Brace for Impact MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set name	Dissension
Set code	DIS
Number	5
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Scott

Key Takeaways

Instant speed lets Brace for Impact respond to threats, offering strategic surprise and flexibility.
Discarding to cast may impact your hand, challenging resource management during play.
It’s versatile in damage prevention, fitting into decks that need targeted protection.

Text of card

Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target multicolored creature this turn. For each 1 damage prevented this way, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

Flesh can be tempered by spellcraft and forged ever stronger by the hammers of foes.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brace for Impact offers a significant benefit by letting you untap two target permanents. This ability can translate into drawing extra cards when used on permanents with card-drawing abilities or furthering your strategic plays by reusing activated abilities.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s untapping capability can also be seen as a form of resource acceleration. It effectively increases your mana availability by refreshing mana-producing permanents, potentially allowing for more impactful turns or the casting of additional spells.

Instant Speed: Acting at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves or optimize your own strategy at the last moment. Using Brace for Impact can surprise an opponent during their attack phase or right before your turn, allowing for dynamic and potentially game-changing plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brace for Impact requires you to discard, hindering hand advantage. This can backfire when you’re clinging to pivotal cards necessary for your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands exact mana with no option for colorless alternatives, which could restrict deck building to specific archetypes or mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side for its effects, it might not be the most mana-efficient play, especially when other cards could provide similar benefits at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include Brace for Impact in Your Collection

Versatility: Brace for Impact is adaptable to various gameplay styles. It serves well in decks focused on defense or ones that capitalize on life gain strategies.

Combo Potential: With this card, you have the potential to create combos with cards that trigger upon becoming indestructible or avoiding damage, enhancing your board state significantly.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of hard-hitting aggro decks, Brace for Impact can be extremely useful in preserving your key creatures and maintaining a presence on the battlefield.

How to beat

In your quest to navigate the complex strategies in Magic the Gathering, Brace for Impact may appear as a daunting obstacle. This instant card, known for its ability to prevent damage to your creatures or planeswalkers, can turn the tide of battle. One can compare it to other protective spells like Unbreakable Formation, which also provides protection but offers an offensive edge with a vigilance bonus. However, Brace for Impact is unique with its narrower focus on damage prevention.

To effectively counteract Brace for Impact, consider leveraging cards that bypass its shield—such as those causing loss of life rather than damage, exemplifying spells like Vona’s Hunger or Exsanguinate. Furthermore, employing counterspells like Negate or Dispel can preemptively neutralize it before it becomes a threat. Similarly, strive to lure out Brace for Impact prematurely, then follow up with removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, which can outmaneuver the temporary protection it provides.

Ultimately, overcoming Brace for Impact involves a mix of strategic play and careful deck building. Embrace the challenge, and you’ll findways to turn your opponent’s defense into an opportunity for your victory.

Cards like Brace for Impact

Brace for Impact is an intriguing card within the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, often compared to cards designed to prevent damage. Much like the renowned Safe Passage, Brace for Impact offers a way to shield creatures and players alike from harm. However, Brace for Impact has a unique twist — it’s geared towards damage caused by a single source, rather than Safe Passage’s broader protection from all sources for a turn.

Additionally, we see parallels with cards such as The Wanderer’s protection ability. While The Wanderer provides a steady, ongoing effect that prevents all noncombat damage to you and other permanents you control, Brace for Impact is used as a one-time shield targeted at a specific threat. Another card to consider is Mending Hands, which also focusses its effects on a single target, reducing damage to just one creature. Yet Mending Hands doesn’t offer the comprehensive player protection that Brace for Impact does.

Balancing its targeted utility with the breadth of cards like Safe Passage and the specificity of Mending Hands, Brace for Impact offers a nuanced advantage in scenarios where pinpoint defense is necessary, thereby carving its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s array of defensive spells.

Cards similar to Brace for Impact by color, type and mana cost

Scars of the Veteran - MTG Card versions

Charge Across the Araba - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brace for Impact MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Brace for Impact and other MTG cards: