A Good Thing MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 86
2021-08-20 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Spells and abilities you control can't destroy, exile, target, or cause you to sacrifice CARDNAME. At the beginning of your upkeep, double your life total. Then, if you have 1,000 or more life, you lose the game.
Cards like A Good Thing
A Good Thing stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering its users a unique combination of life gain and creature enhancement. When we look at cards like Moment of Heroism, we see a common thread of life gain and temporary boosts in creature power. However, A Good Thing brings a more permanent solution to the table by not only increasing a creature’s power but also by providing additional durability through its toughness increase, which is absent in Moment of Heroism.
Examine the attributes of a card like Heroes’ Reunion. While it provides a significant life boost without the commitment to a creature, it lacks the versatility that A Good Thing confers, as it doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the board. Similarly, cards like Feat of Strength also offer a power and toughness bonus but differ from A Good Thing because they are not as focused on life gain.
To wrap up, A Good Thing offers a dynamic approach, blending durability with life gain. It can be seen as a hybrid, providing a comprehensive package that caters to both immediate and long-term strategies, which is a boon for players looking to strengthen their creatures while maintaining a high life total.
Cards similar to A Good Thing by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: A Good Thing distinguishes itself as a powerhouse of card flow, letting players pull ahead by amassing more options in hand. This translates to a significant edge, whether by outpacing an opponent’s strategies or by providing the means to answer imminent threats on the board.
Resource Acceleration: The card excels in its ability to speed up your gameplay, granting access to additional resources crucial for deploying game-changing plays sooner. This swift ramp in resources can often catapult you into a position of strength, making A Good Thing a linchpin in setting the pace of the match.
Instant Speed: Its instant speed attribute allows for supreme flexibility, enabling reactive play to opponents’ actions or optimal timing for your strategies. This quality ensures that your mana is utilized efficiently, maintaining the element of surprise and giving you the upper hand during critical moments of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A Good Thing card obligates a player to discard another card upon activation. This can be a costly exchange, especially when your hand is already dwindling or the discarded card is critical for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana combination to cast, potentially constraining it to decks that can reliably produce the required colors. If your mana base isn’t tailored to accommodate such requirements, playing A Good Thing can be challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end, A Good Thing may not always be the optimal play. Players could find themselves sacrificing tempo or bypassing other actions to meet its casting cost—actions that might provide a more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include A Good Thing in Your Collection
Versatility: A Good Thing offers a seamless blend into various strategies, pleasantly fitting control, aggro, or combo-based decks due to its ability to impact multiple facets of the game.
Combo Potential: This card’s unique effect paves the way for inventive combos, amplifying decks designed around specific synergies or interactions, opening the door for endless creativity.
Meta-Relevance: Having a card that can adapt to current popular decks is invaluable. A Good Thing brings this relevancy, making it a must-have for players aiming to stay competitive.
How to beat
A Good Thing is an intriguing card that can pose certain challenges in MTG gameplay. To counter this card effectively, a strategic approach is key. Firstly, consider spell timing; interrupting your opponent’s strategy during their upkeep phase can leave them unable to capitalize on the card’s benefits. Removal spells that can target artifacts quickly, like Abrade or Naturalize, are essential in your deck to swiftly dismantle the advantages A Good Thing provides.
Additionally, hand disruption is a reliable tactic to prevent your opponent from casting A Good Thing in the first place. Thoughtseize or Duress are powerful cards that strip key pieces from your opponent’s grip, potentially leaving them without the means to play A Good Thing at all. Finally, stay ahead in resource accumulation. If your deck operates on gaining card advantage through draw spells and efficiency, you’ll find yourself in a good position to outpace the incremental gains A Good Thing offers.
Understanding the inherent mechanics of A Good Thing and incorporating a mix of disruption, removal, and resource advantage will significantly boost your odds of victory against decks that utilize this card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A Good Thing MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the A Good Thing and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The A Good Thing Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Yoni Skolnik.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yoni Skolnik | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yoni Skolnik |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering A Good Thing card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | To double a player’s life total, that player gains as much life as needed so that their life total is twice the number it was before. If their life total was negative, that player loses as much life as needed so that their life total is twice as far below 0 as it was before. Other effects interact with this life gain or loss accordingly. |