Fervent Strike MTG Card

Fervent Strike enhances combat through instant speed, enabling surprise plays and potential board advantage. Despite its flexibility, the card’s need for red mana and one-time effect may limit its utility. It’s a valuable piece in aggro decks, rewarding quick, aggressive play styles and unexpected combos.

Dominaria (DOM)
2018-04-27 - Number 117

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 922

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 529

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-117

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike and haste until end of turn.

"The flame paints a bright wheel on the sky, then shifts into a stabbing spark. The enemy falls; the smoke of victory rises." —"Legends of the Firedancer"

Cards like Fervent Strike

Fervent Strike stands its ground in the realm of red combat tricks in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s immediate comparison could be to cards like Brute Force, which also gives a creature a temporary boost. Brute Force adds a significant +3/+3, whereas Fervent Strike limits the increase to +1/+0. However, Fervent Strike brings the advantage of granting haste alongside first strike, perfect for a surprise attack.

Borrowing elements from another kin, Rush of Adrenaline, it too provides a swift +2/+1 hike, but only for a turn. Though it lacks the first strike of Fervent Strike, it compensates by being marginally cheaper in cost. Then there’s Built to Smash, which grants a hefty +3/+3 boost, and if it targets an artifact creature, it also gains trample. However, Fervent Strike’s versatility with first strike can often overshadow raw power, especially in the right deck.

Ultimately, assessing the utility and potential impact of red instant spells, Fervent Strike offers a unique blend of haste and combat-altering abilities that can catch an opponent off guard, making it a card worthy of consideration for players looking to craft a swift and sudden victory.

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

March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Fervent Strike doesn’t directly provide card draw, it enhances a creature’s ability to potentially take down larger threats or trade up in combat, which indirectly affects the board state and can lead to gaining advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Fervent Strike does not provide traditional resource acceleration. However, its low mana cost maximizes your ability to use your mana efficiently, allowing you to potentially play multiple spells in a turn and outpace your opponent’s mana utilization.

Instant Speed: Fervent Strike’s instant speed flexibility allows you to surprise your opponent during combat. This enables reactionary play that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy, maintain favorable trades, or push through additional damage during the crucial combat phase.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Fervent Strike necessitates a single red mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored or non-red focused deck strategies, restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Fervent Strike’s mana cost is not overly high, it is still an investment for the temporary boost it provides. Other cards might offer more lasting benefits or greater impact for a similar investment.

Discard Requirement: Although Fervent Strike does not require a discard, it’s a single-use spell without added value beyond the immediate turn, which could be a hinderance in longer games where every card counts.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fervent Strike offers an immediate power boost and haste, an effect that can fit into various aggro or combo decks that want to push for damage quickly.

Combo Potential: The spell’s ability to give haste allows for sudden wins by enabling freshly summoned creatures to attack unexpectedly, combining well with strategies aimed at surprising the opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed and early damage can dictate the winner, Fervent Strike improves the efficacy of quick, aggressive strategies against slower, setup-focused decks.

How to beat

Fervent Strike is a standalone card in Magic: The Gathering that can empower creatures unexpectedly during combat. Much like other combat tricks, its true strength lies in its surprise factor, boosting a creature’s power and speed. To effectively counter this card, players need to maintain a healthy level of vigilance and be prepared for swift alterations in the battlefield dynamic.

Playing around Fervent Strike involves saving removal spells or combat tricks until your opponent has committed to casting it. This way, you can respond more advantageously and dismantle their strategy. The key is to anticipate when your opponent might have Fervent Strike in their hand. You can do this by carefully observing their mana availability and their inclination to enter into combats that seem unfavorable on the surface. Playing instant-speed removal or bounce spells after they’ve cast Fervent Strike renders their efforts and mana spent futile. Keep in mind creature abilities that offer hexproof or make the target ineligible for spells also work wonders against such combat tricks.

Ultimately, mastering the art of timing your responses and understanding when to play defensively or aggressively against cards like Fervent Strike is crucial. This adeptness can turn this red instant from a potential game-changer into a minor hiccup in your road to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fervent Strike MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Fervent Strike and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fervent Strike Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-04-27	Dominaria	DOM	117	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	922	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DOM-117	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
4	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	529	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fervent Strike has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal