Neonate's Rush MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 151
2022-01-28 - Number 151
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Ability to filter hands and maintain tempo gives players an edge in adjusting strategies on the fly.
- Rapid creature deployment can offer an early game advantage by pressuring opponents unexpectedly.
- Instant speed play allows precise strategic actions, countering opponent moves for better board control.
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast if you control a Vampire. Neonate's Rush deals 1 damage to target creature and 1 damage to its controller. Draw a card.
"We spend our entire existence pursuing the joy of our first night's feast." —Anje Falkenrath
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the key strengths of Neonate’s Rush lies in its ability to contribute to card advantage. This card enables you to rummage, effectively filtering your deck by replacing unwanted cards with potentially more useful ones from your library. This tactic ensures that players can maintain momentum and tailor their hand to better respond to the evolving game state.
Resource Acceleration: Neonate’s Rush enhances resource acceleration by enabling you to quickly add a creature to the battlefield. This can be particularly advantageous when looking to establish or widen your board presence early in the game. The ability to rapidly deploy threats can often catch opponents off guard and tilt the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of this card offers considerable flexibility, allowing for strategic plays during the opponent’s end steps or after their attacks have been declared. This surprise element can be critical in altering the course of a match, as it enables the player to adapt to and counter the opponent’s strategies with precise timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Neonate’s Rush demands a card be discarded as part of its casting cost. This could be a setback, especially when your hand is already depleted, making it challenging to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both black and red mana to cast, constraining its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana. Players running mono-colored decks or those without a flexible mana base may find it hard to incorporate Neonate’s Rush into their strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined mana value of three, Neonate’s Rush might be less appealing compared to other aggressive cards in the same mana range. Its cost might be too steep for the effect it provides, particularly in formats where speed and efficiency are crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Neonate’s Rush offers flexibility for a variety of deck builds, apt for strategies that emphasize efficient creature spells or demand a quick and aggressive start to pressure opponents early in the game.
Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that profit from casting multiple spells in a single turn or from having a high number of creature spells hitting the board in rapid succession.
Meta-Relevance: With the game increasingly favoring quick plays and fast-paced matches, Neonate’s Rush suits the current environment by allowing players to swarm the battlefield swiftly and maintain tempo against other aggressive decks.
How to beat
Neonate’s Rush emerges as an impactful red instant in the Magic: The Gathering universe, granting players an unexpected but brief surge of power. Its ability to give creatures +2/+0 until the end of the turn sets it apart from other combat tricks, making it a versatile card to increase your board’s threat level instantly. Comparable cards like Brute Strength provide a similar temporary boost but also include a trample effect which Neonate’s Rush lacks.
When facing Neonate’s Rush, prioritize maintaining a strong defensive line. Efficient blockers or instant-speed removal cards can effectively neutralize the threat posed by a Neonate’s Rush-enhanced creature. Consider incorporating cards that can negate the effects of instants or provide protection for your creatures to weather the onslaught. Counterspells or cards like Gods Willing offer a resolute defense against such combat-enhancing cards.
Mastering the nuances of interplay among cards is key to triumphing over Neonate’s Rush. Recognizing when to hold back or when to commit to stopping a rush can turn the tide of a duel, emphasizing strategic play and timing above raw power.
Cards like Neonate's Rush
Neonate’s Rush has found its niche among the suite of aggressive red spells in Magic: The Gathering. It mirrors the intentions of spells like Reckless Charge, which also grants creatures haste and a slight power boost. Nevertheless, Neonate’s Rush distinguishes itself with the added utility of being able to target more than one creature for a potential all-out assault on the turn it’s played.
Comparably, Brute Strength gives a single creature +3/+1 until the end of the turn, highlighting the balance players must strike between power and distribution of effects. Where Neonate’s Rush enables a swift, widespread attack, Brute Strength focuses its might on one creature, potentially creating a more formidable individual threat. Expedite offers a different angle, giving only haste but with the immediate benefit of drawing a card, providing both speed and card advantage in a single cast.
All things considered, when analyzing the tools for an offensive strategy in Magic: The Gathering, Neonate’s Rush stands out as an option for players looking to apply early game pressure across multiple creatures, a tactical advantage that could be pivotal in the race against an opponent.
Cards similar to Neonate's Rush by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Neonate's Rush 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 Neonate's Rush and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Neonate's Rush Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Justine Cruz.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Cruz | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Cruz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Neonate's Rush has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
