Pact of the Titan MTG Card

Frees up mana with a 4/4 Giant token, allowing flexibility and maintaining card advantage. Instant speed casting grants surprise plays and tactical advantages during combat. The deferred payment of {4}{R} adds a risk factor, demanding careful mana management.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Pact of the Titan is red. Put a 4/4 red Giant creature token into play. At the beginning of your next upkeep, pay . If you don't, you lose the game.

Cards like Pact of the Titan

Pact of the Titan introduces a unique dynamic to creature summon spells in MTG. It shares the no-cost benefit with other ‘Pact’ cards such as Pact of Negation, which allows for immediate action without mana expenditure. However, the catch with these spells is the payment in the next upkeep, preventing players from defaulting on the game if unable to pay. Pact of the Titan specifically allows summoning a 4/4 Giant creature token instantly, providing a significant advantage during the opponent’s turn or creating an unexpected blocker.

Comparisons can be drawn to Flash creatures like Snapcaster Mage, which can be played at similar unexpected moments. While Snapcaster Mage has the versatility of granting an instant or sorcery card flashback from the graveyard, it doesn’t offer the sheer size increase to your board presence the way Pact of the Titan can. Another related card is Summoner’s Pact, which searches for a green creature to put into your hand, with a mana cost due the following turn. Although it doesn’t put a creature on the battlefield immediately like Pact of the Titan, the selective nature of the card can be pivotal in obtaining the exact creature needed for a situation.

Ultimately, Pact of the Titan stands out for its free instant creature generation with a deferred payment, a trait that, when used strategically, can deliver game-changing momentum swings and surprise interactions during critical moments in a game.

Pact of Negation - MTG Card versions
Snapcaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Summoner's Pact - MTG Card versions
Pact of Negation - MTG Card versions
Snapcaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Summoner's Pact - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Pact of the Titan. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UU LegacyLegacy Preliminary 2024-03-25
UGUG LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-02-04
URUR LegacyLegacy Preliminary 2024-03-04 (1)
Hive MindHive Mind Legacy2023 NA Legacy Champs
BelcherBelcher ModernBelcher#4 Last Chance Qualifier: Modern
Azorius ControlAzorius Control LegacyAzorius ControlLegacy Challenge 64 2024-02-11
Ad NauseamAd Nauseam ModernAd NauseamModern Challenge 96 2023-11-25

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Pact of the Titan doesn’t directly draw cards, it provides a free 4/4 Giant creature token without spending mana, potentially freeing up resources for other card interactions and maintaining hand count for a turn.

Resource Acceleration: This card epitomizes resource acceleration by offering a powerful creature with no upfront mana cost, allowing you to deploy other strategies or hold back resources for crucial turns.

Instant Speed: Pact of the Titan can be cast at instant speed, giving flexibility to surprise opponents during combat or at the end of their turn, thus optimizing your tactical responses without committing to a main phase action.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the heat of battle, holding onto every card can be crucial. Pact of the Titan, however, does not impose a discard requirement, which actually streamlines its usage in critical moments when you can’t afford to lose a card from your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: While Pact of the Titan itself does not require any mana to cast, fulfilling its end of the bargain necessitates a dedicated red mana source by your next upkeep. This can be restrictive for multi-color decks or those that operate on a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Should you fail to pay the steep cost of {4}{R} during your next upkeep, the pact’s repercussions are severe, leading to game loss. This creates a significant risk factor, especially when compared to other mana-free tricks or creatures that don’t carry such a punishing clause.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Pact of the Titan offers unique gameplay options, fitting into builds that thrive on instant-speed responses without requiring mana at the time of casting, thus allowing for strategic flexibility.

Combo Potential: This card has strong synergy with free spell strategies or with cards that can capitalize on the sudden appearance of a creature, such as those that use the creature’s power for high-impact effects or sacrifice outlets.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed and surprise can turn the tide of battle, Pact of the Titan can be a game-changer by allowing you to deploy threats unexpectedly, overwhelming opponents or providing crucial blockers when they least expect it.

How to beat

The challenge of overcoming Pact of the Titan lies in its instantaneous nature and the significant advantage it provides by summoning a free 4/4 Giant creature token onto the battlefield. This sudden appearance of a formidable creature without any mana cost can be quite the surprise during game play. However, this card comes with the steep price of paying {5}{Red} during the next upkeep or losing the game.

To effectively counter this card, players should aim to disrupt the balance by either removing the Giant token or ensuring its controller fails to fulfill the upkeep cost. Direct removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently handle the token, preventing it from causing any damage. Another strategy is to apply pressure that complicates the opponent’s ability to pay the upkeep cost, such as through land destruction or cost-increasing effects – forcing them into a loss.

Additionally, counterspells remain a reliable defense against Pact of the Titan, as countering it before it resolves negates both the token’s potential impact and the dangerous upkeep trigger. Keeping these tactics in mind, players can turn the perilous Pact of the Titan into an opportunity to seize victory from the clutches of defeat.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pact of the Titan MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Time Spiral 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 Pact of the Titan and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pact of the Titan Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-05-04Future SightFUT 1032003NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
22021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1792015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pact of the Titan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-06-07 Although originally printed with a characteristic-defining ability that defined its color, this card now has a color indicator. This color indicator can’t be affected by text-changing effects (such as the one created by Crystal Spray), although color-changing effects can still overwrite it.
2021-03-19 If Pact of the Titan is countered, the delayed triggered ability that threatens you with a game loss won’t trigger at the beginning of your next upkeep.
2021-03-19 You have to pay Pact of the Titan’s cost during your next upkeep even if the Giant token doesn’t survive that long. Okay, you don’t have to, but it’s a fairly good idea.