Hostility MTG Card

Hostility turns damage from red spells into a greater number of attacking creature tokens. Instant-speed burn spells with Hostility create surprising Elemental token armies. Converting damage to creature tokens poses a multilayered threat opponents must address.

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 176

Hostility - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (DD2)

Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (DD2)
2008-11-07 - Number 48

Hostility - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)

Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
2014-12-05 - Number 48

Commander 2015 (C15)
2015-11-13 - Number 158

Hostility - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
2018-06-08 - Number 105

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental Incarnation
Abilities	Haste
Power	6
Toughness	6

Text of card

Haste If a spell you control would deal damage to an opponent, prevent that damage. Put a 3/1 red Elemental Shaman creature token with haste into play for each 1 damage prevented this way. When Hostility is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.

Cards like Hostility

Hostility is a unique and dynamic force on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering, slotted into the category of creature spells that impact the handling of damage. It shares similarities with cards like Repercussion, which also interacts with damage distribution. Hostility turns damage into a creature swarm, creating a 3/1 red Elemental creature token for each 1 damage prevented, while Repercussion redirects damage from creatures to their controllers.

Another parallel is found with The Locust God, which converts drawing cards into creating 1/1 blue and red Insect creature tokens. Though it follows the theme of transforming one game action into creature tokens, the trigger is based on card draw instead of damage conversion. Additionally, Hostility, with its hefty power and toughness, offers a more immediate presence on the board than the gradual token accumulation The Locust God provides.

Cards like Hostility enrich the MTG experience by providing clever ways to maximize spell impacts. Commanding this card well can pivot the game’s momentum, reflecting Hostility’s stronghold within its niche, and showcasing the profound strategies available to players within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Hostility by color, type and mana cost

Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions

Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hostility turns any damage from red spells you cast into 3/1 red Elemental creature tokens, effectively transforming potential direct damage into a board presence and providing a significant potential swing in creatures on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although Hostility itself doesn’t provide mana acceleration, the swarm of Elemental tokens it creates can be a powerful deterrent, forcing opponents to deal with multiple threats and potentially diverting resources they might otherwise use to develop their own board or disrupt your strategy.

Instant Speed: Hostility’s ability synergizes exceptionally with instants. Casting burn spells on your opponent’s turn can unexpectedly fill your board with aggressive Elemental tokens, ready to swing in on your next turn, thus catching opponents off guard and capitalizing on the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect that might deter players from including Hostility in their decks is the discard condition that comes with its triggered ability. Having to let go of a valuable card can be a costly price to pay, especially when the course of the game has left you with limited options in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Hostility demands a precise mana investment, specifically three red and three generic mana. This requirement can be challenging in multicolored decks that might struggle with producing the necessary red mana consistently, which can often lead to it being a dead card in hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six mana to cast this creature is steep when considering the tempo of most games. While the potential benefits of Hostility are significant, its six-mana cost can be prohibitive, taking up your entire turn and potentially putting you behind other players who are using their mana more efficiently.

Reasons to Include Hostility in Your Collection

Versatility: Hostility is a card that can slide into various strategies that revolve around noncombat damage spells. Given its ability to create tokens, this card excels in red-based decks that are designed to deal damage through spells rather than through direct attacks.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with other spells that deal damage. Each time you would deal damage with a red instant or sorcery, Hostility generates a 3/1 red Elemental Shaman creature token with haste, increasing the threat level on the board significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where burn spells are prevalent, Hostility can turn your damaging spells into a battlefield presence. It’s a strong play against decks that are less prepared to deal with a sudden swarm of creatures, and can deter opponents from playing damage prevention or life gain spells, as these will only lead to more tokens for you.

How to beat Hostility

Hostility is a unique creature card that creates a potent impact on game dynamics by converting noncombat damage into 3/1 red Elemental Shaman creature tokens. Its six mana cost includes a heavier reliance on red mana, which requires precise mana base planning for players aiming to incorporate it effectively in their decks. Although it can quickly change the course of a game, Hostility can be outmaneuvered with some strategic card choices.

One reliable method to counteract Hostility’s presence is utilizing removal spells that can bypass its ability to replace damage into tokens. Spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can unsummon Hostility before its effect becomes a problem. Board wipes like Wrath of God are also effective, as they clear out the tokens generated by Hostility, effectively negating its impact. Lastly, players may consider including cards with exile effects, as exiling Hostility hinders its token generation ability.

To sum up, though Hostility can be a thorn in the side of many players, methodical planning, and including diverse removal options in your deck can effectively counter its potential threat. Knowing how to neutralize such impactful cards is essential for any player looking to dominate their MTG games.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hostility MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, 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 Hostility and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hostility Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Omar Rayyan.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-10-12	Lorwyn	LRW	176	2003	Normal	Black	Omar Rayyan
2	2008-11-07	Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra	DD2	48	2003	Normal	Black	Omar Rayyan
3	2014-12-05	Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra	JVC	48	2015	Normal	Black	Omar Rayyan
4	2015-11-13	Commander 2015	C15	158	2015	Normal	Black	Omar Rayyan
5	2018-06-08	Commander Anthology Volume II	CM2	105	2015	Normal	Black	Omar Rayyan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hostility 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 Hostility card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2007-10-01	Although this ability triggers when the Incarnation is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, it doesn’t specifically trigger on leaving the battlefield, so it doesn’t behave like other leaves-the-battlefield abilities. The ability will trigger from the graveyard.
2007-10-01	If the Incarnation had lost this ability while on the battlefield (due to Lignify, for example) and then was destroyed, the ability would still trigger and it would get shuffled into its owner’s library. However, if the Incarnation lost this ability when it was put into the graveyard (due to Yixlid Jailer, for example), the ability wouldn’t trigger and the Incarnation would remain in the graveyard.
2007-10-01	If the Incarnation is removed from the graveyard after the ability triggers but before it resolves, it will remain in its new zone when its owner shuffles their library. Similarly, if a replacement effect has the Incarnation move to a different zone instead of being put into the graveyard, the ability won’t trigger at all.
2007-10-01	The last ability triggers when the Incarnation is put into its owner’s graveyard from any zone, not just from on the battlefield.