Impatience MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 88
2001-04-11 - Number 197★
2001-04-11 - Number 197
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
At the end of each player's turn, if that player didn't play a spell that turn, Impatience deals 2 damage to him or her.
Ask a Keldon to hold his temper and you'll be left holding your guts.
Cards like Impatience
Impatience adds a unique twist to the enchantment pool in Magic: The Gathering, setting players on a clock with its potential for consistent damage. In this light, it’s akin to cards like Citadel of Pain, which also punishes opponents for not using their mana. Yet, Impatience is distinct in its approach, applying pressure each turn if opponents do not cast a spell.
Another analogue is Sulfuric Vortex, which delivers a reliable burn with its unyielding damage during upkeep, affecting all players uniformly. Impatience, however, solely targets those who pass their opportunity to play spells. Ebony Owl Netsuke offers a different manner of damage based on hand size, instead of spell casting, encouraging a faster pace of play akin to Impatience. While none of these cards are identical, they all share the underlying principle of forcing opponents into uncomfortable positions, hastening their gameplay and potentially leading to missteps.
To sum up, while exploring the card’s context within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of strategies, Impatience secures its position by pressuring opponents into action or face inevitable damage, a tactical advantage for any player favoring a quick-paced game.
Cards similar to Impatience by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Impatience ensures that opponents are under constant threat to act. Should they fail to play a spell, the ability to potentially remove an unutilized card off their board can swing the game in your favor, subtly shifting card advantage to your side.
Resource Acceleration: Although Impatience doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, its presence accelerates the pace of the game. By pressuring opponents to play spells hastily, it can lead to inefficient use of their resources, giving a savvy player the upper hand in building their board presence more effectively.
Instant Speed: Impatience operates at a continuous clip, affecting each end step. The ongoing threat of activation pushes opponents to play at instant speed themselves, often at a suboptimal tempo. This allows for strategic planning and the potential manipulation of the opponent’s playstyle and resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Impatience MTG card compels players to sacrifice precious hand assets. This condition could be a hurdle when your hand is already struggling for substance, potentially putting you at a disadvantage when options are needed most.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding two red mana for activation, Impatience might not seamlessly slot into multicolored or splash decks. This can pose deck building constraints and reduce its adaptability across diverse strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting value that encroaches on mid-game territory, players could ponder alternatives. Cheaper spells might offer similar damage potential or strategic advantages without the burden of a full turn’s mana resources.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Impatience can be an asset in a variety of decks that aim to push opponents into action. It can serve as a form of deterrent or pressure in both casual and competitive play, incentivizing faster gameplay from your adversaries.
Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs seamlessly with cards that restrict your opponents’ ability to play spells on their turn, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, further increasing the likelihood of dealing damage through its ability.
Meta-Relevance: In games where opponents tend to carefully curate their hand for the perfect play, Impatience disrupts such strategies, making it a valuable inclusion in a meta that favors control or combo decks that play on a longer horizon.
How to Beat
Impatience is a unique enchantment that can pressure opponents in Magic: The Gathering, forcing them to play at a quicker pace to avoid taking damage. This red card can be especially problematic for control decks that prefer taking their time and setting up their board before making moves. To efficiently navigate this card, players need to be strategic about their hand management, ensuring they have enough spells to play each turn to avoid the automatic damage.
Adaptability is key when facing an Impatience card. Use instant-speed spells that can be played during the opponent’s turn, or keep low-cost creatures in hand to guarantee a spell cast. One counter strategy includes holding onto cards with flash, allowing you to maintain a full hand and still play on your opponent’s turn. Additionally, cards that allow players to draw more frequently will ensure a steady flow of playable options.
Ultimately, when Impatience is on the board, remember that it affects all players, and the same pressure applied to you also governs your opponent’s actions. Capitalize on their hasty decisions, and you might just turn their strategy against them, proving that sometimes, patience in response to impatience is truly a virtue.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Impatience MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Seventh Edition, 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 Impatience and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Impatience Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 88 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Brill | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 197★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kunio Hagio | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 197 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kunio Hagio |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Impatience has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Impatience card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If a spell is countered, it still counts as having been cast. |