Call to Serve MTG Card


Call to Serve grants creatures unexpected flight, giving a strategic edge by turning defense into offense. Efficiency is key; its low cost and instant speed can quickly alter the game state. Despite its strengths, Call to Serve requires a careful balance of resources to maximize potential.
Call to Serve - Avacyn Restored
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameAvacyn Restored
Set codeAVR
Number9
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJaime Jones

Text of card

Enchant nonblack creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+2, has flying, and is an Angel in addition to its other types.

Grace is a gift, never a reward.


Cards like Call to Serve

Call to Serve is an intriguing enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that emboldens players to transform their non-Angel creatures into formidable Angelic warriors. This modification is not entirely unique, as there are similar MTG Enchantments like Angelic Gift. Angelic Gift doesn’t turn a creature into an Angel, but it does give the creature Flying and draws you a card, encouraging aerial strategies without altering creature types.

Ordeal of Heliod is another enchantment that stimulates a creature’s potential in a different way. It focuses on growth over time, accruing counters that eventually result in a life gain, rather than an immediate stat boost with a new creature type and Flying as Call to Serve provides. While Serra’s Embrace shares similarities by giving a creature Flying and Vigilance, it comes with a noticeably higher mana cost.

Assessing the landscape of similar enchantments, Call to Serve stands out for its low cost and immediate impact, offering a quick and effective way to upgrade and protect creatures by granting them Flying, which is a valuable ability in many gameplay scenarios. It’s a cost-efficient method to outmaneuver ground-based defenses, making it a commendable choice in many white decks.

Angelic Gift - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Serra's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Angelic Gift - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Serra's Embrace - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Call to Serve by color, type and mana cost

Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Sacred Ground - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Blessing - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: White - MTG Card versions
Island Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Ground - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
Sacred Ground - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Enhancing your creatures with the ability to boost not only power but also provide evasion leads to significant board impact. The transformative effect of Call to Serve offers a controlling player a chance to turn a defensive position into an offensive strategy without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: At a low mana cost, Call to Serve efficiently converts your non-attacking creatures into potentially game-ending aerial threats. This allows you to make the most of your mana and creatures by elevating their battlefield utility quickly and unexpectedly.

Instant Speed: Call to Serve can be cast at instant speed, providing flexibility and surprise. This characteristic enables you to adapt at a moment’s notice, often turning a blocked or idle creature into a formidable flying asset capable of evading enemy lines precisely when your opponent least expects it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Involvement with the Call to Serve could come at a substantial sacrifice. Activating its potential necessitates relinquishing other valuable cards from your hand, which could disrupt your gameplay strategy if not managed wisely.

Specific Mana Cost: Call to Serve demands a precise mana alignment, requiring white mana that may not readily fit into a diverse or multi-colored deck structure. This could restrict its applicability and relegate it to more monochromatic builds that focus on Plains.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the investment against the yield, the Call to Serve’s mana expenditure may be perceived as steep. For decks that strive for efficiency, there are alternatives that can achieve aerial superiority without the same level of financial commitment, possibly inducing players to pass over this card in deck construction.


Reasons to Include Call to Serve in Your Collection

Versatility: Call to Serve offers a unique twist to white decks, allowing you to transform any non-Angel creature into a flying threat. This can turn ground-based creatures into aerial defenses or attackers, adapting to various game scenarios seamlessly.

Combo Potential: This enchantment synergizes well with strategies that look to benefit from creatures with flying or by triggering enter-the-battlefield effects when creatures are granted new abilities. Plus, it helps non-Angel creatures bypass common ground-based defenses.

Meta-Relevance: In a game setup where flyers can determine the tide of battle, Call to Serve proves its worth by altering board states in your favor. Its low casting cost and the immediate impact make it a particularly smart inclusion in formats where evasion is key.


How to beat

Call to Serve is an interesting enchantment that can turn any non-Angel creature into an Angelic force to be reckoned with. It awards a creature with flying and a small boost to power. Yet, even with these enhancements, it’s not invincible. The card operates as a classic aura, which means the right removal strategy can nullify its advantages. Consider using spot removal options to target the enchanted creature directly, bypassing the aura’s effect. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the threat. Alternatively, enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant allow you to address Call to Serve itself, removing the conferred benefits and potentially causing a two-for-one in terms of card advantage. It’s also notable that while flying is a strong ability, it’s not a guarantee against a well-constructed deck with reach or flying blockers. By ensuring you have creatures with these abilities or spells that can deal damage to flying creatures, you can mitigate the threat posed by an opponent’s Call to Serve-empowered creature.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Call to Serve MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Call to Serve and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Call to Serve has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 If the enchanted creature becomes black, Call to Serve will be put into its owner’s graveyard the next time state-based actions are performed.