Maximize Altitude MTG Card
2018-10-05 - Number 43
2019-11-07 - Number 423
2020-09-26 - Number GRN-43
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Jump-start |
Text of card
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn. Jump-start (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a card in addition to paying its other costs. Then exile this card.)
Cards like Maximize Altitude
Maximize Altitude is a unique sorcery in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, sharing the skies with other cards that aim to provide creatures with flying ability. A notable peer is Leap, another spell that also bestows flying upon a targeted creature and draws a card. Both encourage an aerial offense, but Maximize Altitude has an edge with its Jump-start ability, allowing it to be played from the graveyard by discarding a card, effectively leveraging card advantage.
In the same airspace, Winged Words takes flight. While it does not grant flying, it taps into card draw with an appealing cost reduction if you control a creature with flying. However, Maximize Altitude serves a dual purpose by both modifying a creature and replenishing your hand if played a second time from the graveyard. Then consider Crash Through, which provides all your creatures with trample instead of flying and draws a card. Although it affects multiple creatures and facilitates damage, it lacks the repeat playability that Maximize Altitude offers.
Analyzing these cards side by side illustrates Maximize Altitude’s versatility in both enhancing creatures and reviving itself for repeated use. Its ability to soar again makes it a card that, while situational, can be incredibly effective for the right deck in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Maximize Altitude by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elevating your deck’s power, Maximize Altitude can bring you a step closer to victory by cycling itself from the graveyard. This efficient capability allows you to draw another card, potentially unlocking new strategies and maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana, Maximize Altitude’s low casting cost can expedite your game plan. It’s a quick play that complements a broader strategy aimed at outpacing the opponent, often proving critical in tight situations where tempo leads to triumph.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Maximize Altitude at instant speed opens up tactical advantages. You can surprise an opponent by enhancing a creature’s capabilities during combat or at the end of their turn, keeping your options versatile and reactive. This instant upgrade can often swing the tide of battle in your favor, making it a strategic asset in any game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Maximize Altitude is that it mandates discarding a card, which can deplete your hand especially when you’re in need of options.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost necessitates blue mana, thereby constraining its use to decks that include blue sources and potentially complicating the mana base in multicolored builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, there may be alternative spells that provide a bigger impact or more flexibility for a similar investment, making it a less appealing option when deck tuning.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Maximize Altitude has flexibility as an enabler in a diverse array of decks, primarily fitting into those looking to enhance creatures’ agility and execute surprise plays or evasion tactics.
Combo Potential: This card’s Jump-start ability allows for intriguing interactions, especially in combos that revolve around spell casting or graveyard mechanics, making it a staple for synergistic deck constructions.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to suddenly give a creature flying, Maximize Altitude remains pertinent in metas where board control and evasion can be decisive factors for victory.
How to beat
Maximize Altitude is a distinct spell in Magic: The Gathering that can catch players off guard, giving a creature the ability to fly and providing the potential for a surprise swing in the skies. The strength of this card lies not only in its primary effect but also in its Jump-start ability, allowing you to cast it from the graveyard by discarding a card. Yet, there are strategic ways to counter this high-flying threat.
One of the most straightforward methods is to maintain a lineup of creatures with flying or reach. This ensures that you always have a blocker capable of intercepting an opponent’s creature emboldened by Maximize Altitude. Alternatively, instant-speed removal spells can eliminate the threat mid-combat, negating the temporary advantage gained. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push are excellent for this purpose, as they can dispatch a boosted creature before it deals damage.
It is also beneficial to keep in hand instants that counter your opponent’s spells, particularly those that are low-cost. Cards such as Spell Pierce or Negate can stop Maximize Altitude before its effects come into play, preserving your defensive posture. By being mindful of these tactics, players can effectively dampen the impact of Maximize Altitude and maintain control of the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Maximize Altitude MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Mystery Booster, 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 Maximize Altitude and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Maximize Altitude Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 423 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | GRN-43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Maximize Altitude has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Maximize Altitude card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-10-05 | A spell cast using jump-start will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, it’s countered, or it leaves the stack in some other way. |
| 2018-10-05 | If a card with jump-start is put into your graveyard during your turn, you’ll be able to cast it right away if it’s legal to do so, before an opponent can take any actions. |
| 2018-10-05 | If an effect allows you to pay an alternative cost rather than a spell’s mana cost, you may pay that alternative cost when you jump-start a spell. You’ll still discard a card as an additional cost to cast it. |
| 2018-10-05 | You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card’s type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using jump-start only when you could normally cast a sorcery. |