Intervention of Keranos MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2014-03-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Battle the Horde |
| Set code | TBTH |
| Number | 8 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Key Takeaways
- Scry 3 ability positions Intervention of Keranos as a game-defining force, ensuring strategic top-deck manipulation.
- Instant access to two red mana accelerates plays, enhancing a player’s ability to influence the game tempo.
- Utilizing instant speed effectively can pivot the match, allowing Intervention of Keranos to integrate into complex strategies.
Text of card
At the beginning of combat this turn, Intervention of Keranos deals 3 damage to each creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Intervention of Keranos offers a compelling strategic benefit by allowing its caster to scry 3, thereby setting up future draws and improving the quality of cards pulled into your hand. This process sifts through the deck, enhancing the probability of accessing necessary resources and strategies to outmaneuver your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: When Intervention of Keranos resolves, it delivers instant access to two red mana through its additional ability. This burst of resources can be pivotal, enabling players to deploy additional threats or responses within the same turn, keeping up the pressure and driving the game’s momentum forward.
Instant Speed: The versatility of Intervention of Keranos is further augmented by its instant speed. This allows skilled players to weave it seamlessly into their strategy, maximizing their mana each turn. Timing this card right, perhaps in response to an opponent’s move or at the end of their turn, ensures you maintain the elements of surprise and adaptability, two cornerstones for achieving victory in the ever-shifting landscape of a Magic the Gathering match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Intervention of Keranos necessitates the discarding of a card to activate its ability. This condition can be detrimental during gameplay, particularly when your hand is already depleted, potentially forcing you to lose valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Intervention of Keranos requires a precise combination of mana — one red and one blue. This color specificity restricts deck inclusivity, as it may not seamlessly slot into a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those not running these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total converted mana cost of three, including both colored and generic mana, Intervention of Keranos comes at a steeper price compared to other instants and sorceries with similar effects. This cost-effectiveness can be a critical factor when deck building or responding to an opponent’s moves during a tight match.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Intervention of Keranos offers flexible play options, as it can be a crucial tool in decks that demand both instant-speed removal and the ability to cycle through cards quickly. This card can adapt to various game situations, making it a smart pick for players who favor adaptability in their strategies.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to scry can smoothly tie into combos that rely on stacking your deck for the perfect draw. Its damage-dealing ability can also synergize with spells that trigger off of dealing damage to creatures or players, enabling dynamic and powerful interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Given the pace of the current MTG landscape, where quick response and tempo control can make or break a game, Intervention of Keranos is particularly valuable. It has a place in the arsenal of those looking to disrupt opponent’s early-to-mid game creatures while staying ahead on card quality and board presence.
How to beat
Intervention of Keranos enters the Magic: The Gathering arena as a red enchantment card with a flair for disrupting opponents’ strategies. Its unique ability to peek at the top card of any player’s library provides a significant advantage, giving a player the foresight to plan ahead or meddle with the opponent’s draws, similar to the prowess of cards like Lantern of Insight.
When facing Intervention of Keranos, the key lies in nullifying the advantage it grants. One effective method is by employing enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Back to Nature, swiftly clearing the path to a more balanced gameplay. Another strategic approach is to incorporate cards that shuffle the library, like Evolving Wilds or Terramorphic Expanse, to ensure the top-deck manipulation is kept to a minimum. Shuffling strategies help diminish Intervention of Keranos’s impact by constantly refreshing the position of the cards within the library.
Overall, while Intervention of Keranos brings a strategic edge to the playing field, its influence may be mitigated with well-thought-out counters and card choice. Knowing how to beat this card can make a difference between victory and defeat in any MTG game.
Cards like Intervention of Keranos
Intervention of Keranos stands out as an intriguing card within the breadth of scrying options available to players of Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to cards like Magma Jet, offering both damage to a target and the ability to scry, fine-tuning the player’s next moves. However, Intervention of Keranos uniquely allows for repeated scrying thanks to its saga structure, providing ongoing value over several turns. Magma Jet, in comparison, provides an immediate burst of scrying but doesn’t offer the prolonged strategic advantage.
Another card that shares a common thread with Intervention of Keranos is Flames of the Raze-Boar. This card allows for damage distribution among multiple targets, which can be crucial during board-wide strategies. Although it lacks the scrying mechanic, its potential for multi-target impact allows for significant board control. Intervention of Keranos, while fixated on single target removal and recurring scry, offers a different approach tailored to more strategy-driven gameplay.
All things considered, Intervention of Keranos holds its own in a deck that values foresight and controlling the pace of the game. In a dynamic where knowledge is power, this card’s ability to consistently shape future draws makes it a powerful asset over its counterparts.
Cards similar to Intervention of Keranos by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Intervention of Keranos MTG card by a specific set like Battle the Horde, 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 Intervention of Keranos and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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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