Harm's Way MTG Card

Offers unique combat tactics by redirecting damage, which can stabilize or turn the tide of battle. Exudes efficiency with low mana cost, allowing for impactful plays without significant resource commitment. Demands strategic play to counter, with effective tactics including baiting and timing removal spells.

Magic 2010 (M10)
2009-07-17 - Number 14

Harm's Way - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
2011-04-01 - Number 23

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Text of card

The next 2 damage that a source of your choice would deal to you or a permanent you control this turn is dealt to target creature or player instead.

Even when fate is already written, there's always time to change the names.

Cards like Harm's Way

Harm’s Way is a unique card that offers a twist on damage redirection within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other redirection spells like the solid staple Redirect, which can target any spell, not just damage. Harm’s Way, however, shines with its low mana cost and the ability to turn potential damage into a strategic advantage for just a single white mana.

Another card that comes to mind is the classic Deflecting Palm from the Khans of Tarkir set. This card also redirects damage and can deal that damage back to an opponent or a creature they control. Although it costs more mana than Harm’s Way, it doesn’t have the limitation of redirecting only 2 damage, allowing it to handle bigger threats. Meanwhile, Shining Shoal offers a similar damage redirection effect, without spending mana through its alternate casting cost by exiling a white card from your hand.

Each of these cards has its own merits within a player’s arsenal. Still, Harm’s Way offers an efficient and low-cost option for players looking to add some defensive tactics to their deck, without sinking too much mana into a single card.

Cards similar to Harm's Way by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Harm's Way. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Jeskai Stoneblade	Legacy	Jeskai Stoneblade	2023 Asia Legacy Championship

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Harm’s Way offers strategic depth by potentially negating damage or redirecting it to secure creature or planeswalker eliminations, which can disrupt your opponent’s board state without losing card resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Harm’s Way does not directly provide mana or tokens, the card excels in resource efficiency. This allows players to use their mana in a more impactful way by preventing damage or possibly removing a threat with minimal investment.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Harm’s Way provides the flexibility to respond to threats at a crucial moment during an opponent’s turn, allowing players to adapt their strategy on the fly and potentially swing the tide of battle with a surprise move.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Harm’s Way does not require a card to be discarded, it’s essential to consider this typical con when assessing other cards in your deck that may synergize with it.

Specific Mana Cost: Harm’s Way requires white mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that can produce white mana reliably, thus limiting its versatility in multicolor decks that may not focus on white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Harm’s Way costs only two mana, when evaluated against other protective spells in MTG, some may find it less appealing due to similar cards that can offer broader protection or affect multiple targets for a similar investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Harm’s Way offers a unique protective measure that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of deck builds. It allows players to turn potentially damaging situations to their advantage, whether in aggressive red deck wins strategies or in more conservative white weenie builds.

Combo Potential: This card can be paired effectively with effects that benefit from redirection or prevention of damage. This opens up possibilities for combos that can disrupt opponents’ strategies while advancing your board state.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where direct damage spells and effects are prevalent, Harm’s Way stands out as a tactical tool. It can effectively counter popular burn strategies, making it a useful sideboard card or even a main deck piece depending on the current meta.

How to beat

Harm’s Way is an intriguing card with the potential to redirect damage from one source to another in Magic: The Gathering. It is an attractive defensive spell resembling other protection spells like Protect the Hekma, but Harm’s Way offers increased versatility by turning an opponent’s attack into a strategic counterattack. To effectively beat Harm’s Way, it is essential to anticipate its use. This involves playing around open white mana that could indicate the card’s presence in your opponent’s hand.

It’s also sensible to bait out Harm’s Way early by presenting less impactful threats before committing more valuable creatures to the board. Additionally, making use of untargeted damage effects or choosing spells that deal damage to multiple targets, such as Earthquake or Blasphemous Act, can circumvent Harm’s Way’s redirection ability. Players should also consider the timing of their removal spells, holding them until the moment when their opponent is least likely to have Harm’s Way ready to disrupt their plans.

By understanding the capabilities and limitations of Harm’s Way, strategic play, and careful threat assessment, you can effectively neutralize its impact and maintain control in your matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Harm's Way MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons, 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 Harm's Way and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Harm's Way Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2011-04-01. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-07-17	Magic 2010	M10		14	2003	Normal	Black	Dan Scott
2	2011-04-01	Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons	DDG		23	2003	Normal	Black	Dan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Harm's Way has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-10-01	After Harm’s Way resolves, it no longer checks to see if the target is a legal target. However, if that permanent or player can’t be dealt damage at the time the chosen source would deal damage (perhaps because the creature is no longer on the battlefield or is no longer a creature, or because the player is no longer in the game), the damage can’t be redirected. It’s dealt to the original recipient.
2009-10-01	As you cast Harm’s Way, you target that the redirected damage will be dealt to. As Harm’s Way resolves, you choose a source of damage. You never choose the original recipient of the damage; Harm’s Way will apply to whatever the chosen source tries to deal damage to, as long as it’s you or a permanent you control.
2009-10-01	Harm’s Way has no effect on damage that’s already been dealt.
2009-10-01	If the chosen source would deal just 1 damage to you or a permanent you control, Harm’s Way’s effect will redirect that damage and still have a “shield” left for another 1 damage from that source later in the turn.
2009-10-01	If the chosen source would simultaneously deal damage to multiple permanents you control (like Pyroclasm could) or to you and at least one permanent you control (like Earthquake could), Harm’s Way will redirect just 2 of that damage. It won’t redirect the next 2 damage that would be dealt to each recipient. You choose which 2 damage is redirected. If you like, you can choose to redirect 1 damage that would be dealt by the chosen source to each of two different recipients.