Friendly Rivalry MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Draw a card with each creature spell, providing a steady flow of game options.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible responses to an ever-changing board state.
  3. Discard, specific mana, and high cost may hinder optimal card utilization.

Text of card

Target creature you control and up to one other target legendary creature you control each deal damage equal to their power to target creature you don't control.

"Forty-two, Master Legolas!" —Gimli


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Friendly Rivalry card provides a substantial boost by allowing players to draw a card whenever they cast a creature spell, offering a consistent stream of new options and strategic depth throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: Additionally, it can empower your creatures, accelerating your potential to sway the board state firmly in your favor and enabling quicker, more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed versatility means you can adapt on the fly to the dynamic battlefield of MTG, ensuring you always have the upper hand and can respond to your opponent’s moves efficiently and effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of the casting requisites for Friendly Rivalry, you may find yourself in a spot where discarding an additional card can prove more of a setback than anticipated. This is particularly taxing when your hand is already running thin, making the discard more of a liability than a strategic play.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailoring your mana base to accommodate Friendly Rivalry’s precise and somewhat demanding mana requirement means you’re tinkering with deck consistency. This card requires both blue and red mana, restricting its seamless inclusion to only certain archetypes that can reliably generate the necessary colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Using Friendly Rivalry comes with a substantial mana investment. When you’re leveraging four mana points, especially in a fast-paced game, the return needs to be significant to justify the expenditure. Given this relatively hefty mana load, you may find other cards that advance your board state or hand with greater cost efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Friendly Rivalry finds a place in various decks, enhancing the dynamics between creature-based strategies and spell-slinging plays, thus delivering a broad appeal for players who enjoy diverse approaches to the game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to give a boost to your creatures while possibly hindering opponent’s plans, Friendly Rivalry marries well with strategies that seek to leverage temporary advantages into decisive wins.

Meta-Relevance: In the current landscape where players often vie for board presence, a card like Friendly Rivalry can tip the scales in matchups, offering relevant and timely advantages against a plethora of popular decks.


How to Beat

Facing off against the card Friendly Rivalry on the battlefield calls for strategic thinking and a solid understanding of its mechanics. This enchantment bolsters two creatures with a shared power increase, promoting an environment of competitive advantage. To counteract this, one needs to disrupt the synergy it creates between creatures. Efficient creature removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can eliminate the buffed targets, nullifying the rivalry’s benefit. Moreover, enchantment removal tools such as Disenchant or Naturalize should be ready at your disposal to directly handle the enchantment itself, ensuring that the playing field remains even.

Additionally, it’s wise to maintain board control. Continuous removal keeps the creatures in check, and sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the board, leaving Friendly Rivalry without targets. Tapping into counter spells like Counterspell or Negate when Friendly Rivalry is cast can prevent it from ever taking effect. In essence, managing your opponent’s creatures and being proactive with removal or counter strategies will render this enchantment far less impactful.

Remember, understanding the nature of your opponent’s deck and preparing your own with the right responses makes confronting cards like Friendly Rivalry far less daunting. Adaptability and foresight are key in ensuring your victory remains unchallenged on the magical plane where such rivalries are settled.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG means adapting to an ever-changing battlefield, especially when faced with cards like Friendly Rivalry. Leveraging its potential requires a mix of strategic deck building and timely plays. With its ability to ramp up your card advantage and amplify your creatures’ strength, this card could be a game-changer. However, mindful inclusion is crucial, considering the resource investment and deck synergy. If you’re intrigued by its possibilities or seeking to counter it, our insights can help refine your gameplay, making every draw, every turn, a step towards victory. Dive deeper with us for optimum strategies and deck tech that could secure your wins.


Cards like Friendly Rivalry

Friendly Rivalry, a compelling new entry in Magic: The Gathering’s pool of card advantage effects, invites comparison to other cards that bolster a player’s hand while interacting with opponents. Take for instance, Howling Mine, a beloved classic that also draws cards but does so for each player at the beginning of their draw step. Unlike Friendly Rivalry, it lacks the selectivity and potential for instant gratification.

Looking at another peer, Dictate of Kruphix echoes this idea, providing each player an extra card draw during their draw steps. Though it shares Howling Mine’s symmetry, it distinguishes itself with flash, allowing strategic timing. However, it doesn’t provide the engagement or the choice element present in Friendly Rivalry. For those considering Narset, Parter of Veils, it presents a unique twist by limiting opponents to drawing only a single card each turn, aligning with Friendly Rivalry’s ethos of affecting every player but veering towards control.

In essence, Friendly Rivalry offers a nuanced option that combines card draw with multiplayer dynamics. It stands out for its ability to give a player temporary advantage and strategic insight into their opponents’ hands, a feature that, when tactically employed, can outshine its more straightforward counterparts.

Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Dictate of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Narset, Parter of Veils - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Dictate of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Narset, Parter of Veils - MTG Card versions

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Surge of Strength - MTG Card versions
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Ancient Grudge - MTG Card versions
Manamorphose - MTG Card versions
Colossal Might - MTG Card versions
Signal the Clans - MTG Card versions
Gruul Charm - MTG Card versions
Pit Fight - MTG Card versions
Destructive Revelry - MTG Card versions
Atarka's Command - MTG Card versions
Colossal Growth - MTG Card versions
Questing Druid // Seek the Beast - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Friendly Rivalry MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Friendly Rivalry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Friendly Rivalry Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Marc Simonetti.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 6552015NormalBlackMarc Simonetti
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 2042015NormalBlackMarc Simonetti

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Friendly Rivalry has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 If one of the two target creatures you control is an illegal target as Friendly Rivalry resolves, the other will still deal damage equal to its power.
2023-06-16 If the last target is an illegal target as Friendly Rivalry resolves, or if both of the first targets are illegal targets, no creature deals or is dealt damage.