Righteous Blow MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 34
2018-10-05 - Number 23
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Righteous Blow deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
"Monsters will no longer find safety under the mists of Morkrut!" —Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Cards like Righteous Blow
Righteous Blow finds its place among the arsenal of low-cost removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It resembles other one to two mana spells like Shock, which also deals a small but sometimes decisive amount of damage. Where Righteous Blow diverges is in its restriction to attacking or blocking creatures, emphasizing its role in combat scenarios, unlike Shock, which can target creatures or players anytime.
Another card worth mentioning is Seal Away, a two mana enchantment with flash that can exile an attacking creature until Seal Away leaves the battlefield. While it doesn’t deal damage, it’s a removal option that can handle more substantial threats, albeit without the instant speed flexibility of Righteous Blow. Lastly, Moment of Triumph provides a similar cost-effective boost, giving a creature not just a power bump but also lifegain. This dual function can swing races in your favor, diverging from the purely reactive nature of Righteous Blow.
Considering these comparisons, Righteous Blow holds its ground as a focused and timely response to immediate threats on the battlefield, proving its worth in decks that prioritize board control during combat.
Cards similar to Righteous Blow by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Righteous Blow doesn’t directly offer card draw, it serves as a one-for-one removal that efficiently deals with problematic creatures, maintaining parity on the board and preserving your higher-value creatures for continued control.
Resource Acceleration: Costing only two mana, this spell aids in maintaining a smooth mana curve, allowing you to deploy threats or hold up other defenses without being set back significantly in your resource development.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Righteous Blow at instant speed gives you the tactical advantage to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, potentially disrupting their combat strategies and preserving your life total or key creatures.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Righteous Blow doesn’t have a discard requirement, cards that do force a discard can be a drawback, especially if your hand is already running low on answers or threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Righteous Blow requires white mana, meaning it’s most at home in white or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in decks that cannot reliably produce white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For dealing 2 damage to an attacking or blocking creature, the cost of one white and one generic mana might seem steep compared to other one-mana removal options like Shock, which can target any creature or player and has a lower, more flexible mana requirement.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Righteous Blow is a fantastic addition to decks that require flexible answers to early game threats. Its low mana cost allows it to be easily integrated into a variety of white-based strategies, from aggressive White Weenie builds to more controlling Azorius setups.
Combo Potential: As a low-cost instant, Righteous Blow works well with cards that reward you for casting spells on your opponent’s turn, or with prowess-like effects, amplifying your creatures’ abilities in response to casting spells.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment that favors aggressive creatures, this card provides an efficient way to deal with early attackers, keeping your life total stable as you establish a board presence or set up for your late-game win conditions.
How to beat
Righteous Blow is a staple in decks that favor efficient and quick answers to early threats in the game of Magic: The Gathering. This low-cost instant spell has the ability to dispatch creatures with 2 or less toughness, allowing players to maintain tempo against aggressive opponents. It shines in white-based decks, especially ones that emphasize on life gain and board control strategies.
Overcoming the efficiency of Righteous Blow requires a keen understanding of its limitations. By fielding creatures with more than 2 toughness, or utilizing spells that grant indestructibility or hexproof, players can mitigate the effect Righteous Blow has on the board. Additionally, timing your more vital creatures to be played post-Righteous Blow can prove to be an effective countermeasure, securing your position on the battlefield and diminishing the spell’s impact on your game plan.
In essence, when you adapt your strategy to anticipate and sidestep the restrictions of Righteous Blow, you can outmaneuver this common yet powerful defense and keep your offensive line unbreakable. Always be one step ahead, and let Righteous Blow fall short of hindering your path to victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Righteous Blow MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Righteous Blow 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Righteous Blow Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2018-10-05. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 34 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Clint Cearley | |
| 2 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 23 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Izzy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Righteous Blow 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 |