Skillful Lunge MTG Card

Disrupts enemies by turning combats, indirectly leading to a resource advantage over opponents. Enhances resource management allowing focus on other plays, thanks to its low-cost, high-impact nature. Offers instant flexibility, enabling players to make unexpected moves and protect pivotal assets.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dark Ascension
Set code	DKA
Number	22
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jason Felix

Text of card

Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.

"Valor is a currency of the living that serves us well." —Cosper Lowe of the Silbern Guard

Cards like Skillful Lunge

Skillful Lunge is a notable combat trick in the vast array of instant spells available for players in Magic: The Gathering. It finds itself in company with cards such as Swift Response, which also allows players to influence the outcome of battles. Skillful Lunge grants a creature a modest power boost and first strike, tipping combat scenarios in favor of the enchanted creature. Swift Response, while it doesn’t offer a power boost, can immediately destroy an attacking or blocking creature without the need for complex board setups.

Another card worth considering is Built to Smash, an instant that not only increases a creature’s power significantly more than Skillful Lunge but also grants trample if the creature is an artifact. Although both cards amplify a creature’s combat capabilities, Built to Smash provides a larger increase in power and the added utility of trample for specific creature types.

In the realm of combat tricks within Magic: The Gathering, Skillful Lunge occupies a unique role with its combination of power boost and first strike advantage. It competes closely with other cards in its category, each with its own strategic benefits and situational advantages.

Cards similar to Skillful Lunge by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Skillful Lunge itself doesn’t directly enable drawing cards, it provides a tactical edge by potentially removing an opponent’s creature during combat, thereby disrupting their board presence and card economy. This can indirectly lead to gaining card advantage as you maintain more resources on the field.

Resource Acceleration: Skillful Lunge shines by offering a quick and low-cost way to tip the scales during combat without the need for heavy mana investment. This aspect conserves resources for deploying other spells or creatures, effectively accelerating your resource management and board development.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Skillful Lunge grants the flexibility to react in real-time to threats on the battlefield. This allows players to catch opponents off-guard, protect their own creatures, or remove key threats at crucial moments, utilizing their mana efficiently and maintaining the pace of the game in their favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Skillful Lunge provides a quick boost in combat, its value diminishes if used at a time when you’re facing tough choices about what cards to keep in hand. Discarding a vital card to power up a creature might sometimes be a setback you can’t afford.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Skillful Lunge demands one white mana, which pigeonholes the card into decks that actively utilize white mana sources. This restriction could limit deck-building flexibility and make the card less appealing for multicolored or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When comparing Skillful Lunge’s effects to other combat tricks or spells that modify creature abilities and power, some players might find that it falls a bit short for its mana requirement. There are instances where the mana could be allocated towards more substantial, game-altering spells or effects.

Reasons to Include Skillful Lunge in Your Collection

Versatility: Skillful Lunge offers flexibility as it can be easily slotted into White aggressive or tempo decks seeking to capitalize on immediate combat tricks. Its ability to give a creature a quick boost in power and vigilance can turn the tides in your favor unexpectedly.

Combo Potential: Pairing this instant with creatures that have lifelink or double strike can result in massive swings in both board state and life totals. Moreover, it can enable surprise interactions and exploit openings in your opponent’s defenses.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s dominated by creature-focused strategies, Skillful Lunge can serve as a low-cost option to outmaneuver opponents and protect key creatures during pivotal turns. It’s an excellent addition to counteract and outpace other similarly aggressive decks.

How to beat Skillful Lunge

Skillful Lunge is an instant-speed combat trick that has made its mark in Magic: The Gathering by granting a creature a swift power boost and first strike until end of turn. This can turn the tide of a duel by overpowering an opponent’s creature during battle. To counter this, timing is critical. Holding removal spells or waiting to play creatures with higher toughness can nullify Skillful Lunge’s impact, stripping its advantage and maintaining board control.

Moreover, saving instant-speed removal or bounce spells can shut down the Skillful Lunge strategy. If you anticipate this card, it’s wise to not overcommit to blocks that could be disrupted by it. Keep in mind your opponent’s open mana and the potential for Skillful Lunge when planning your attacks and defenses. Learning to read the game and predict your opponent’s moves will not only help you counter Skillful Lunge but also improve your overall MTG strategy.

In essence, beating Skillful Lunge requires attentive playstyle, strategic creature management, and the judicious use of removals to disrupt your opponent’s plans, leaving you well-positioned for victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skillful Lunge MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Skillful Lunge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skillful Lunge has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal