Exert Influence MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 77
2015-10-02 - Number 77s
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Converge |
Text of card
Converge — Gain control of target creature if its power is less than or equal to the number of colors of mana spent to cast Exert Influence.
"I can't control its mind—I'm not even sure it has one. But I can dominate its will."
Cards like Exert Influence
Exert Influence adds strategic depth to steal effects in Magic: The Gathering. It aligns with cards like Control Magic that also enable players to seize opponents’ creatures. Where Exert Influence excels is in its scalability—control can be extended to creatures of greater power with the expenditure of more mana, thanks to its converge ability. On the contrary, Control Magic is constant in its offering, requiring a flat rate of four mana for any single target regardless of power.
Another parallel can be drawn with Confiscate, a spell that not only targets creatures but any permanent at a fixed six mana cost. Although Confiscate offers a broader range of targets, Exert Influence allows players to exert control earlier in the game, provided they can meet the color requirements for converge. Act of Treason is a more aggressive take, temporarily commandeering a creature for just three mana, but lacks the permanence that Exert Influence offers.
Ultimately, Exert Influence finds its place among MTG control spells with the unique leverage it gives players to influence the battlefield proportionately to their mana investment and ability to produce diverse mana colors, carving its own niche in gameplay strategies.
Cards similar to Exert Influence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Exert Influence not only secures control of an opponent’s creature, but also effectively removes it from their playing field without losing any cards from your hand. This swing in ownership can often turn the tides in a match, as it deprives your opponent of a crucial piece while also strengthening your side of the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: The card’s converge ability can become a form of resource acceleration. By having a diverse mana base, you’re able to exert influence over an increasingly powerful range of creatures. This can potentially reduce the need for additional spells to deal with larger threats, thereby conserving your hand and mana for other strategies.
Instant Speed: While Exert Influence is a sorcery, it embodies the strategic advantage of instant-speed cards. Casting it at the right moment, such as just before your turn, can catch an opponent off-guard, allowing you to capitalize on the shift in board state without giving them much time to react or recover.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Exert Influence requires the player to discard a card, making it less appealing when your hand is already depleting.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise blue mana investment which might not seamlessly slot into multicolored or colorless strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may seem steep for its effect, alternatives could provide a similar impact for less, thereby optimizing your mana efficiency within a game.
Reasons to Include Exert Influence in Your Collection
Versatility: Exert Influence is adaptable to numerous strategies due to its scalable control mechanic. It allows you to tailor the spell’s power to the current board state, making it an excellent asset for decks looking to manage opponents’ threats.
Combo Potential: This spell’s ability to gain control of creatures complements strategies revolving around sacrifice or flicker effects, providing a steady stream of resources or recurring control opportunities when combined with other cards.
Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where creature-based decks prevail, Exert Influence provides a significant tactical advantage, turning your opponent’s assets into your own and potentially swinging the game in your favor.
How to Beat
Exert Influence is a spell that can tip the scales by gaining control of an opponent’s creature, a strategy that can disrupt many game plans in Magic: The Gathering. To counter this, considering options that provide hexproof or shroud to your creatures will make them invulnerable to Exert Influence’s grip. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots or Asceticism can be a safeguard against such takeover tactics.
Another effective measure is to limit the number of colors of mana available to you. Exert Influence’s strength is proportional to the colors of mana spent to cast it. By reducing your color spectrum, the impact of Exert Influence diminishes sharply. Additionally, keeping counter-spells like Negate or Dispel at the ready ensures you can stop Exert Influence from resolving, keeping your army intact. And remember, instant-speed removal in response to Exert Influence can be a successful gambit to preserve your field presence. Prioritizing these strategies can help maintain control over your creatures and weaken the influence Exert Influence may have on the duel’s outcome.
Ultimately, staying one step ahead and prepared for control tactics like Exert Influence will not only protect your side of the battlefield but also force your opponent to find new ways to challenge you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Exert Influence MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Battle for Zendikar Promos, 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 Exert Influence and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
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Printings
The Exert Influence Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2015-10-02. Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 77 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve | |
| 2 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar Promos | PBFZ | 77s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Magali Villeneuve |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Exert Influence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Exert Influence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | Check the creature’s power as Exert Influence resolves to see if it’s less than or equal to the number of colors spent to cast Exert Influence. If it’s greater, Exert Influence will finish resolving with no effect. |
| 2015-08-25 | If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied. |
| 2015-08-25 | If there are any alternative or additional costs to cast a spell with a converge ability, the mana spent to pay those costs will count. For example, if an effect makes sorcery spells cost more to cast, you could pay to cast Radiant Flames and deal 4 damage to each creature. |
| 2015-08-25 | If you cast a spell with converge without spending any mana to cast it (perhaps because an effect allowed you to cast it without paying its mana cost), then the number of colors spent to cast it will be zero. |
| 2015-08-25 | Once you’ve gained control of a creature with Exert Influence, it doesn’t matter what happens to its power. Raising it won’t cause the control-changing effect to end. |
| 2015-08-25 | The maximum number of colors of mana you can spend to cast a spell is five. Colorless is not a color. Note that the cost of a spell with converge may limit how many colors of mana you can spend. |
| 2015-08-25 | Unless a spell or ability allows you to, you can’t choose to pay more mana for a spell with a converge ability just to spend more colors of mana. Likewise, if a spell or ability reduces the amount of mana it costs you to cast a spell with converge, you can’t ignore that cost reduction in order to spend more colors of mana. |