Arrester's Zeal MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 4
2019-11-07 - Number 27
2024-01-12 - Number 4
2020-09-26 - Number RNA-4
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Addendum |
Key Takeaways
- Ensures combat phase dominance without sacrificing card advantage, thanks to its low mana cost.
- Instant speed allows surprise plays, turning the tide of battles with its flexible casting.
- Specific white mana requirement might limit deck inclusion but ensures tempo advantage when used.
Text of card
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Addendum — If you cast this spell during your main phase, that creature gains flying until end of turn.
Law is the light of civilization.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arrester’s Zeal doesn’t directly give you card advantage by drawing cards, but its low mana cost and ability to potentially swing a combat phase in your favor can keep your stronger creatures on the board. This, in turn, may translate to maintained board presence, essentially preserving your card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While Arrester’s Zeal won’t ramp your mana like some spells, it offers a kind of tempo boost. Its low mana requirement means it’s easy to incorporate into your strategy without slowing down your other plays for the turn. It can give you the edge to outpace your opponent in the crucial early game interactions.
Instant Speed: The real strength of Arrester’s Zeal lies in its instant speed, offering the flexibility to cast it during combat or in response to an opponent’s action. This surprise factor can be pivotal, turning the tides unexpectedly by buffing a blocker or attacker when it matters most, and strategically catching an adversary off guard.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Arrester’s Zeal requires white mana, which may restrict the decks it can effectively be incorporated into, often confining it to mono-white or two-color decks with a white component.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared to other combat tricks available in MTG, Arrester’s Zeal’s mana cost may be seen as high considering it only provides a slight power boost and potential flying until end of turn. Players might find that other cards offer more impactful effects for a similar or lower mana investment.
Discard Requirement: While not requiring a discard itself, Arrester’s Zeal’s addition to a deck could pressure players into discarding other cards due to hand size limits post-draw. This is especially relevant since combat tricks are typically held until the most opportune moment, potentially occupying valuable hand space.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arrester’s Zeal is a valuable piece in a variety of White deck builds, particularly those that require an affordable combat trick. Due to its low mana cost, it can be easily slotted into aggressive strategies to surprise opponents with a sudden power boost or to reach crucial flying blockers.
Combo Potential: This card can play well with Heroic or any deck that aims to capitalize on casting spells on your own creatures. The ability to turn a creature into a flying threat can turn the tide of battle, synergizing well with strategies that reward you for targeting your own creatures.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fast pace of many competitive formats, Arrester’s Zeal can be a game-changer by providing an unexpected boost to creature’s power, which is especially relevant in a meta filled with creature-based combat. Its addition can enhance the effectiveness of your White weenies or midrange decks against a variety of popular strategies.
How to beat
Arrester’s Zeal is a common white instant spell in Magic: The Gathering that offers a temporary power boost and potential flying ability that can surprise opponents during combat. When facing this card, one effective countermeasure is to hold up removal or bounce spells to diminish the impact of its buff. By doing so, you can eliminate or return the augmented creature to its owner’s hand, effectively wasting your opponent’s mana and card.
Another strategy involves timing your own spells and abilities to minimize the threat. Since Arrester’s Zeal can only be cast during a player’s turn, planning for this possibility and leaving mana open for responses is key. This approach not only deals with Arrester’s Zeal but also keeps your opponent guessing and potentially alters their combat decisions. Consider cards that efficiently trade in combat or those that have reach or flying to block an unexpected airborne attacker.
It’s crucial to anticipate this instant in games, especially when the opponent has untapped white mana and a combat phase is imminent. By staying vigilant and employing these tactics, you’ll be better prepared to negate the advantages Arrester’s Zeal could provide to your adversary in your next match.
Cards like Arrester's Zeal
Arrester’s Zeal is a notable spell that offers a temporary power boost in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with spells like Mighty Leap, which also grants a creature not only an increase in power but the additional ability to fly until the end of the turn. While both cards serve as potential game-changers during combat, Arrester’s Zeal stands out with its additional upside in the late game. When you reach the point of having five or more lands in play, the boost from Arrester’s Zeal is amplified, making it a more enticing option when playing a longer game.
Comparatively, there’s Swift Justice, another instant that gives a creature a smaller power boost, but also lifelink and first strike, potentially turning the tides of a duel by swaying life totals. Expedite is another card to consider, offering immediate haste and card draw though without the combat enhancement. It provides a different edge, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature synergy and card advantage.
In the broader context of combat tricks within Magic: The Gathering, Arrester’s Zeal is a flexible and cost-effective option, especially for decks that aim to leverage the power of surprise and late-game scaling abilities.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arrester's Zeal MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance 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 Arrester's Zeal 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 Arrester's Zeal Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Izzy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | RNA-4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy | ||
| 4 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arrester's Zeal 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 Arrester's Zeal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | Addendum abilities of instant spells apply while the spell is resolving, not immediately after casting it. If the spell is countered, you don’t get the addendum bonus. For example, if you cast Sphinx’s Insight during your main phase, you gain 2 life during its resolution, after you draw two cards. |
| 2019-01-25 | If a spell with an addendum ability is copied, the copy won’t give you the addendum bonus. This is because the copy wasn’t cast at all. |
