Blessed Defiance MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed allows reactive plays, boosting defense or preserving creatures during combat.
  2. By creating a token upon a creature’s demise, it maintains board presence effectively.
  3. Demands white mana and a creature in combat, which can limit its versatility.

Text of card

Target creature you control gets +2/+0 and gains lifelink until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.

"If I'm going, I'm taking you with me!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Blessed Defiance, you have the potential to stay ahead in card utility by giving a creature you control a boost and potentially creating a 1/1 white human creature token upon its destruction, maintaining your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Blessed Defiance doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in terms of mana, it can unexpectedly turn a dying creature into a new asset, effectively using your resources in a more efficient manner and can accelerate your development on the board.

Instant Speed: The power of instant-speed interaction cannot be overstated, and Blessed Defiance operates at this speed, allowing you to react to your opponent’s actions, surprise an attacker with boosted defense, or unexpectedly preserve your board state during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blessed Defiance has no discard requirement, but it does require a creature you control to be in combat or targeted which can be restrictive in terms of setup.

Specific Mana Cost: This card specifically needs white mana, so non-white decks can’t leverage its benefits without a varied mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one white mana, for its effects which include gaining life and producing a token, there could be more cost-effective options for such actions in the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blessed Defiance is a flexible tool, easily slotting into a variety of white decks. Its capacity to not only provide a creature with a quick buff but also to replace a fallen creature makes it invaluable for both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations that exploit lifegain triggers or death-related abilities. Its ability to leave behind a Spirit token can seamlessly integrate with strategies that revolve around creature tokens or sacrifice mechanisms.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board wipes and removal are prevalent, Blessed Defiance offers a way to preserve board presence. Given its low cost and instant speed, it’s well-positioned in the current environment to provide an edge against both aggressive red deck wins and the more controlling blue-based decks.


How to Beat Blessed Defiance

Heading into a match with an understanding of how to respond to your opponents’ strategies can be the edge you need. When facing Blessed Defiance, a white instant spell that can swing combat in your opponent’s favor, it’s crucial to anticipate and disrupt this card’s effectiveness. Notably, this card grants a creature +2/+1, lifelink, and if it would die this turn, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. The boost and lifelink can turn a defensive creature into a solid blocker or a lowly attacker into a lethal threat.

One effective strategy is employing removal spells in response to Blessed Defiance’s cast. Wait for your opponent to play it during combat and then use instant-speed removal on the targeted creature. Spells like Doom Blade or Fatal Push can be decisive in this context. Moreover, countering the spell outright with a blue counterspell prevents any of its effects from resolving. Lastly, cards that strip your opponent’s hand or force them to discard, such as Thoughtseize or Duress, can eliminate Blessed Defiance before it’s even played, preserving your strategy while dismantling theirs.

Understanding your deck’s tools to counter key cards is fundamental to winning in MTG. Blessed Defiance can be a minor nuisance or swing a game if left unchecked, so prioritize its threat level accordingly and tailor your response to maintain dominance over the battlefield.


Cards like Blessed Defiance

Blessed Defiance is an intriguing instant for those looking to fortify their creatures in the heat of battle. Much like other combat tricks, it provides a quick boost and secondary effects that can swing the tide in your favor. Kindred Boon is a card that might come to mind in comparison, as it also focuses on empowering and protecting your forces. Nevertheless, Blessed Defiance separates itself with its ability to grant temporary invincibility through indestructibility and additional lifelink benefit, albeit to a single creature.

Comparing this to Gods Willing, which also provides protection, Blessed Defiance does lack the scry ability that Gods Willing offers, but compensates with lifegain. Another card worthy of comparison is Feat of Resistance. It also gives a creature protection and a +1/+1 counter, which could result in a more lasting impact on the board. However, the lifegain and immediate defensive edge offered by Blessed Defiance is uniquely beneficial in a tight spot where survivability is key.

Hence, while each of these spells serves a strategic role in creature-based decks, Blessed Defiance holds its place as a valuable option for players keen on immediate and potent defensive maneuvers combined with a life gain bonus.

Kindred Boon - MTG Card versions
Gods Willing - MTG Card versions
Feat of Resistance - MTG Card versions
Kindred Boon - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Gods Willing - Theros (THS)
Feat of Resistance - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)

Cards similar to Blessed Defiance by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Fallout (PIP)
Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Indestructible Aura - Chronicles (CHR)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Reaping the Rewards - Exodus (EXO)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Orim's Touch - Invasion (INV)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blessed Defiance MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Blessed Defiance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blessed Defiance Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Kim Sokol.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 52015normalblackKim Sokol
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 52015normalblackKim Sokol
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1562015normalblackKim Sokol

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blessed Defiance has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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