Burst of Speed MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Burst of Speed itself doesn’t directly provide card advantage, the rapid pace at which it allows creatures to attack can lead to a significant shift in the board state, potentially trading one card for multiple threats on the opponent’s side or fast-tracking the end of the game before the opponent can accumulate more resources.

Resource Acceleration: By granting haste to all creatures you control, this card effectively turns all your newly summoned creatures into immediate threats. This acceleration can convert all your creatures, regardless of summoning sickness, into a formidable force capable of overwhelming your opponent at once.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Burst of Speed at instant speed gives you the element of surprise. Not only does this allow you to wait until the most opportune moment during the combat phase, but it can also be used in response to an opponent’s play that assumes your creatures will be inactive for a turn, thus potentially disrupting their strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Burst of Speed doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, but the one-time effect often requires you to play other cards to maximize its potential, potentially depleting your hand prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: Burst of Speed requires red mana, which aligns it with certain deck archetypes, potentially limiting its flexibility across various MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While providing creatures with haste can be a game-changer, the single mana cost could be considered high given its immediate but transient impact, especially when measured against other permanent buffs or longer-lasting effects.

Reasons to Include Burst of Speed in Your Collection

Versatility: Burst of Speed is an asset in decks that need to act swiftly. Its ability to give creatures haste until end of turn ensures a surprise shift in the battlefield dynamics, allowing for sudden attacks or unforeseen blocking maneuvers.

Combo Potential: The instant speed of Burst of Speed can unexpectedly enhance strategies centered around creatures entering the battlefield, synergizing particularly well with cards that benefit from attacking or tap abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame fluctuates, Burst of Speed maintains relevance by countering slow-paced control decks, giving aggro decks an edge to win swiftly, or enabling midrange decks to seize critical game moments.

How to beat

Burst of Speed stands out in the realm of temporary buff mechanics, offering an almost instant surge of tempo for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. Much like its namesake suggests, this card propels creatures into action, granting them haste until end of turn – a potent capability when timing and speed are of the essence. This advantage, however, is not insurmountable.

To effectively counteract Burst of Speed, instant speed removal spells can be a valuable asset. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile disrupt the sudden onslaught by efficiently removing key creatures from the equation before they can capitalize on their newfound haste. Strategic use of these spot removal options will often leave the opponent overextended and vulnerable. Additionally, board wipes can be decisive, render Burst of Speed’s effect inconsequential if timed correctly. Supreme Verdict and Wrath of God serve as exemplary choices, eradicating all creatures and negating any accumulated momentum from the haste effect. Hence, while Burst of Speed might promise a quick route to victory, through tactical removal and crowd control spells, one can navigate around the acceleration it provides and regain control of the game.