Messenger's Speed MTG Card

Enables spell-casting or attacking creatures to draw cards or control the game. Instantly affects the board, accelerating gameplay momentum and pressure. Can equip creatures on demand, adding a strategic layer to games.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	129
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Clint Cearley

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has trample and haste.

"He outran arrows. He outran even the archers' insults." —Bayma, storyteller of Lagonna Band

Cards like Messenger's Speed

Messenger’s Speed joins the ranks of enchantment auras in Magic: The Gathering that offer a swift upgrade to creatures. Its main perks are granting trample and haste, transforming a languid battlefield presence into an immediate threat. In the realm of similar cards, we find Rancor, an aura that also endows a creature with trample. But where Rancor shines is its resilience — returning to a player’s hand when it goes to the graveyard from the battlefield.

Comparatively, Expedite is another card offering haste but trades persistence for a fleeting effect and the advantage of drawing a card upon casting. It’s a low-cost card with an emphasis on instant speed utility and cycling through your deck. Yet, unlike Messenger’s Speed, it does not leave a lasting effect on the creature. Breaking down further, we have Madcap Skills, delivering not just the ability to trample but also a significant power boost, adding a layer of offensive pressure despite lacking the haste attribute.

Assessing these cards collectively, Messenger’s Speed has a distinct place. While it doesn’t recycle like Rancor or draw cards like Expedite, its combination of haste and trample in a permanent aura form makes it a solid option for players aiming to strike fast and hard.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Messenger’s Speed might not directly draw you cards, it’s a crucial enabler for creatures that benefit from spell casting or attacking, potentially leading to drawing more cards or creating other advantages on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By granting a creature trample and haste, Messenger’s Speed allows you to accelerate the impact of your resources on the game by enabling newly played creatures to immediately affect the board state, which can lead to gaining momentum and pressuring your opponent faster.

Instant Speed: Although Messenger’s Speed is an enchantment, its low mana cost permits players to deploy it virtually at instant speed. You can equip a creature right before combat or in response to an opponent’s action, aligning with the fast-paced nature of modern gameplay and keeping opponents on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Messenger’s Speed doesn’t directly require discarding, its low impact might force you to cycle it away, especially in late-game scenarios where its effect becomes less relevant. This can be seen as a virtual discard when you’re looking for more substantial cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Messenger’s Speed requires red mana, making it exclusive to decks that can produce this color. If your deck isn’t centered around red or doesn’t have reliable mana fixing, this card could be awkward or unusable, occupying a card slot without contributing to your strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Messenger’s Speed has a low absolute cost, when evaluating its cost-to-effect ratio, it might seem high. Trample and haste are modest abilities, and in the landscape of MTG cards offering these attributes, there are options that may provide these bonuses attached to creatures or alongside additional effects, which could offer a better return on investment for the mana spent.

Reasons to Include Messenger’s Speed in Your Collection

Versatility: Messenger’s Speed is a flexible card that can be slipped into various red decks seeking to ramp up their offensive capabilities from the get-go. Its ability to give creatures both trample and haste makes it an excellent choice for aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can significantly enhance combo-oriented decks by allowing newly summoned creatures to participate in intricate play sequences immediately. It works to ensure that your vital creatures can contribute right from the moment they hit the board.

Meta-Relevance: With gameplay that often sees creature-based strategies aiming to outpace control decks, the hastening effect of Messenger’s Speed can make all the difference. It aligns well with decks that aim to stay one step ahead of the meta by applying pressure and securing swift victories.

How to beat

Messenger’s Speed thrusts any creature into the battlefield fray with its swift grant of trample and haste. This red enchantment from the Theros set seamlessly accelerates the tempo, pushing for early damage which can be tough to counteract. To thwart a creature augmented with Messenger’s Speed, ample removal options in MTG reside within your reach. Consider instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to quickly dispose of the buffed creature before it can leave a lasting impact.

Tactical counters are your allies against the swift offense Messenger’s Speed provides. By having either creature removal or counter spells ready, you stand a better chance to disrupt your opponent’s momentum. Utilizing instant-speed interaction ensures that the opponent’s attempts for a quick assault can be mitigated before they even begin. Keep these strategies in your deck, and Messenger’s Speed will hardly pose a threat to your well-prepared defenses.

In short, a keen awareness of versatile removal and counter spells in your deck selection will arm you sufficiently against the agile threat of Messenger’s Speed. Outmaneuvering your opponent with immediate responses not only negates the advantage but also maintains your control over the game’s pace.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Messenger's Speed MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Messenger's Speed and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Messenger's Speed has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal