Clash of Wills MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 49
2002-06-24 - Number 59671
2016-01-01 - Number 2
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Counters vital spells, managing the game’s tempo and dictating the flow of cards and interactions.
- Instant speed allows for reactive and flexible play, enhancing control over the game’s pace.
- Requires careful resource management, balancing its benefits against the cost of playing it.
Text of card
Counter target spell unless its controller pays .
Alhammarret rose to his feet, and the full force of his mind hit Jace like a storm front.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Clash of Wills shines in match-ups where every card counts. Being able to counter any spell as long as you have the mana available means you can strategically deny your opponent crucial plays. This allows you to effectively manage the ebb and flow of the game, keeping the upper hand in card interactions.
Resource Acceleration: While Clash of Wills doesn’t directly accelerate resources, smart use of this card can lead to a significant tempo advantage. By countering key spells, you can slow down your opponent’s board development, giving you more time to draw into your deck’s power plays and solidify your presence on the board.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Clash of Wills at instant speed provides remarkable flexibility. You can pass the turn with untapped mana, making it harder for your opponent to predict whether you have a counter in hand or are setting up for another instant-speed interaction. This adaptability allows proactive control of the stack, maintaining dominance during the critical phases of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Clash of Wills forces you to pitch another card to fulfill its cost, which can be a setback when you’re playing a tight game with fewer cards in hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue mana and generic mana, Clash of Wills could strain mana resources in multicolored decks or those with a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Depending on the X value you pay for Clash of Wills, the mana investment can be steep compared to other counterspells available within the game which might not only counter but also offer additional benefits for a similar or lower cost.
Reasons to Include Clash of Wills in Your Collection
Versatility: Clash of Wills slots into a wide array of blue-based decks. Its scalable mana cost makes it a flexible counterspell, ready to adapt to various stages of the game, whether you’re protecting early game plays or late game finishers.
Combo Potential: By countering key spells, Clash of Wills can disrupt opponent combos while preserving your own game-winning strategies. It’s a card that can easily become a cornerstone in a deck designed around spell mastery and permission tactics.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment ebbs and flows, having a reliable counter like Clash of Wills ensures you have a foothold against the ever-shifting meta. Its use as a universal spell counter makes it a staple in formats where controlling the stack is crucial to victory.
How to Beat Clash of Wills
Clash of Wills stands out as a quintessential counter spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a flexible approach to disrupting opponents by countering their spells. Players can adjust their mana investment based on the situation, making it dynamic and surprising. Opposing the adaptability of Clash of Wills, a steadfast strategy is to bait it out. Casting less crucial spells encourages the Clash of Wills user to expend their mana, thereby clearing the way for more significant spells to resolve without interference.
Monitoring mana is another tactical approach. With Clash of Wills being dependent on the mana available, players can wait for the opportune moment when the opponent’s mana is low, thus rendering their counter ability ineffective. In addition, direct mana disruption, through land destruction or taxing effects, can diminish the potency of Clash of Wills by limiting the opponent’s mana pool, making their countering attempts more predictable and manageable.
In essence, beating Clash of Wills focuses on cunning spell sequencing, precision timing, and disruption of an opponent’s mana. Such strategies enforce careful planning, leading to successful spell resolution against a card known for its flexibility and control.
Cards like Clash of Wills
Clash of Wills is an intriguing counter spell in Magic: The Gathering, echoing the strategic depth of mana-based counters like Mana Leak. Both involve an element of resource management from the caster and the opponent, albeit with different levels of flexibility. Clash of Wills allows players to sink any amount of mana into it, thus offering adaptability against various threats. In contrast, Mana Leak has a set cost and puts the onus on the opponent to pay extra mana, often times just three, to negate the counter.
Syncopate is another relative, operating on the exile premise if the counter is successful. It presents a specific challenge for the opponent who has to consider both the spell’s casting cost and the additional mana required to prevent their spell from being exiled. Comparative to Clash of Wills, Syncopate offers a strategic angle of not just countering but also permanently removing a threat from the game. Lastly, there’s Essence Scatter, known for its straightforward approach of countering creature spells at a low cost. It doesn’t have the scalability of Clash of Wills but shines with its efficiency against creature-centric decks.
In evaluating the nuances of these counter spells, Clash of Wills stands out for its versatility, allowing MTG players to adjust their countering power based on the evolving dynamics of the match.
Cards similar to Clash of Wills by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Clash of Wills MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Origins, 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 Clash of Wills and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Clash of Wills Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2015-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 59671 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer | ||
| 2 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yan Li | |
| 3 | Friday Night Magic 2016 | F16 | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anna Steinbauer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Clash of Wills has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
