Swift Response MTG Card

Swift Response provides instant speed removal, pivotal for disrupting opponent tactics and controlling game pace. Efficient in cost, this card allows flexibility in play, making room for casting multiple spells each turn. While restrictive in mana requirements, it’s valuable in white-inclusive decks for its defensive versatility.

Core Set 2021 (M21)
2020-07-03 - Number 40

Swift Response - Commander Masters (CMM)

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 64

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Destroy target tapped creature.

"There's nothing quite as satisfying as delivering a good kick to the face." —Adrasteia, Akroan captain

Cards like Swift Response

Swift Response is an intriguing piece in the MTG arsenal of removal spells, slotting in neatly with options for controlling the battlefield. It bears a resemblance to other white removals such as Pacifism and Seal Away. While Swift Response requires the creature to be tapped, its immediate and definitive destruction of a creature provides an edge in certain game situations. Unlike Pacifism, which merely disables a creature, or Seal Away that necessitates it being tapped but locks it away rather than destroying it, Swift Response removes the threat entirely once the conditions are met.

Comparably, we have cards like Divine Verdict, which demands more mana but offers the upside of potentially destroying untapped attackers. There’s also Reprisal, an older card that destroys a creature with high power regardless of its tapped status, at the expense of not targeting smaller threats. Swift Response’s immediacy as an instant and mana efficiency gives it a standout quality among similar cards that might call for more situational context or higher costs.

To sum up, among MTG’s array of removal spells, Swift Response presents itself as a cost-effective and straightforward means to deal with threats. Its conditional activation is balanced by its low cost and the utility of being an instant, making it a worthy consideration for decks that aim to operate efficiently and remain responsive during the opponent’s turn.

Cards similar to Swift Response by color, type and mana cost

Decks using this card

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

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Caw-Gates	Pauper	Caw-Gates	Pauper Qualifier 2024-03-02

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Swift Response may not directly provide card draw, it does offer the capability to eliminate a threat without losing card parity. By dispatching an attacker, it helps maintain an advantageous position, especially against creatures that can otherwise generate additional value for your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Swift Response doesn’t offer traditional resource acceleration like additional mana or tokens. However, its low casting cost means you can apply effective removal without significant investment, thus preserving your resources for more pivotal plays or allowing for multiple spells to be cast in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The real strength of Swift Response lies in its instant speed, offering the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. The ability to reactively remove an attacker can shift the momentum of the game, and as an instant, it integrates seamlessly with a strategy that emphasizes controlling the pace of play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Swift Response demands you to discard a card, which can be particularly detrimental if your hand is already running low on valuable plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s requirement for white mana restricts it primarily to mono-white or white-inclusive decks, potentially excluding a range of other strategic builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a hefty casting cost when considering its overall effect on the game, players may find alternatives that deliver a quicker or more impactful response for less investment.

Reasons to Include Swift Response in Your Collection

Versatility: Swift Response has the ability to fit seamlessly into a wide range of white-based defensive strategies. Whether you’re playing a traditional control or a white weenie deck, its efficient creature removal at a low cost ensures it can be useful in multiple scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card is excellent when combined with effects that require creatures to become tapped without attacking, therefore it can work in various control decks to enable on-demand removal. It can also be strategically paired with tap-down effects for immediate impact.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fast-paced nature of numerous competitive environments, where aggressive creatures often hit the board quickly, Swift Response can be an integral card to control the tempo and remove high-threat targets before they can cause significant damage.

How to Beat Swift Response

Swift Response is a versatile removal card that targets attacking creatures, a common tactic in most Magic: The Gathering games. To outmaneuver its potential impact, players should consider diversifying their approach to combat, focusing on versatile creatures that can be effective both in and out of battle.

One successful strategy is to employ creatures with flash, allowing you to wait until after your opponent’s turn to bring your threat onto the battlefield. By doing so, you minimize the window during which your adversary can use Swift Response, thereby preserving your creatures. Moreover, it’s wise to take advantage of hexproof or protection abilities, which render your key creatures immune to such targeted spells, securing your board against unwanted interference.

Lastly, include cards in your deck that can counteract or neutralize your opponent’s spells before they can disrupt your tactics. Counterspells or abilities that grant indestructibility to your creatures are particularly effective at ensuring your powerful attackers remain a force to be reckoned with, even in the face of removal like Swift Response.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swift Response MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Commander Masters, 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 Swift Response and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Swift Response Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2020-07-03	Core Set 2021	M21		40	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander
2	2023-08-04	Commander Masters	CMM		64	2015	Normal	Black	Deruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swift Response 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