Hour of Promise MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Search your library for up to two land cards, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. Then if you control three or more Deserts, create two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens.
With the Hekma breached and its protection removed, the deserts swept in.
Cards like Hour of Promise
Hour of Promise is a distinctive selection in the realm of land search spells in MTG. This card bears similarity to spells like Explosive Vegetation, which also allows a player to search for two land cards and put them onto the battlefield. Despite this resemblance, Hour of Promise comes with a significant upside – if you control three or more deserts, you get not just the lands but also two zombie tokens. Explosive Vegetation lacks this additional token generation feature.
In the same suite of land search spells, we find Cultivate and Kodama’s Reach, both of which offer a moderate ramp by allowing you to search for one land card to place on the battlefield and another to go into your hand. While this can be seen as more flexible than directly putting two lands onto the battlefield, neither spell provides the immediate board presence that Hour of Promise can offer with its potential zombie tokens.
To summarize, Hour of Promise not only effectively increases your land count but potentially amps up your defensive line with zombie tokens. Within MTG land search spells, it delivers strong utility and board impact, setting itself as a prominent choice amidst its counterparts.
Cards similar to Hour of Promise by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Hour of Promise. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
BG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26 | ||
WURG | Modern | Modern Challenge 64 2024-02-18 (1) | ||
Indomitable Creativity | Modern | Indomitable Creativity | Modern League 2024-02-29 | |
Five-color Ramp | Pioneer | Maze's End | DreamHack Atlanta 2023 - Sun. 11AM Pioneer 5k Open 8-Slot RCQ |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hour of Promise excels at card utility by fetching not just one but two land cards directly onto the battlefield, setting you up for potent plays ahead.
Resource Acceleration: This card stands out in ramp strategies by allowing you to accelerate your resources significantly, especially if it results in the summoning of two powerful land cards that can be immediately put to use.
Instant Speed: While Hour of Promise is a sorcery, its impactful search and land placement effect make up for the speed, acting as a catalyst for your strategy that can turn the tide of the game when played at the right moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Hour of Promise itself doesn’t require a discard, it operates under a specific condition where discarding can indirectly become a factor. Given its five-mana cost, players often need to carefully manage their hand to ensure they can play it without foregoing other strategic plays, potentially leading to tough decisions about what to discard throughout the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Hour of Promise’s mana cost, which includes one green, can be restrictive. This requirement might not pose a problem in two-color or green-focused ramp decks, but it can limit the card’s inclusion in more color-diverse or non-green strategies, possibly requiring additional mana-fixing resources to be played reliably.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana, Hour of Promise is a significant investment, especially in the current metagame where speed and efficiency can be critical. Although the ability to search for two land cards is powerful, some players might prefer options that impact the board immediately or cost less, enabling a faster tempo and smoother curve in their deck’s progression.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Hour of Promise is a dynamic addition to any deck seeking reliable land ramp. The ability to search for any two lands, not just basic lands, opens a world of strategic possibilities and ensures that your mana base meets your deck’s needs.
Combo Potential: With its land-searching capability, Hour of Promise synergizes with landfall triggers and combos well with cards that activate abilities when a certain number of deserts are in play. It can serve as a cornerstone for activating powerful land-related combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to fetch critical utility lands, Hour of Promise remains relevant in a range of MTG formats. It can quickly change the tide of the game by providing the right lands at the critical moment, making it a game-changer in the current metagame.
How to Beat Hour of Promise
Hour of Promise is an impactful card renowned for its land-searching ability, often propelling players towards a commanding position in Magic: The Gathering. Its power lies in its ability to fetch any two lands from your deck, not just basics, and potentially place hefty Zombie tokens onto the battlefield as a bonus for having three or more deserts.
The key to undermining Hour of Promise lies in strategic prevention and disruption. Utilize land destruction or graveyard manipulation to cut off the benefits it provides. Cards like Field of Ruin can disrupt special land synergies, and graveyard hate cards like Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus help mitigate the advantage gained from searching lands into the graveyard. Pacing is also important; apply pressure early in the game to challenge a player before they cast Hour of Promise and go beyond reach. Remember, managing your opponent’s resources and threats directly diminishes the impact of their game plan, ultimately leading you towards victory.
A well-timed counterspell can prevent Hour of Promise from resolving in the first place. In Magic: The Gathering, staying one step ahead of your opponent’s strategy is crucial. This means efficient use of your cards and mana to render their powerful spells, like Hour of Promise, less effective. Precision and foresight are your allies in subverting the advantage this card offers.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the depths of MTG involves more than just learning individual card strengths; it’s about building a cohesive strategy. Hour of Promise is a powerful component for any player focusing on land ramp tactics, seamlessly fitting into decks that benefit from fast mana acceleration and potential zombie token defense. Its ability to search for any two lands is a vital asset, offering versatility in deck construction and gameplay. If you’re keen on optimizing your strategy with this dynamic card or seeking similar impactful options, join us for comprehensive insights and tips on harnessing the full potential of your MTG collection. Your next encounter across the table could lead to a victorious moment with the right knowledge and preparation.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hour of Promise MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Hour of Devastation Promos, 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 Hour of Promise and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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 Hour of Promise Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by Jonas De Ro.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2017-07-14 | Hour of Devastation | HOU | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
2 | 2017-07-15 | Hour of Devastation Promos | PHOU | 120s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 197 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
4 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 195 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
5 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 Commander | M3C | 232 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hour of Promise has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hour of Promise card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2017-07-14 | When Hour of Promise checks the number of Deserts you control, it includes any Deserts you found earlier with Hour of Promise. |
2018-01-19 | There are many important moments in the story, but the most crucial—called “story spotlights”—are shown on cards. These cards have the Planeswalker symbol in their text box; this symbol has no effect on gameplay. You can read more about these events in the official Magic fiction at http://www.mtgstory.com. |