Unwilling Recruit MTG Card

Grants control of an enemy creature at instant speed, disrupting opponent’s board. Requires discarding a card and a specific mana cost, limiting some strategies. Can be a tactical game-changer in the right MTG deck compositions.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Number	64
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Allsop

Text of card

Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gets +X/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.

Frorn didn't want to be kept, but he didn't want to be thrown back either.

Cards like Unwilling Recruit

Unwilling Recruit is a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, drawing comparisons to other creature control cards. Act of Treason is a classic example in this category, allowing players to gain control of an opponent’s creature for a turn. Unwilling Recruit differs in that it also grants a power boost based on the spent mana, making it potentially more impactful in turning the tides of a game.

Another analogous card is Harness by Force, which shares the temporary stealing mechanism but provides scalability by controlling additional creatures if extra mana is funneled into its strive cost. Unlike Unwilling Recruit, it doesn’t boost the hijacked creatures’ power, though the ability to sway multiple opponents’ creatures can be pivotal during gameplay.

In assessing Unwilling Recruit against its counterparts, it stands out with its late-game scalability, offering a surging power kick that can be a definitive move to secure victory. Its combination of control and power boost gives it a distinct advantage in specific strategic situations within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Unwilling Recruit by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unwilling Recruit can be a potent means of turning the tide by taking control of an opponent’s creature and potentially swaying the board in your favor. It’s this opportunistic card advantage that can be a real game-changer.

Resource Acceleration: While Unwilling Recruit itself may not accelerate your resources directly, it can effectively allow you to utilize your opponent’s resources against them. You’re essentially gaining temporary access to a creature that your opponent spent mana to play.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Unwilling Recruit at instant speed offers strategic versatility. You can wait until the most impactful moment during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s move, maintaining the element of surprise and opening the door for pivotal plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unwilling Recruit’s casting necessitates that a player tosses a card from their hand, which could backfire during moments when maintaining a full grip of cards is crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of mana types that might not always be readily available, particularly in multicolor decks, potentially delaying its play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to bring Unwilling Recruit into play is significant when compared to other cards with similar effects, possibly making it a less attractive option when constructing an efficient deck.

Reasons to Include Unwilling Recruit in Your Collection

Versatility: Unwilling Recruit offers a unique twist to gameplay, allowing players to gain temporary control of any creature on the battlefield. This can swing the tides in a closely contested game or break a stalemate, making it a useful addition to various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card not only disrupts your opponent’s board but can also be combined with sacrifice outlets. When you gain control of an opponent’s creature, you can proceed to extract additional value from it before the control effect ends, by using a sacrifice effect for an advantage.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the current meta that rewards quick shifts in board control, Unwilling Recruit can be a game-changer. It enables surprise plays that can dismantle an opponent’s strategy, which is particularly potent in formats where maintaining control of the board is crucial.

How to Beat Unwilling Recruit

Unwilling Recruit brings a nuanced strategy into the Magic: The Gathering arena as it temporarily ramps up one of your creatures’ power, potentially turning the tide of battle. Unlike other pump spells, it can be a double-edged sword due to its give and take nature, akin to a controlled berserker rage. It significantly increases a creature’s power and grants it haste, but only for a turn.

Strategizing against Unwilling Recruit requires a good defense. Spell counters like Negate or the well-timed use of removal spells like Path to Exile before the unsuspecting creature even gets its boost can nullify this threat. Moreover, keeping instant-speed removal or bounce spells on hand can disrupt your opponent’s well-laid plans, as you can respond to the casting of Unwilling Recruit by removing the creature from play or sending it back to their hand, wasting their invested mana and effort.

Adaptability is key, and having a counter strategy for temporary buffs like Unwilling Recruit can ensure your opponent’s moment of advantage is just as fleeting as the spell itself, helping to maintain control over the game’s pace and balance.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unwilling Recruit MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Unwilling Recruit and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unwilling Recruit has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Unwilling Recruit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-08-01	You may target a creature you already control with Unwilling Recruit. If you do, you’ll gain control of that creature (which usually won’t have any visible effect), untap it, and it’ll get +X/+0 until end of turn.