Ornamental Courage MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 164
2020-11-12 - Number 173
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Untap target creature. It gets +1/+3 until end of turn.
Inspired by the thorns and brambles of the untamed wilds, elvish armor is both beautiful and formidable.
Cards like Ornamental Courage
Ornamental Courage is an intriguing instant that offers creature boosting abilities in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards like Giant Growth, imparting a temporary increase in power and toughness. The difference lies in Ornamental Courage’s unique ability to untap the creature in addition to the stat boost. Giant Growth, in contrast, provides a greater increase but does not have the untap feature.
Comparatively, we have Blossoming Defense which provides a boost of +2/+2 and also grants hexproof, protecting the creature from targeted spells or abilities. While it doesn’t untap the creature, the protection it offers can be crucial in many situations. Invocation of Saint Traft is another comparable card – although more specific in its effect, it embodies a similar intent to empower creatures temporarily.
In sum, Ornamental Courage fits nicely into the pantheon of combat tricks found in Magic: The Gathering, distinguished by its utility in both offense and defense, owing to its unique untap ability. It shines in situations where immediate reactivity is crucial and can swing combat outcomes or utilize tap abilities multiple times within a turn.
Cards similar to Ornamental Courage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ornamental Courage doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but by untapping a creature, it can enable that creature to be used again, potentially for abilities that provide card draw or other advantageous effects.
Resource Acceleration: Although Ornamental Courage doesn’t produce mana or Treasure tokens, it effectively can accelerate your resources by refreshing a mana-producing creature, providing more mana in the same turn for extra plays or defense.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Ornamental Courage gives you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This could turn the tide by untapping a blocker or by surprising an opponent during combat, providing a substantial tempo swing in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Ornamental Courage does not require an actual discard to cast, it being a single-use spell means it somewhat mirrors a discard effect. Once used, it goes to the graveyard, depleting your hand and potentially reducing your resources for successive plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Ornamental Courage’s mana cost demands one green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into every deck, especially in multi-colored or non-green strategies. This could restrict its playability to decks that are heavy in green mana or those that have reliable mana fixing capabilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given that Ornamental Courage costs a total of two mana for a temporary boost and untapping a single creature, some players might find it less efficient compared to other low-cost spells that provide longer-lasting effects or benefit multiple creatures. This is a consideration when deck-building where every mana point is crucial for setting up more impactful plays.
Reasons to Include Ornamental Courage in Your Collection
Versatility: Ornamental Courage is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of decks, including those focused on combat tricks or bolstering creatures at critical moments during a match.
Combo Potential: This instant can be the linchpin in combos, giving creatures not only a power and toughness boost but also untapping them, which can be paired with anything from tapping abilities to vigilance strategies.
Meta-Relevance: With its ability to serve as both a defensive and offensive surprise and a low mana cost, Ornamental Courage holds its ground in metas where quick responses can turn the tide of battle.
How to Beat
Ornamental Courage stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile instant that can untap a creature and boost its strength and resilience in a single move. It mirrors other combat tricks like Giant Growth, albeit without the larger power increase. The strength of Ornamental Courage lies in its surprise factor, allowing a seemingly outmatched creature to rebound and potentially turn the tides in combat.
However, overcoming this card involves strategic planning. Since it is an instant, anticipate its use during combat, particularly if your opponent has untapped mana and a card in hand. Employing removal spells in response to Ornamental Courage or before your opponent gets the chance to cast it is effective. Cards that prevent spell casting, like Silence, can also nullify such combat tricks. Lastly, countermagic such as Negate can directly counteract Ornamental Courage, ensuring your creatures’ safety and keeping the opponent’s creatures in check.
Understanding when and how to disrupt your opponent’s plans is key. Ornamental Courage can be a game-changer, but with attentiveness and the right counters in your deck, you can neutralize its impact and secure your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ornamental Courage MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Ornamental Courage 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
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Printings
The Ornamental Courage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 164 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 173 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony Palumbo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ornamental Courage 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 Ornamental Courage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-20 | You can cast Ornamental Courage targeting an untapped creature. It will still get +1/+3 until end of turn. |