It seems like no matter how hard I try I just can't bring myself to care all that much about damage prevention abilities or spells. I know that there are probably some which are reasonably good but to me creatures are expendable and unless i've already lost 19 stopping my self from losing a single life seems too much like a waste when I could be doing damage to the opponent. But on occasion there are cards that make me want to try it again.

Oriss, Samite Guardian is a legendary human cleric from the future sight expansion set of magic the gathering. A 1/3 creature that costs two white mana and one colorless to put into play. Her main ability is that she can tap to prevent all damage to a creature this turn. This is something that I generally don't care all that much about but at no cost but to tap a creature it is of some value if for no other reason than it lets me use her as a really good wall.

The real reason that you would use Oriss, Samite Guardian though is because of her grandeur ability. Grandeur is an ability which lets you discard a legendary creature if that same creature is already in play and get some effect. In this case the effect reads "Grandeur - Discard another card named Oriss, Samite Guardian: Target player can't cast spells this turn, and creatures that player controls can't attack this turn."

This is a very powerful ability, and one that if used correctly is going to cause some real problems for the opponent. This is because if used correctly it is both a counterspell and a partial time walk in the same card.

To do this all you do is play Oriss, Samite Guardian while you have another in your hand and then wait. During your opponent's next turn he is likely to try to play a spell or creature. When he does use the grandeur ability of Oriss, Samite Guardian. The spell will no longer be playable and so be effectively counter spelled, and since he won't be able to play any more spells or attack this turn there really isn't much else for him to do and the odds are high he is just going to end that turn, making it a partial time walk though the opponent still gets to untap and draw a card.

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