Thwart the Enemy MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thwart the Enemy is key for outmaneuvering opponents by disrupting their tactics. This can result in a swing in board state, potentially in your favor by negating the damage your opponents were counting on.

Resource Acceleration: While Thwart the Enemy itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, its effects can lead to resource conservation as you maintain your creatures’ health in the face of combat, effectively saving mana that might have been spent on other protective spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Thwart the Enemy at instant speed cannot be understated. It allows you to adapt swiftly to your opponents’ actions, preserve your defenses, or surprise an attacker with an unplanned roadblock—all during their turn. This timing flexibility is a strategic asset in any player’s deck.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging an effect that needs you to toss a card from your hand can leave you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Thwart the Enemy demands both green mana and generic mana, restricting its integration to decks that focus on or at least include green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the defensive boost it provides, the mana investment for Thwart the Enemy may be steep when weighed against other cards that deter attacks or bolster your creatures for less.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thwart the Enemy is a versatile card that can be slotted into various decks, aiding those that prioritize defense or require a surprise element to turn the tide during combat.

Combo Potential: The card holds potential for combos in decks that capitalize on preventing damage or that may profit from one-sided combat scenarios, setting the stage for devastating counterattacks.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to disrupt opponents’ strategies and protect multiple creatures simultaneously, Thwart the Enemy remains relevant in metas dominated by aggressive decks or those teeming with combat tricks.

How to beat

Thwart the Enemy is known for its ability to disrupt combat by preventing all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures your opponents control. To navigate against this defensive staple, consider using spells that counter or nullify it. Having counterspells like Negate at the ready can ensure your creatures’ damage goes through. Alternatively, you can shift your strategy away from combat and focus on non-combat related win conditions, such as direct damage or accumulating a decisive board presence that your opponent cannot recover from, hence minimizing the impact of Thwart the Enemy.

It’s also beneficial to maintain a diverse suite of threats that can operate on different axes. Implementing creatures with abilities or spells that create effects regardless of combat damage can help sidestep the nullifying effects of Thwart the Enemy. Finally, staying aware of your opponent’s mana availability and considering the timing of your attacks can play a crucial role in outmaneuvering this card. By applying these strategies, the hindrance posed by Thwart the Enemy diminishes, leading to more consistent victories on the battlefield.