Break of Day MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Fateful hour
Released	2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dark Ascension
Set code	DKA
Number	3
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

Instills a twofold combat advantage by buffing creature toughness and attack during battles.
Can lead to saved resources through better board states, lessening the need for additional stabilizing cards.
Instant speed enables surprise tactics, potentially altering the outcome of tight situations.

Text of card

Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Fateful hour — If you have 5 or less life, those creatures also are indestructible this turn. (Lethal damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy them.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Break of Day delivers a dual effect that can potentially turn the tide during combat. By providing your creatures with both an offensive and defensive boost, it can swing the board state in your favor without the need to expend extra cards, efficiently utilizing the resources in hand.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting your mana pool, the aftermath of Break of Day can lead to a more favorable board state, thereby reducing the need for additional spells or creatures to stabilize. This can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration as you may save mana in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Break of Day makes it an excellent combat trick. You can catch an opponent off-guard during their turn, potentially saving your creatures from removal or turning a blocked situation into a favorable trade. This surprise element can be the difference between victory and defeat in tight matches.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Break of Day doesn’t have a discard requirement, this is a common drawback found in many instant and sorcery cards, where a player may have to sacrifice hand advantage for an in-game effect.

Specific Mana Cost: Break of Day has a specifically white mana cost, which can limit its inclusion to decks that run on white mana or at the very least, have a white mana base to accommodate the casting cost efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being a relatively low-cost card, if you’re aiming for the maximum impact by fulfilling its Fateful hour condition, you might find yourself in situations where mana could be spent on stabilizing the board rather than casting Break of Day.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Break of Day finds a place in decks that thrive on safeguarding creatures during combat or need ways to prevent damage from board wipes. It’s particularly useful in white-based token strategies that plan to go wide on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: The card’s fateful hour ability can be synergistically combined with effects that benefit from creatures gaining indestructible, or specifically timed to survive mass destruction events, setting the stage for a resilient board state.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where combat interactions are frequent and creature-heavy decks prevail, Break of Day can act as a versatile tool. It’s effective against sweepers in control matchups, or as a surprise element to protect your board and maintain pressure against other creature strategies.

How to beat

Break of Day is a staple card for those seeking to turn the tide in creature-heavy matchups within Magic: The Gathering. This white instant gives your creatures a fighting chance with its Toughness-boosting ability and the potential for indestructibility through its Fateful Hour condition. Yet, knowing how to navigate around its strengths can be key to maintaining control of the game.

To effectively counter Break of Day, consider using cards that limit your opponent’s ability to reach a critical mass of creatures. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or spot removal spells like Path to Exile can help you maintain a manageable state of play. Additionally, cards that counteract indestructibility, like Clip Wings or cards granting -1/-1 counters, can strategically undermine Break of Day’s impact. Timing is crucial; if you can keep your opponent’s life total above 5, the Fateful Hour mechanic won’t trigger, dramatically reducing the card’s effectiveness.

Ultimately, understanding the best moment to disrupt your opponent’s strategies before Break of Day can be played will enhance your chances of victory. Managing the battlefield and maintaining awareness of their life total are paramount in outplaying this MTG card’s defensive boon.

Cards like Break of Day

Break of Day, a defensive gem in the world of Magic The Gathering, brings unique value to the battlefield similar to some other noteworthy cards. Much like Make a Stand, Break of Day provides your creatures with indestructible status. Make a Stand, however, offers a +1/+0 bonus until end of turn, while Break of Day’s distinction lies in its fateful hour ability that only activates if you have 5 or less life, granting not only indestructibility but also a +1/+1 boost.

Rootborn Defenses is another card that echoes Break of Day’s theme of creature protection, conferring indestructibility and the added upside of populating – creating a token that’s a copy of a creature you already have on the battlefield. While Rootborn Defenses may seem advantageous for its token-generation, Break of Day edges out in situations where buffing an entire board can turn the tide in critical game moments.

Analyzing the different scenarios where these spells might be used, Break of Day shines in decks that revolve around life-total mechanics and can ensure an impressive defense at potentially a critical juncture in gameplay. It is this capacity to leverage a low life total that sets Break of Day apart within the suite of White’s defensive spells.

Cards similar to Break of Day by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Break of Day MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Break of Day and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Break of Day has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-07-01	Because Break of Day affects only creatures you control when it resolves. It won’t affect creatures that come under your control later in the turn.
2013-07-01	Break of Day checks your life total only at the time it resolves. Any creatures that gain indestructible will continue to be indestructible that turn even if you gain life.