Aggressive Instinct MTG Card
2016-11-16 - Number 70855
2018-06-22 - Number 34
2019-11-07 - Number 1113
2020-09-26 - Number GS1-34
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control.
"Mowu was wary that day, as though he sensed the danger ahead." —Jiang Yanggu's travelogue
Cards like Aggressive Instinct
Aggressive Instinct carves out its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a combat trick that can tilt the scales in your favor by temporarily boosting a creature’s combat capabilities. It stands shoulder to shoulder with other cards like Titanic Growth, which also provides a substantial power and toughness boost. The main distinction lies in the numerical advantage, where Titanic Growth offers a more significant increase. Yet, Aggressive Instinct takes it a step further by enabling the buffed creature to gain valuable intel, letting it see what lies in the opponent’s arsenal through its card reveal feature.
Taking a different route, Prey Upon offers a similar fight mechanic sans the power and toughness enhancement. It’s notably more cost-efficient, allowing for an earlier play, but it lacks the reactive flexibility that comes with Aggressive Instinct’s temporary stat increase. Another card in this echelon is Savage Smash, which marries the fight mechanic with a stat boost, much like Aggressive Instinct. However, it’s exclusive to Gruul colors, showcasing how Aggressive Instinct provides versatility across various decks.
All in all, MTG players recognize the unique blend of foresight and force that Aggressive Instinct provides, earning it a place among the notable combat tricks for those looking to press an advantage during battle phases.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aggressive Instinct enables you to cycle through your deck by drawing a card when it’s cast, thus replenishing your hand and edging you closer to your key spells.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Aggressive Instinct can pave the way for a successful attack, potentially leading to an accelerated victory and resource advantage through combat damage.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Aggressive Instinct at instant speed provides a tactical advantage by allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment during the combat phase, catching an opponent off guard and potentially disrupting their plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Aggressive Instinct stipulates a discard from your hand to activate its full potential. This can pose a dilemma in tight situations where every card in hand is crucial for upcoming plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise mana combination to cast, this card is tailored for decks that can easily generate the required colors. Decks not aligned with these mana colors may not be able to utilize this card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you’re aiming to maintain tempo, the mana investment to summon Aggressive Instinct can be a hindrance. There are alternative cards available that might be cast sooner or offer more immediate board presence for the same or less mana.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Aggressive Instinct is a card that can seamlessly adapt to numerous green-based decks. Its ability to both boost a creature’s power and grant it trample makes it a solid addition to enhance combat phases and push through damage.
Combo Potential: The temporary power increase can be particularly effective in decks that thrive on creature synergies or require high-power creatures to activate certain abilities. This creates opportunities for explosive plays and synergistic combos.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature combat is prevalent and board states become cluttered, Aggressive Instinct can tip the scales in your favor. It enables key creatures to overcome chump blockers and deliver potentially game-ending damage, keeping your gameplay aligned with aggressive strategies.
How to Beat
Aggressive Instinct is a card that can lead to daunting situations for many players in Magic: The Gathering. Designed to enhance a creature’s power and potentially turn the tide of battle, it’s a force to be reckoned with. To navigate around its effects, the key lies in timely removal. Employing instant speed removal spells before the combat phase can negate the benefits conferred by Aggressive Instinct. Cards like Murder or Path to Exile work wonders here, as they can dispatch the buffed creature before it inflicts any damage.
Counterplay also plays a pivotal role. Counter spells that negate the casting of Aggressive Instinct altogether, such as Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto, prevent the disadvantage from ever occurring. Alternatively, bouncing the creature back to its owner’s hand with spells like Unsummon after Aggressive Instinct has been cast can waste your opponent’s resources and leave them with less battlefield presence.
A carefully curated defense is crucial as well. If Aggressive Instinct is already in play, deploying creatures with reach or those that can block multiple creatures could weather the onslaught. The goal is clear, maintain control and prevent your opponents from leveraging the full might of Aggressive Instinct to their advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aggressive Instinct MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling, 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 Aggressive Instinct 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Aggressive Instinct Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Wolk Sheep.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 70855 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wolk Sheep | |
| 2 | 2018-06-22 | Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling | GS1 | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wolk Sheep | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wolk Sheep | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | GS1-34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wolk Sheep |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aggressive Instinct has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |