Ordeal of Thassa MTG Card

Draw two cards upon fulfilling the Ordeal, maintaining a beneficial card advantage during gameplay. Counts towards blue devotion, enabling powerful effects, and strengthens creatures in the game. Offers flexibility in blue decks, with the potential for big card draw during critical gameplay moments.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	58
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Howard Lyon

Text of card

Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it. Then if it has three or more +1/+1 counters on it, sacrifice Ordeal of Thassa. When you sacrifice Ordeal of Thassa, draw two cards.

Cards like Ordeal of Thassa

Ordeal of Thassa is an enchanting option for players looking to enhance their creatures and draw cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its philosophical DNA with cards like Curiosity, which also grant additional card draw upon dealing combat damage. Where Ordeal stands out is through its heroic trigger, eventually allowing the enchanted creature to swing for card advantage without needing to connect with the opponent.

In comparison, we can look to Keen Sense. Like Curiosity, it grants you a card upon dealing damage to an opponent. Ordeal of Thassa requires more setup but potentially draws more cards. In a similar spirit, there’s Sixth Sense, providing card draw on combat damage without needing counters or heroic triggers to be involved. Though none of these enchantments offer the same explosive turn that Ordeal of Thassa can once its conditions have been met.

Examining their intricacies highlights Ordeal of Thassa as a unique tactical tool. It not only fits well in decks looking for incremental card advantage but also in strategies keen on burgeoning their creatures, leading to a significant impact once the Ordeal is fulfilled.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ordeal of Thassa is a boon for those looking to maintain a full grip of options. Upon fulfilling the ordeal, it permits you to draw not one, but two cards. This helps you to outmaneuver opponents by consistently finding the answers or threats needed as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: This enchantment subtly enhances your board state by counting towards devotion for blue, which may accelerate your access to powerful effects that hinge on that metric. In contexts like heroic decks, it also serves to empower your creatures—one counter closer to becoming a larger threat on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Ordeal of Thassa itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes exceedingly well with creatures that have flash or with other instant-speed spells that allow you to place the third counter on the enchanted creature at a moment’s notice, triggering its card-drawing effect at just the right time.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Even though Ordeal of Thassa doesn’t require discarding as a direct cost, enabling its effect necessitates having a creature to attack, which can be troublesome when facing board wipes or removal heavy decks. If you can’t maintain a creature presence, the entire card’s potential is wasted.

Specific Mana Cost: Ordeal of Thassa is colored solely blue, demanding dedicated mana resources to cast. This specificity narrows deck compatibility, primarily fitting into blue-centric or two-color builds that can reliably produce the necessary blue mana early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not overly expensive, the initial investment of two mana may feel inefficient compared to instant card draw solutions. Additionally, the Ordeal’s trigger is delayed, hinging on the creature’s sustained ability to deal damage, which may slow down your game plan against faster, aggressive strategies.

Reasons to Include Ordeal of Thassa in Your Collection

Versatility: Ordeal of Thassa is a flexible enchantment that can be slotted into various blue decks. Its ability to provide card advantage while enhancing a creature’s capability is universally beneficial.

Combo Potential: This card is a key piece in heroic decks or any strategy that puts a premium on +1/+1 counters and triggering abilities. When the enchanted creature becomes large enough, Ordeal of Thassa becomes a significant draw engine.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to quickly bolster your hand size, Ordeal of Thassa can be particularly pertinent in formats where keeping a card advantage can mean the difference between victory and defeat. In a game that’s often about resources, Ordeal of Thassa provides a substantial edge.

How to beat

Ordeal of Thassa is a unique enchantment that enhances creature performance in Magic: The Gathering. It bolsters a creature with additional +1/+1 counters for each attack, and upon reaching a certain threshold, rewards the player with card draw benefits. This card is reminiscent of the classical Heroic mechanic, rewarding players for targeting their own creatures with spells and abilities.

However, like any strategic asset in the game, it has its vulnerabilities. As a card that thrives on momentum, Ordeal of Thassa can be mitigated by controlling the pace of the game. Interaction with the enchanted creature through removal spells or countering it before it hits the battlefield can disrupt the opponent’s strategy. Additionally, enchantment removal spells can directly target Ordeal of Thassa itself, eliminating the threat entirely.

Ultimately, understanding the timing and sequence of your opponent’s potential moves can be key in countering the advantageous card draw. Hence, staying one step ahead and disrupting the build-up of +1/+1 counters is the most effective strategy in neutralizing Ordeal of Thassa’s impact on the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ordeal of Thassa 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 Ordeal of Thassa and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ordeal of Thassa has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ordeal of Thassa card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2013-09-15	If you sacrifice the Ordeal in some other way, its last ability will trigger.
2013-09-15	The +1/+1 counter is put on the creature before blockers are declared and before combat damage is dealt.
2013-09-15	The check of whether the enchanted creature has three or more +1/+1 counters on it happens as part of the resolution of the attack triggered ability. If the third +1/+1 counter is put on the enchanted creature any other way, you won't sacrifice the Ordeal until the next time the creature attacks.