pearl-Ear, Imperial AdvisorPearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor. Having LashknifeLashknife and other Auras on your battlefield fuels Pearl-Ear, Imperial AdvisorPearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor's affinity effect. Additionally, you may cast LashknifeLashknife for no mana to target a modified creature and draw a card. Who doesn't want to draw a free card? LashknifeLashknife can be a fine support card for Pearl-Ear, Imperial AdvisorPearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor, due to its alternate casting cost.

5. Reverent MantraReverent Mantra

If Rebecca Guay's beautiful artwork isn't enough reason to play Reverent MantraReverent Mantra, maybe its ability will convince you. Reverent MantraReverent Mantra gives all creatures protection from a color of your choice until the end of turn. And you can cast it for free by exiling another white card instead of paying its cost.

Yes, providing your opponents' creatures protection of a color isn't stellar. Though you may make a temporary ally as Reverent MantraReverent Mantra can nullify Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act, the most played red card on EDHREC. Saving creatures from a Delayed Blast FireballDelayed Blast Fireball is excellent as well. Additionally, you can send a brigade of attacking creatures through blockers that share a color chosen by Reverent MantraReverent Mantra. Using Reverent MantraReverent Mantra to protect your commander or a key creature from targeted removal isn't outlandish either. Although Reverent MantraReverent Mantra's global effect limits its potential, it can prove helpful in many situations.

4. AbolishAbolish

Long-time MTG players may recall AbolishAbolish, a card printed initially in Prophecy. It's part of an alternate casting cost card cycle that included the well-known FoilFoil. Unlike FoilFoil, AbolishAbolish only asks you to discard one card (a Plains) to destroy an artifact or enchantment for free. Interestingly, it can slide into multicolor decks since nonbasic lands such as Temple GardenTemple Garden, Elegant ParlorElegant Parlor, and Savai TriomeSavai Triome possess the Plains type.

AbolishAbolish is the kind of card you didn't know you needed until you lose to it. I once had an opponent cast an AbolishAbolish for no mana to destroy my Rings of BrighthearthRings of Brighthearth. Sadly, they disrupted my two-card infinite combo of Rings of BrighthearthRings of Brighthearth and Basalt MonolithBasalt Monolith. I wasn't aware of AbolishAbolish's existence until it ruined my path to victory. Hopefully, the same situation won't happen to you now that you know about AbolishAbolish! Instead, you can surprise an unsuspecting opponent by destroying their artifact or enchantment for no mana. Next time you visit a local game store with bulk bins, you may want to check it for a copy.

3. Force of VirtueForce of Virtue

Modern Horizons' Force of VirtueForce of Virtue appears to be an overpriced enchantment that gives your creatures +1/+1. Nevertheless, it also possesses flash and may be played for zero mana. Is exiling a white card from your hand worth casting Force of VirtueForce of Virtue for free? It could be, to save your creatures from an opponent's Brotherhood's EndBrotherhood's End or Anger of the GodsAnger of the Gods. In addition, having an army of 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens perish by End the FestivitiesEnd the Festivities would be unfortunate.

Force of VirtueForce of Virtue may also serve as an offensive tool. Alela, Artful ProvocateurAlela, Artful Provocateur and Kykar, Wind's FuryKykar, Wind's Fury produce 1/1 creature tokens with flying. These evasive creature tokens double in power from a +1/+1 buff, which can end games faster through combat damage. Force of VirtueForce of Virtue also synergizes with Selesnya commanders Kudo, King Among BearsKudo, King Among Bears and Jasmine Boreal of the SevenJasmine Boreal of the Seven. Pumping the power and toughness of 2/2 Bears and stat-less creatures will make them slightly more threatening.

2. Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude

Modern Horizons 3 gave white players Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude. For four mana, it protects you and your permanents from harm for an entire turn. Better yet, you may cast Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude for free by sacrificing a nontoken white creature. Facing a lethal ExsanguinateExsanguinate or Torment of HailfireTorment of Hailfire? What about an ArmageddonArmageddon or RuinationRuination? Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude can save you from those horrifying spells and more!

Notably, Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude doesn't protect you and your permanents from mass exile effects. An opponent's FarewellFarewell will remove indestructible artifacts, creatures, and enchantments from the battlefield. SunfallSunfall exiles creatures as well. Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude may not be as amazing as Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection, but it does provide a similar effect for no mana.

White commanders focusing on tokens may want a copy of Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude. Breakout star Baylen, the HaymakerBaylen, the Haymaker wants you to play many token-generating cards. Excitingly, Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude can provide indestructible and hexproof to Treasure, Food, and creature tokens. Protecting creature tokens is a priority for Arabella, Abandoned DollArabella, Abandoned Doll. Keeping low-power creature tokens and cards alive will help amplify Arabella, Abandoned DollArabella, Abandoned Doll's attack trigger. Try out Flare of FortitudeFlare of Fortitude in other token-themed decks to see how it performs for you.

1. Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver

MTG's most-played white free spell is Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver. There are no real drawbacks when casting Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver for free to give creatures you control indestructible for a turn. The only requirement to playing it for free is controlling your commander. You're welcome to pay Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver's mana cost, but why bother?

There are many plausible homes for Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver, especially in creature-centric decks. Angels and Soldiers and Dinosaurs, oh my! We can't skim over kindred decks led by Isshin, Two Heavens as OneIsshin, Two Heavens as One or Sidar Jabari of ZhalfirSidar Jabari of Zhalfir. I also enjoy running Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver in my mono-white Lin Sivvi, Defiant HeroLin Sivvi, Defiant Hero and Equipment-themed Dogmeat, Ever LoyalDogmeat, Ever Loyal decks. If you have a white creature deck, you'll likely want Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver in the 99.

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