Beaming Defiance MTG Card

Beaming Defiance - Strixhaven: School of Mages

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Strixhaven: School of Mages
Set code	STX
Number	9
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Manuel Castañón

Key Takeaways

Beaming Defiance offers strategic protection and a power boost at instant speed, pivotal during critical gameplay moments.
While providing advantages, its specific mana cost and comparative cost may limit its inclusion in some decks.
It is a versatile pick for competitive play, bolstering creature-based strategies against removal-heavy metagames.

Text of card

Target creature you control gets +2/+2 and gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

"I've lived too long in my father's shadow. It's time to find my own light." —Killian, Silverquill mage-student

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Beaming Defiance does not directly allow you to draw cards, it can indirectly lead to card advantage. By protecting a key creature from targeted removal or tricks, you prevent losing your own resources and can potentially bait out more than one removal attempt from an opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Beaming Defiance isn’t a resource acceleration tool in the traditional sense; however, by saving a creature that generates mana or has an important ability upon attacking or tapping, it can ensure that your resource acceleration mechanisms remain intact, ultimately contributing to your long-term mana strategy.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Beaming Defiance provides the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions. Whether it’s shielding your creature during combat or in response to a removal spell, its instantaneity ensures that you have control during critical moments of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Beaming Defiance provides a solid buff and hexproof, it doesn’t require a card to be discarded, making this point not applicable for evaluating this card’s drawbacks.

Specific Mana Cost: Beaming Defiance has a casting cost that specifically requires white mana, which may not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t heavily focused on white or those with a mana base that cannot consistently provide the right color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two mana, Beaming Defiance may be considered steep for its effect of granting a creature +2/+2 and hexproof until the end of turn, especially when there are other spells in the Magic the Gathering universe that could provide similar effects or greater flexibility at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Beaming Defiance can be swiftly woven into various deck builds, shining particularly in those that aim to protect key creatures. Its shield-like effect can be a game changer in both aggressive and controlling strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s capability to confer both hexproof and a power boost pairs well with strategies that center on bolstering a single creature or safeguarding a vital combo piece from targeted spells.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment rich with targeted removal or control decks, Beaming Defiance excels by offering a cost-efficient way to counteract those threats and maintain board presence, making it a steadfast ally in competitive play.

How to beat

Beaming Defiance is a card that can turn the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering by offering a creature +2/+2 and granting it hexproof until end of turn. To effectively counter this card, players need to adopt strategic responses. One method is to employ spot removal cards before Beaming Defiance is cast, thus minimizing the chances of your opponent protecting their key creatures.

Another approach is to use board wipes, which don’t target individual creatures and therefore sidestep the hexproof protection. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar are examples of such strategies. Counter magic can also provide a solution by disrupting your opponent’s plans before they can shield their creature with Beaming Defiance. Holding up mana for a counterspell when you suspect your opponent has this card can be pivotal.

Ultimately, understanding your opponent’s deck and predicting when they are likely to play Beaming Defiance will guide your defense against it. Proper timing and choosing the right moment to act are fundamental to outmaneuvering this protective spell and maintaining control of the game board.

Cards like Beaming Defiance

Beaming Defiance is a card that brings a unique twist to spells aimed at protecting your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s not unlike Shield of Duty and Reason, which also provides a defensive buffer. However, what makes Beaming Defiance stand out is its bonus of counteracting spells or abilities that an opponent tries to target your creatures with, while also boosting your creature’s power and toughness.

In the realm of creature protection, we have seen cards like Gods Willing which grants protection from a color of your choice, giving not only defense but also enabling potential unblocked attacks. Beaming Defiance differs in providing a static buff in power and toughness, ensuring that even if the creature is blocked, it is more likely to survive the encounter.

Comparing it further, we have Lazotep Plating, which provides hexproof to you and all your permanents for the turn. Though different, it’s another example of safeguarding against an opponent’s targeted actions. Beaming Defiance is exclusively for one creature, but with the added advantage of bolstering it significantly for that critical turn.

Selecting the right protection can make all the difference, and Beaming Defiance’s dual offer of defense and strength enhancement makes it a card worth considering among its peers in Magic: The Gathering.

Shield of Duty and Reason - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Beaming Defiance MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Beaming Defiance and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Beaming Defiance 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
Timeless	Legal