---
name: "Esper Battlemage"
mana_cost: "{2}{U}"
cmc: 3
type_line: "Artifact Creature — Human Wizard"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["B", "U", "W"]
keywords: []
set: "ALA"
set_name: "Shards of Alara"
collector_number: "40"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "Matt Cavotta"
oracle_id: "2551f383-7308-4670-9fda-406b20e372a5"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/esper-battlemage-ala"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Esper Battlemage
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{U}` (CMC: 3)
- **Type:** Artifact Creature — Human Wizard
- **Power/Toughness:** 2/2

## Oracle Text
{W}, {T}: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to you this turn.
{B}, {T}: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

> *She can heal the flesh, or exploit its many weaknesses.*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Wandering Mage](/printing/wandering-mage-me3.md) — Creature — Human Cleric Wizard
2. [Stonewise Fortifier](/printing/stonewise-fortifier-jou.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
3. [Stormscape Master](/printing/stormscape-master-inv.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
4. [Necra Disciple](/printing/necra-disciple-apc.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
5. [Shieldmage Elder](/printing/shieldmage-elder-ons.md) — Creature — Human Cleric Wizard
6. [Crafty Pathmage](/printing/crafty-pathmage-9ed.md) — Creature — Human Wizard

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Shards of Alara (ALA) #40
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** Matt Cavotta
- **Total Printings:** 9 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`