Keep Watch MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Instant |
Text of card
Draw a card for each attacking creature.
"I see their moral dilemmas. I see their raw courage. I see their self-sacrifice. I see our victory."
Cards like Keep Watch
Keep Watch is an intriguing spell for players looking to replenish their hand in Magic: The Gathering, and fits into the card draw category. Like its counterpart, Concentrate, which offers the straightforward draw of three cards for four mana, Keep Watch provides a situational yet possibly more lucrative approach. Instead, it is dependent on the number of attacking creatures, potentially drawing a significant number of cards during a single combat phase.
Delving into another comparison, Blue Sun’s Zenith showcases versatility in card drawing capabilities, allowing a player to invest any amount of mana to draw and then reshuffle it into their library. Unlike Keep Watch, which is contingent on opponents’ actions, Blue Sun’s Zenith grants control over how many cards are drawn. Conversely, Keep Watch can potentially outshine in scenarios with large numbers of attackers, maximizing card advantage without the need for a hefty mana investment.
Considering the spectrum of card draw mechanics, Keep Watch stands out during opponent-heavy attack phases. Its unique potential for swinging a player’s card advantage makes it a notable spell within its category, particularly in multiplayer or token-heavy formats.
Cards similar to Keep Watch by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Keep Watch. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Turbo Fog | Pauper | Turbo Fog | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-03 | |
Rogue Decklists | Pauper | Nacional Pauper 2023 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Keep Watch excels in generating card advantage by drawing you a card for each attacking creature. In situations with multiple attackers, this can quickly fill your hand, providing a significant edge over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While Keep Watch itself does not directly accelerate resources, the cards drawn can lead to resource-producing spells or land drops, indirectly contributing to your mana development and allowing for quicker deployment of threats or answers.
Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Keep Watch grants you the flexibility to assess the battlefield and make an informed decision during the heat of combat. This can provide not only card advantage but a strategic upper hand, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s moves with perfect timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While this card doesn’t have a discard requirement, it does necessitate a particular board state to be effective. Without threatening creatures, its utility diminishes significantly, which can be limiting.
Specific Mana Cost: Keep Watch requires one blue mana, which could hinder decks that run multiple colors or those without a reliable source of blue mana, reducing its broad application across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost total of three, including one blue, Keep Watch is competing with other card draw options which could offer greater flexibility or an additional effect at a similar or lower cost threshold.
Reasons to Include Keep Watch in Your Collection
Versatility: Keep Watch is a card that seamlessly integrates into a range of blue-focused decks. Its ability to draw cards based on the number of attacking creatures makes it a great inclusion for control or tempo strategies that aim to maintain a robust hand while dictating the game’s pace.
Combo Potential: In combination-focused decks, Keep Watch can be an enabler, working well with cards that incentivize attacking with a multitude of creatures or those that create token swarms. It can turn an ordinary attack phase into a significant advantage by refueling your hand for the next move.
Meta-Relevance: As metagames often fluctuate between creature-heavy aggro decks and less creature-heavy control or combo decks, Keep Watch serves as a handy tool. It shines in an environment brimming with go-wide strategies, providing card advantage that keeps your responses and threats flowing.
How to beat
Keep Watch is a unique card in the realm that commands a defensive playstyle while potentially rewarding you with a burst of card draw. Whenever an opportunity presents itself, and a swarm of enemy creatures declares an attack, Keep Watch shines by granting you a card for each attacking creature. Its usage is tactical, often changing the tide of the battle by refilling your hand in response to aggressive opponents.
To effectively counter Keep Watch, one strategy involves regulating the number of creatures you commit to an attack. Attacking with fewer creatures limits the card advantage your opponent can gain. Another tactic is using spells that prevent your opponent from drawing additional cards, like Narset, Parter of Veils. This planeswalker limits the card advantage your opponent can get. Additionally, instant-speed removal or disruption can make Keep Watch less efficient by reducing the number of attacking creatures mid-combat, or countering the spell outright with staples like Negate or Dovin’s Veto.
Adaptability is key. By anticipating the play and subtly adjusting your attack patterns, you can navigate around Keep Watch’s card advantage potential, preserving your momentum and thwarting your opponent’s plans.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into the MTG world and unlock the secrets of harnessing Keep Watch in your decks. This card’s strength emerges in games brimming with engagement, transforming aggressive onslaughts into an opportunity for card advantage. Whether integrating into blue-centric decks for control dominance or exploiting enemy strategies, Keep Watch can be your secret weapon. Tailor your collection to outpace the meta, and keep your opposition guessing as you draw into victory. For more insights on refining your strategy and expanding your MTG prowess with cards like Keep Watch, connect with us and master the art of the draw.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Keep Watch MTG card by a specific set like Judgment and Planechase, 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 Keep Watch 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Keep Watch Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-05-27 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Fred Rahmqvist.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2002-05-27 | Judgment | JUD | 43 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Fred Rahmqvist | |
2 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase | HOP | 10 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Fred Rahmqvist | |
3 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Commander | WOC | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Fred Rahmqvist |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Keep Watch has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |