Cunning Strike MTG Card

Offers the dual advantage of inflicting damage and allowing players to draw a card, enhancing strategic play. Can be activated at instant-speed, providing flexibility and unexpected plays during any turn. Requires red and blue mana, catering specifically to decks built around these colors.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2015-01-23
Set symbol
Set name	Fate Reforged
Set code	FRF
Number	150
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Clint Cearley

Text of card

Cunning Strike deals 2 damage to target creature and 2 damage to target player. Draw a card.

"The opponent who blocks the path, becomes the path." —Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest

Cards like Cunning Strike

Cunning Strike in Magic: The Gathering offers a distinctive blend of damage and card draw. It aligns closely with other spells like Warlord’s Fury which also provides card draw, yet Cunning Strike inflicts damage in addition to drawing a card. This aspect allows for both board influence and hand advantage, distinguishing it from the simple cantrip effect of Warlord’s Fury.

Examining further, Twin Bolt appears as a relative in terms of direct damage distribution, allowing a player to divide the damage among two targets. However, it lacks the card draw feature that Cunning Strike presents, making the latter a versatile option in-game. Then there is Artful Maneuver, which provides a prowess-like effect by boosting a creature’s power and toughness but again misses the additional card advantage that comes with Cunning Strike.

Therefore, while other spells might offer similar effects, Cunning Strike stands out in MTG by marrying the damage and drawing mechanisms, making it a strategic tool for players aiming to maintain presence on the board while refilling their hand.

Cards similar to Cunning Strike by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When casting Cunning Strike, you not only deal 2 damage to any target but also draw a card. This provides a double benefit, thinning out your deck and plotting your next moves with extra options in hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Cunning Strike itself does not produce additional resources, its ability to facilitate digging through your deck could indirectly lead to quicker access to mana sources or cards that can accelerate your resource availability.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Cunning Strike shines as it can be played at instant speed. This allows you to act reactively to the unfolding game, optimizing the timing of both the damage dealt and the card draw based on the situation, without needing to commit during your own turn.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Cunning Strike demands both red and blue mana, necessitating a commitment to a two-color deck, which can sometimes constrain deck-building options and reduce the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions.

Discard Requirement: Without a discard clause in its mechanics, Cunning Strike may fall behind in card advantage when compared to spells that either do not require you to discard or that actually draw cards, especially in long, drawn-out games where every card in hand counts.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost of five mana for this card’s effect may be seen as steep, given that there are alternative spells in Magic that can provide similar or greater impacts at a lower mana investment, potentially leading to more efficient plays and better tempo control during the critical mid-game phase.

Reasons to Include Cunning Strike in Your Collection

Versatility: Cunning Strike proves its adaptability by offering both direct damage and card advantage. It fits nicely into decks that leverage spell synergies and need an edge in both creature removal and maintaining hand size.

Combo Potential: The card’s dual abilities can be crucial in decks that trigger off of certain actions, such as casting spells or dealing noncombat damage. It can synergize with cards that benefit from casting multicolored spells or that appreciate when you draw cards.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tempo is key, Cunning Strike can disrupt opponents’ creatures while refilling your hand, bridging the gap between aggressive starts and your deck’s late-game wins.

How to beat Cunning Strike

Cunning Strike is a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering, offering both damage and card draw in one neat package. It’s a spell that can swing a game by disrupting an opponent’s board while refilling your hand. To understand how best to counter this card, looking at its inherent weaknesses is key. Cunning Strike requires both red and blue mana, which can sometimes limit its use to specific decks, giving it a predictability that can be planned against.

When facing Cunning Strike, the most effective strategy is to either outpace the sorcery with quicker spells or outlast it with cards that offer superior card advantage. Spells like Negate that specifically counter noncreature spells are a cost-effective way to handle Cunning Strike, maintaining your presence on the board without losing resources. Similarly, Instant-speed removal can help you maintain the upper hand; by removing key threats preemptively, you minimize the impact Cunning Strike can have on your game, retaining control over the match.

Ultimately, Cunning Strike’s dual-purpose nature means it can be a formidable card to defeat, but with careful planning and timely responses, players can mitigate its effects and maintain dominance within the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cunning Strike MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged, 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 Cunning Strike and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cunning Strike has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-11-24	You can’t cast Cunning Strike unless you target both a creature and a player. If one target (but not both) is illegal as Cunning Strike resolves, it deals damage to the remaining legal target and you draw a card. If both targets are illegal, the spell won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t draw a card in that case.