Isildur's Fateful Strike MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 356
2023-06-23 - Number 767
2023-06-23 - Number 91
2023-06-23 - Number 542
2023-06-23 - Number 91s
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Instant |
Text of card
(You may cast a legendary instant only if you control a legendary creature or planeswalker.) Destroy target creature. If its controller has more than four cards in hand, they exile cards from their hand equal to the difference.
Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, and Sauron himself was overthrown.
Cards like Isildur's Fateful Strike
Isildur’s Fateful Strike is a unique card within the strategy circles of MTG, known for its impact on the battlefield. Comparable to other removal spells like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat, Isildur’s Fateful Strike offers a different approach to eliminating creatures. Instead of targeting nonblack or nonartifact creatures like the aforementioned spells, it requires the player to sacrifice a creature as part of its cost. This self-sacrifice can be leveraged for strategic advantage in decks that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard.
When weighing it against Cast Down, which allows for the destruction of a nonlegendary creature at instant speed, Isildur’s Fateful Strike requires more from the player but potentially offers greater rewards. It’s also worth comparing to Hero’s Downfall that hits both creatures and planeswalkers, providing a broader range of targets at the same mana cost. However, the added dimension of necessitating a creature sacrifice could synergize with graveyard-focused strategies.
Considering these aspects, Isildur’s Fateful Strike might not only be about removing threats but can also serve as a pivotal role in MTG strategies that capitalize on self-sacrifice and graveyard interaction, marking its place as a versatile card within such decks.
Cards similar to Isildur's Fateful Strike by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Isildur’s Fateful Strike provides the strategic edge of instantly removing a key threat on the board. This can disrupt your opponent’s game plan, leading to a significant shift in momentum and potentially turning the tide of a match in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Through its potential to take out an important creature, this card can act as indirect resource acceleration. Freeing the battleground from formidable adversaries clears the way for your own creatures to attack and can save mana that might have been spent on more costly removal spells.
Instant Speed: The versatility of acting at instant speed is invaluable. It allows you to respond to your opponent’s plays with precision and optimizes your mana usage each turn. The ability to strike during your opponent’s turn adds an element of surprise and tactical depth, keeping you one step ahead in the duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Isildur’s Fateful Strike poses a risk to your hand by forcing a discard, potentially causing you to lose a vital card when your hand size is precious.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a strict white and black color combination, this card demands a dedicated mana base, limiting its inclusion to decks that can consistently produce both colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana including two specific colors may be a steep price, especially when other options might offer similar or greater impact with a lower or more flexible cost.
Reasons to Include Isildur’s Fateful Strike in Your Collection
Versatility: Isildur’s Fateful Strike is a card that can slide into several deck archetypes with ease. Its ability to affect the board state with a well-timed disruption makes it a handy tool no matter what kind of deck you’re piloting. Whether running control to keep your enemies at bay, or playing aggressively to deal that crucial damage, this card can adapt to your strategy.
Combo Potential: This card really shines when it’s part of a combo. Can you imagine pulling off the perfect sequence to decimate your opponent’s creatures and clear the way for your victory? Isildur’s Fateful Strike’s specific effect can be the linchpin in a combo chain that leaves your adversaries in awe, struggling to recover.
Meta-Relevance: Keeping pace with the shifting tides of the game’s meta is critical, and including Isildur’s Fateful Strike in your collection can give you an edge. As the landscape of competitive play evolves, having a card in your arsenal that can deal with an array of threats is invaluable. It could be the difference-maker in your game-winning strategy.
How to beat
Isildur’s Fateful Strike presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This potent spell can change the course of a game by allowing a player to deal substantial damage, modeled after the legendary confrontation involving Isildur from the lore of Middle-earth. The key to overcoming this card lies in recognizing that its strength is rooted in the surprise factor and the potential for a sudden shift in board control.
To effectively navigate against Isildur’s Fateful Strike, it’s crucial to anticipate this momentous play and maintain a strategy that minimizes the card’s impact. This can include playing creatures with hexproof to prevent them from being targeted, keeping counter spells at the ready to thwart the strike, or having an indestructible entity that can withstand the onslaught. Additionally, deploying a diversity of threats ensures that the damage from the card doesn’t wipe out your entire board presence.
Understanding the timing and preparing for the right moment to act are essential. A well-timed disruption can mitigate the effect of Isildur’s Fateful Strike and keep you firmly in the game, showcasing the importance of strategic foresight and adaptability in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Isildur's Fateful Strike MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Isildur's Fateful Strike and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Isildur's Fateful Strike Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by John Di Giovanni.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 356 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Di Giovanni | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 767 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Di Giovanni | |
| 3 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 91 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Di Giovanni | |
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 542 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Di Giovanni | |
| 5 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Promos | PLTR | 91s | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Di Giovanni |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Isildur's Fateful Strike has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Isildur's Fateful Strike card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Isildur's Fateful Strike is the first legendary instant. It is subject to the same casting restrictions as existing legendary sorceries, as listed in the following rulings. |
| 2023-06-16 | Other than the casting restriction, the legendary supertype on an instant carries no additional rules. You may cast any number of legendary instants in a turn, and your deck may contain any number of legendary cards (but no more than four of any with the same name). |
| 2023-06-16 | You can't cast a legendary instant unless you control a legendary creature or a legendary planeswalker. Once you begin to cast a legendary instant, losing control of your legendary creatures and planeswalkers won't affect that spell. |