Respite MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Respite adeptly combines damage prevention and life gain, enhancing defensive tactics against aggressive opponents.
  2. Strategically casting Respite at instant speed can swing the momentum of a game by neutralizing an attack.
  3. Knowing Respite’s potential allows players to adjust tactics and maintain an edge, even when used against them.

Text of card

Creatures deal no combat damage this turn. Gain 1 life for each attacking creature.

"If they board us we're finished," warned Orim. Crovax nodded. "And if they don't . . . what then?"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Respite offers a unique edge by not just preventing combat damage but also letting you gain life equal to the number of creatures on the battlefield. This means in a game with numerous creatures, you not only thwart an attacker’s strategy but also bolster your life total, effectively giving you more staying power and the potential to come back from a precarious board state.

Resource Acceleration: While Respite itself doesn’t produce mana or tokens, the life gained can be seen as a resource. This life gain can be crucial for decks that leverage life as a resource, such as those that include cards with life payments for potent abilities or card draws. Essentially, Respite could indirectly accelerate your game plan by giving you more life to work with.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of using Respite is a significant advantage. Being an instant, it allows strategic players to wait until the last possible moment before deciding how to best use their mana. If an opponent commits to a full attack, Respite can turn the tide of battle in your favor, making it a potent surprise against aggressive strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the strategic depth of MTG can occasionally lead to tough decisions, particularly with cards like Respite, which may necessitate discarding a card. This requirement could be a setback when your hand is already dwindling and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Respite calls for a precise blend of mana to cast, potentially making it less adaptable in a deck’s color scheme. If your land pool isn’t attuned to generate the required mana, playing Respite could be challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be viewed as steep for its effects, Respite competes with a range of other cards in the same cost bracket. Players must weigh the benefits it offers against other cards that could deliver greater impact or versatility for the same, or lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Respite in Your Collection

Versatility: Respite offers a unique blend of life gain and creature delay, making it a useful tool in decks geared toward controlling the tempo. It can be particularly effective in stalling aggressive decks while you set up your defenses or look for your win conditions.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from gaining life or casting spells during an opponent’s turn, Respite can serve as an integral piece in intricate combo setups. It’s a wellspring for strategies that revolve around life manipulation and reactive plays.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy and aggressive strategies often dominating the play, Respite can shift the scales in your favor. It buys you time against such decks and can disrupt the opponent’s momentum, making it a relevant sideboard card against some of the commonly faced archetypes in the current meta.


How to beat Respite

In the dynamic world of Magic: The Gathering, Respite stands out as a unique tool for stalling aggressive strategies and gaining life. This can turn the tide of a game, especially when you’re facing a barrage of creature attacks. However, Respite’s power hinges on your opponent committing to a wide battlefield, which is the precise moment to nip their strategy in the bud. The key to overcoming this card lies in disciplined play and strategic timing of your creature spells.

Adjusting your tactics to manage the threat of Respite includes withholding some creatures in hand to avoid overextending into a potential trap. Deploy threats incrementally to maintain pressure without giving your opponent the perfect opportunity to maximize their life gain. Additionally, incorporate instant-speed removal or countermagic to disrupt their plans during the end step of their turn, ensuring Respite won’t interfere with your strategy.

Lastly, being aware of the Respite card means you can force its activation at a less opportune time for your opponent or when its impact would be minimal, such as when you have fewer attackers. In summary, while Respite can offer your opponent a momentary sanctuary, careful play and tactical foresight can ensure its effect is short-lived, keeping you on the path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricacies of each card like Respite can mark the difference between a valiant attempt and a flawless victory. It can offer a crucial pivot point in games teetering on the brink of defeat, lending players a versatile tool for redirection and endurance. Whether you’re contending with a horde of attackers or seeking the perfect moment to fortify your life total, integrating Respite into your MTG tactics can be game-changing. Ready to dive deeper into the synergy and strategic uses of Respite? Embark on your journey with us, expand your MTG knowledge, and fine-tune your deck-building chops to ensure your next duel sees you emerge triumphant.


Cards like Respite

Respite is a unique card that operates within the life-gain and combat-control space of Magic: The Gathering. It holds similarities to cards like Congregate, which provides life gain based on the number of creatures on the battlefield. While Congregate purely focuses on life acquisition, Respite adds a tactical spin by preventing all combat damage that would be dealt this turn, effectively functioning as a fog effect combined with life gain.

Comparatively, moments of respite can occur with another card: Holy Day, which prevents all combat damage for a turn but without the life gain element. Respite’s advantage is the added benefit of gaining life, which could be a turning point in games. Conversely, Ritual of Rejuvenation draws you a card and gains you 4 life, yet misses the crucial combat control aspect Respite offers.

Ultimately, Respite serves as a multi-functional tool, blurring the lines between delay and sustain strategies. While its contemporaries might excel in one domain, Respite extends its utility to both life preservation and damage prevention, making it a versatile choice for players looking to stabilize and turn the tides in the midst of battle.

Congregate - MTG Card versions
Holy Day - MTG Card versions
Ritual of Rejuvenation - MTG Card versions
Congregate - Urza's Saga (USG)
Holy Day - Legends (LEG)
Ritual of Rejuvenation - Ixalan (XLN)

Cards similar to Respite by color, type and mana cost

Tranquil Domain - MTG Card versions
Resuscitate - MTG Card versions
Heavy Fog - MTG Card versions
Aggressive Urge - MTG Card versions
Tangle - MTG Card versions
Krosan Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Seedtime - MTG Card versions
Nourish - MTG Card versions
Wear Away - MTG Card versions
Might of the Nephilim - MTG Card versions
Resize - MTG Card versions
Squall Line - MTG Card versions
Regenerate - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Defiance - MTG Card versions
Tribute to the Wild - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions
Titanic Growth - MTG Card versions
Sheltering Word - MTG Card versions
Druid's Deliverance - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Domain - Mirage (MIR)
Resuscitate - Exodus (EXO)
Heavy Fog - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Aggressive Urge - Jumpstart (JMP)
Tangle - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Krosan Reclamation - Judgment (JUD)
Seedtime - Judgment (JUD)
Nourish - Darksteel (DST)
Wear Away - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Might of the Nephilim - Dissension (DIS)
Resize - Coldsnap (CSP)
Squall Line - Time Spiral (TSP)
Regenerate - Magic 2010 (M10)
Tel-Jilad Defiance - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Tribute to the Wild - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Plummet - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Titanic Growth - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)
Sheltering Word - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Druid's Deliverance - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Naturalize - Core Set 2019 (M19)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Respite MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Conspiracy, 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 Respite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Respite Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 2491997normalblackRebecca Guay
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1762003normalblackRebecca Guay

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Respite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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