Ardent Plea MTG Card


Utilize Ardent Plea’s Cascade for unexpected free plays and strategic edge during games. Efficiently costed at three mana, it can quickly ramp up a player’s board presence. Though restricted by Exalted, it stimulates a more tactical one-creature attack strategy.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Cascade,Exalted

Text of card

Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Cascade (When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)


Cards like Ardent Plea

Ardent Plea, a card of distinctive importance in Magic: The Gathering, holds substantial resemblance to cards such as Violent Outburst and Demonic Dread. Each of these follows the Cascade mechanic, allowing you to uncover a card with a lesser mana cost from your library and further summon it without any monetary spend. Ardent Plea stands apart because of its Exalted ability, strengthening the single attacker by +1/+1. In comparison, both, Violent Outburst and Demonic Dread lack this function.

Borrowed Grace presents yet another comparison, which also could be used as a combat trick for boosting the entire team. Nevertheless, it misses out on Ardent Plea’s essential cascade mechanic. On the other hand, Ardent Plea gives the player an advantage of being low-priced and versatile with an affordable cost of three mana.

In summary, Ardent Plea, despite having the Exalted mechanism, stands on the same ground as Violent Outburst and Demonic Dread taking into account its core Cascade functionality. Owing to its poised trade-offs and capacity to build strength, Ardent Plea indeed earns a plausible rank within enchantment spells in Magic: The Gathering.

Violent Outburst - MTG Card versions
Demonic Dread - MTG Card versions
Borrowed Grace - MTG Card versions
Violent Outburst - MTG Card versions
Demonic Dread - MTG Card versions
Borrowed Grace - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ardent Plea by color, type and mana cost

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Chromatic Armor - MTG Card versions
Spectral Shield - MTG Card versions
Arenson's Aura - MTG Card versions
Reparations - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Care - MTG Card versions
Plumes of Peace - MTG Card versions
Steel of the Godhead - MTG Card versions
Detention Sphere - MTG Card versions
Ephara's Enlightenment - MTG Card versions
Invocation of Saint Traft - MTG Card versions
Lawmage's Binding - MTG Card versions
Dovin's Acuity - MTG Card versions
High Alert - MTG Card versions
The Raven's Warning - MTG Card versions
Niko Defies Destiny - MTG Card versions
Moderation - MTG Card versions
A-Brine Comber // A-Brinebound Gift - MTG Card versions
Brine Comber // Brinebound Gift - MTG Card versions
Pull of the Mist Moon - MTG Card versions
Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ardent Plea. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Living EndLiving End ModernLiving EndModern Preliminary 2024-05-10 (1)
Crashing FootfallsCrashing Footfalls ModernCrashing FootfallsModern League 2024-05-10

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ardent Plea’s Cascade ability is what gives it a significant card advantage. Whenever you cast Ardent Plea, you get to exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less, which you can cast for free. This special characteristic allows for an unexpected twist in the game, bringing about new strategies and keeping your opponent on their toes.

Resource Acceleration: Costing only three mana to cast, Ardent Plea is quite efficient for what it brings to the table. The resource acceleration it provides can be vital in the early to mid-game. Its low cost also contributes to this, enabling earlier usage thus accelerating your game plan and potentially overloading your opponent’s resources while they attempt to keep up.

Instant Speed: While Ardent Plea itself isn’t an instant, its Cascade effect has an impact similar to instant cards. The card you cast for free due to Cascade is essentially at instant speed, irrespective of its original speed. This efficient utilization of your resources during your turn can create outstanding game-changing moments, giving you command of the field while disrupting your opponent’s plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ardent Plea doesn’t have a typical discard requirement, it does employ the Exalted mechanic. This effectively ‘discards’ any hopes of a multi-creature attack, as the Exalted buff only works when one creature attacks alone, possibly leaving you in a tough spot when facing a deck with numerous creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Ardent Plea holds a mana cost that includes white and blue mana. This color specific cost makes it challenging to fit in decks that don’t support these colors, limiting its overall adaptability and usage across multiple deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effect, Ardent Plea costs three mana, which may seem low, but considering other cards with similar effects, the cost can be deemed somewhat high. When wanting to maintain a fast-paced game, you may find cheaper alternatives that provide a similar benefit, making Ardent Plea’s mana cost a potential drawback in low-curve or fast-paced decks.


Reasons to Include Ardent Plea in Your Collection

Versatility: Ardent Plea, an enchantment with Exalted mechanic, can find a spot in many deck archetypes. Its Cascade feature, allowing you to cast another card costing less for free, provides a broad spectrum of strategic possibilities.

Combo Potential: The blending of exalted and cascade creates diverse combo potentials. The bonus granted by Exalted stacks each time Ardent Plea is cast, resulting in sizeable power boosts. The cascade mechanism enhances deck fluidity, setting off a chain reaction of card plays.

Meta-Relevance: A well-positioned card in the current meta, Ardent Plea thrives in metagames abundant with control strategies. Its capacity to bypass traditional casting methods through its cascade ability makes it a worthwhile inclusion.


How to beat

Ardent Plea is an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). First, it has Exalted, a mechanic that boosts a creature’s power and toughness if it’s the only one attacking. This mechanic alone challenges your deck-building strategy, as you’ll need to factor it into your attack phase. Secondly, the Ardent Plea’s Cascade element unpredictably casts spells from the top of your deck and can be hard to combat directly. This dynamic aspect gives the Ardent Plea an unpredictable nature as it can lead to some seriously favorable outcomes for its controller.

The key to overcoming Ardent Plea lies in the precise timing of counter spells and removal effects. Use cards such as Negate or Disallow to counter the Plea itself or to handle the potential threat arising from the Cascade mechanic. In addition to counter spells, creature removal spells like Doom Blade or Murder can help handle the enhanced creatures Ardent Plea could create during the combat phase.

Ultimately, the most effective way to beat the Ardent Plea is by observing the game state and making strategic decisions that prevent your opponent from maximizing the card’s value on their attack phase and its Cascade effect.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the dynamics of Ardent Plea can significantly influence your MTG gameplay. Its versatility and combo potential make it a gem for deck builders aiming for strategic depth. But it’s also crucial to recognize its limitations and plan accordingly. As we navigate the ever-evolving meta, cards like Ardent Plea with Cascade effect open doors to new possibilities and challenge us to adapt our tactics. Ready to dive deeper and refine your deck with Ardent Plea’s unique abilities? Join our community to learn more and enhance your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ardent Plea MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and The List, 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 Ardent Plea and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ardent Plea Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2009-04-30. Illustrated by Chippy.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 12003NormalBlackChippy
22020-09-26The ListPLST ARB-12003NormalBlackChippy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ardent Plea has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ardent Plea card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-06-18 A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
2021-06-18 Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
2021-06-18 Due to a recent rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
2021-06-18 If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
2021-06-18 If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2021-06-18 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
2021-06-18 The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
2021-06-18 When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
2021-06-18 You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.