Domineering Will MTG Card


Domineering Will offers significant combat control, seizing up to three nonattacking creatures instantly. This card can disrupt plans and enhance board state at a crucial moment, using instant speed to advantage. Costs and trade-offs weigh against its combat manipulation capabilities, requiring strategic mana management.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Target player gains control of up to three target nonattacking creatures until end of turn. Untap those creatures. They block this turn if able.


Cards like Domineering Will

Domineering Will finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a tactical instant capable of turning the tide during the combat phase. It’s often likened to cards such as Aetherspouts or Illusionist’s Gambit, which also function to disrupt opponents’ attack strategies. Domineering Will enables a player to gain control of up to three target nonattacking creatures until end of turn, which can be a game-changer, reminiscent of the control and unpredictability found in Aetherspouts. However, while Aetherspouts deflects all attacking creatures, Domineering Will gives you the immediate agency over potential blockers or attackers for a surprise element.

Comparatively, Reins of Power is another similar card that offers a shift in creature control during combat. Although Reins of Power can potentially give control of a bigger swath of creatures, it’s at the cost of giving your opponent your own creatures in return, showcasing a different balance of risk and reward. On a strategic level, Domineering Will allows one to maintain their board while temporarily exploiting the enemy’s resources, setting it apart as a more precise tool for combat manipulation.

Therefore, Domineering Will holds its own among MTG cards that alter the course of combat with its unique brand of control, offering both defensive capabilities and offensive opportunities within a single instant play.

Aetherspouts - MTG Card versions
Illusionist's Gambit - MTG Card versions
Reins of Power - MTG Card versions
Aetherspouts - MTG Card versions
Illusionist's Gambit - MTG Card versions
Reins of Power - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Domineering Will by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
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Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions
Weave Fate - MTG Card versions
Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions
Weave Fate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Domineering Will lets you commandeer up to three target nonattacking creatures, giving you temporary control that can quickly swing the tide in your favor. This helps you to outmaneuver your opponent by utilizing their own resources against them.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, by borrowing your opponent’s creatures, you’re effectively accelerating your board presence without expending your own resources. This can lead to enhanced board states allowing for greater flexibility in your subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The power of acting at instant speed cannot be understated in MTG. Domineering Will can be cast during the combat phase of your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their strategy and allowing you to make unexpected plays, keeping the element of surprise on your side.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a player, you might find yourself at a crossroads when Domineering Will commands you to let go of a card from your hand. This trade-off can be particularly taxing when you’re clinging onto a few valuable cards, and relinquishing any can feel like a setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Navigating the mana waters can prove to be tricky with Domineering Will, as it specifically asks for three blue mana. This can sometimes leave players with decks that don’t lean heavily into blue mana sources in a tough spot – unable to summon the will when it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at four mana, Domineering Will might not always be the heavyweight champion in your deck, especially when facing off against cards that demand less mana yet pull off more impressive moves. Balancing the scales of mana cost and effect is key, and sometimes this card may tip it just a bit too much towards cost over impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Domineering Will offers a unique tactical advantage by allowing players to temporarily gain control of their opponent’s creatures during the combat phase. This flexibility can be a game-changer in a variety of strategies, from thwarting enemy attacks to creating unexpected blocking scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card has a propensity for creating powerful combos, especially in decks that capitalize on stealing opponents’ creatures. You can easily incorporate it into strategies that revolve around sacrifice mechanics or using your opponents’ strengths against them.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Domineering Will’s ability to disrupt opponents’ plans and turn the tide of battle can be particularly effective. It provides an edge by manipulating combat in your favor and can catch many players off guard.


How to beat

Domineering Will is a card that can suddenly shift the dynamics of a multiplayer Magic: The Gathering game. It offers a temporary control over creatures during a crucial combat phase and can turn the tides unexpectedly. To counteract this, ensuring that you have creature-based protection or counterspells ready is essential. Creature-heavy decks need to be wary and perhaps not commit all their resources during the attack, keeping in mind the possibility of a sudden betrayal. Holding back some creatures for defense can be a smart play against such tricks.

For spell-based strategies, keeping mana open for instant-speed removal can dismantle the benefits gained from Domineering Will. Playing around this card requires strategic planning and a cautious approach to combat when facing a blue deck. Remember that the effect only lasts for the turn and if you can survive that, you regain control of the situation. Cards that offer hexproof or shroud to your own creatures are invaluable, as they can provide a steady defense against the unexpected commandeering that Domineering Will seeks to exploit.

At end game, Domineering Will can be a surprise finisher, but by recognizing the telltale signs of such a play—like an opponent maintaining a full grip of cards and enough mana during your attack phase—you can preemptively protect your board state and maintain control over the outcome of the combat and the game at large.


BurnMana Recommendations

The ebb and flow of MTG gameplay are as continual as the tides, and understanding the nuanced interaction of cards like Domineering Will can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. Mastering when to deploy its control altering mechanics can add a new layer to your strategy, potentially swaying a match in your favor. If you’re intrigued by the utility and cunning plays that Domineering Will offers in creature-heavy metas, we warmly invite you to delve deeper into our expert insights. Learn how this spell could become a cornerstone in your arsenal and how to best integrate it with your deck. For a more comprehensive understanding, join us and enhance your gameplay with strategies that empower you to navigate the intricate tides of MTG with confidence.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Domineering Will MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014 and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Domineering Will and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Domineering Will Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-11-07 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Mike Sass.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-11-07Commander 2014C14 132015NormalBlackMike Sass
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7192015NormalBlackMike Sass

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Domineering Will has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-11-07 Each of those creatures blocks only if it's able to do so as the declare blockers step begins. If, at that time, one of the creatures is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't block, or no creatures are attacking that creature's controller or a planeswalker controlled by that player, then it doesn't block. If there's a cost associated with having the creature block, the player isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't block in that case either.
2014-11-07 Notably, Domineering Will doesn't give any of the target creatures haste. Unless they have haste due to some other means, they won't be able to attack that turn.
2014-11-07 The controller of the creatures still chooses which attacking creature each of the three target creatures blocks.