Flawless Maneuver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by saving creatures, negating opponents’ removal efforts in the process.
  2. Provides free casting if a commander is present, optimizing resource management during play.
  3. Instant speed allows strategic responses to threats, significantly altering game dynamics.

Text of card

If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.

"Captain, your units are the tip of our spear. There is zero room for failure." —Jirina Kudro


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flawless Maneuver is a strategic addition to any deck seeking to keep key creatures on the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, by protecting your entire board from a damaging spell or effect, you’re effectively generating card advantage by negating your opponent’s attempts to remove your creatures.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be a pivotal play in tight situations without setting you back on resources. It allows you to cast it for free if you control your commander, presenting not only a potential surprise factor but also the ability to allocate mana elsewhere and optimize your board presence.

Instant Speed: Instant speed spells are the ace up a player’s sleeve, and Flawless Maneuver is no exception. It offers the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game, enabling you to respond to threats and interact meaningfully on your opponent’s turn. This can significantly shift the dynamics of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Flawless Maneuver allows you to bypass its mana cost by having a commander, it’s not as simple when your commander is not on the battlefield. Without this condition met, not only do you have to pay the white mana cost, but you also miss out on the advantageous “free” casting, making it less flexible in fast-paced games or when your commander has been dealt with.

Specific Mana Cost: Flawless Maneuver requires white mana, which confines it to decks that include white or a color combination that encompasses white. This can be restrictive for players running decks without white mana, therefore limiting its versatility across different Magic strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost is three whites—not a trifling amount, particularly for its effect. In the context of MTG where every mana point counts, some players may find other protective spells or tricks that come at a lower cost and can be slotted into a more diverse range of strategies without the stipulation of having a commander in play.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flawless Maneuver is a staple for protective strategies, seamlessly fitting in decks that prioritize safeguarding valuable creatures. It offers instantaneous defense without requiring mana if you control a commander, broadening its applicability in the commander format.

Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations where creatures’ abilities are crucial for the deck’s success. Providing an unexpected layer of protection can turn the tides of a game, enabling combo pieces to survive removal attempts.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where board wipes and targeted removal are prevalent, Flawless Maneuver ensures your vital creatures live to see another turn. Its presence can deter opponents from using their removal spells recklessly, giving you a significant strategic advantage.


How to Beat Flawless Maneuver

Flawless Maneuver stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a protective spell that allows you to safeguard your creatures during a turn. This white instant offers the unique ability to cast it for free if you control a commander, effortlessly countering mass removal strategies that your opponents might deploy.

To effectively tackle this card, consider timing your removal spells. Since Flawless Maneuver requires a creature in play to operate, using targeted removal on key creatures before the maneuver can be employed is ideal. Additionally, look towards including cards in your deck that can’t be countered or spells that strip away the opponent’s ability to cast spells for free, reducing the chance of Flawless Maneuver turning the tide. Cards with the split second ability can also be pivotal since they prevent players from casting spells in response. Plan your attacks and defenses with the knowledge that Flawless Maneuver could emerge, changing how you assess the battlefield and your opponent’s open mana.

Overall, while Flawless Maneuver offers a robust defense, understanding its mechanics and preparing your deck accordingly can nullify its advantage and keep you one step ahead in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Developing a keen sense of when and how to use cards like Flawless Maneuver can be the hinge on which the door to victory swings open in MTG. Whether you are honing your deck to withstand an onslaught or to outmaneuver foes in battle, recognizing the nuanced advantages of safeguarding your creatures is crucial. The ability to cast spells without tapping into your mana reserve amplifies strategic flexibility, especially when you’re steering the helm of a white-aligned or commander-centric deck. We invite you to dive deeper into tactical play, explore the synergies Flawless Maneuver creates, and ensure your creatures’ longevity on the battlefield. Join BurnMana to reinforce your strategy and forge an indomitable deck. Let’s master the art of the flawless victory together.


Cards like Flawless Maneuver

Flawless Maneuver is a powerful spell known for its protective capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other combat tricks like Make a Stand which grants creatures indestructible for a turn. Yet Flawless Maneuver stands out by allowing for a zero mana cost if you control a commander, which can be a game-changer in commander format. Make a Stand, conversely, does not have this potential cost reduction.

Teferi’s Protection is another card that provides comprehensive protection by phasing out your permanents. While Teferi’s Protection is thorough, it comes at a higher mana cost and doesn’t offer the free casting option that Flawless Maneuver does under the right circumstances. Ghostway, albeit a different type of protective card, offers an interesting comparison. It exiles and returns all your creatures, essentially dodging removals and effects. However, it lacks the surprise element of an instant spell you can cast for no mana, a significant tactical advantage held by Flawless Maneuver.

In essence, Flawless Maneuver presents a unique blend of affordability and tactical surprise. Within the scope of protection spells in the game, its efficiency and cost-effectiveness place it favorably among the top choices for safeguarding one’s creatures.

Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Ghostway - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Ghostway - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flawless Maneuver MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020 and Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander, 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 Flawless Maneuver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Flawless Maneuver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-17 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-17Commander 2020C20 262015NormalBlackZoltan Boros
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 682015NormalBlackZoltan Boros
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 242015NormalBlackZoltan Boros
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 4592015NormalBlackZoltan Boros
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6922015NormalBorderlessWarren Mahy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flawless Maneuver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelBanned

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 It doesn't matter whose commander you control. Any one will do. If you have two commanders, you just need to control one of them.
2020-04-17 Once you begin casting this spell, players can't take any other actions until you're done casting it. Notably, they can't try to remove the commander you control to make you pay its cost.

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