Intervene MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1999-02-15
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Legacy
Set code	ULG
Number	33
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Heather Hudson

Key Takeaways

Intervene helps maintain board presence by protecting creatures at critical moments.
The card demands strategic planning due to its specific mana cost and card discarding requirement.
Despite its limitations, Intervene remains a worthy addition for defensive strategies in competitive play.

Text of card

Counter target spell that targets a creature.

"At first I simply observed. But I found that without investment in others, life serves no purpose." —Karn, silver golem

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Intervene stands out by offering you the ability to protect your key creatures from targeted spells. By effectively countering an opponent’s removal or negative enchantments, Intervene can save your creature and maintain your presence on the board, which is integral to keeping your card advantage in tight matches.

Resource Acceleration: Although Intervene itself does not directly contribute to mana or resource acceleration, the action of saving your creatures allows you to sustain your board position. This conservation of resources can accelerate your game plan by keeping crucial mana dorks or creatures with tap abilities alive and active.

Instant Speed: Intervene’s capability to be cast at instant speed adds a strategic depth to your gameplay. This allows you to keep your mana untapped, bluff additional counterspells in hand, and only intervene when absolutely necessary, often during an opponent’s turn. This shift in control can disrupt their strategy and provide you with the upper hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Intervene forces you to part with another card from your hand, which could deplete your resources, especially in the late game when each card’s value is at its peak.

Specific Mana Cost: With its precise mana cost demanding both blue and white, Intervene requires a dedicated commitment to a two-color deck, potentially restricting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to cast, Intervene can be a costly interruption when compared to other instant speed spells. This could lead to a disadvantage, as players might forgo playing it in favor of more mana-efficient alternatives.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Intervene has the flexibility to be a key aspect of various blue-centric decks, excelling in protecting valuable creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities. Its low mana cost also makes it easy to include in multicolor decks requiring blue mana without straining the mana base.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can work wonders in decks that aim to keep key creatures on the board or those that capitalize on spell-casting triggers. Intervene can safeguard important combo pieces in critical moments, ensuring that your game-winning plans go uninterrupted.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where spot removals or targeted spells are prevalent, having Intervene in your toolbox can deter opponents from attempting to disrupt your board presence. As a result, this card remains a relevant and strategic choice in various competitive formats where holding up defense can shift the tide in your favor.

How to Beat

Intervene is a unique card in the realm of counter-based spells in Magic: The Gathering. It offers players a specialized form of defense, particularly against spells that target creatures. When planning your strategy to overcome Intervene, consider using spells that affect multiple targets or the entire board. This approach bypasses Intervene’s limitation, which only addresses single-target spells.

Another effective tactic is to bait out an Intervene with less critical spells before launching your more vital ones. Timing is crucial; play around your opponent’s mana availability and possible counter-play. Additionally, cards that can’t be countered, such as spells with the keyword ‘uncounterable’ or abilities that don’t use the stack, sidestep Intervene’s protective measures altogether.

In summary, while Intervene can provide a protective shield for your opponent’s creatures, it isn’t insurmountable. By diversifying your threats and thoughtfully sequencing your spells, you can effectively minimize the impact of Intervene on your path to victory in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Intervene

Intervene is a unique card in MTG, providing a quick fix against spells targeting your creatures. When compared to a card like Counterspell, which outright denies any spell, Intervene stands out as it specifically protects creatures. It’s also less mana-intensive, requiring only a single blue mana to cast. Contrast this with Rebuff the Wicked, which shields your permanents for one white mana, not just creatures, Intervene is more specialized.

Diving deeper, Mizzium Skin is another card worth mentioning. It not only offers protection with its hexproof ability but also gives a slight boost to a creature’s toughness. It’s a versatile option, as the card can be cast with its overload cost to protect multiple creatures. However, Intervene remains a simpler and more straightforward way to foil an opponent’s attempts at targeting a single vulnerable creature.

At a glance, Intervene may seem narrow in scope, but its ease of use and specificity make it a valuable card in MTG. For players seeking to secure their creatures against targeted spells without the higher cost or broader effects of other options, Intervene is an excellent choice.

Cards similar to Intervene by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Intervene MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Intervene and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Intervene has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If a spell is modal, use the target(s) of the current mode only for this check. Targets for the other modes are never selected.
2004-10-04	If the spell’s target leaves the battlefield before this spell resolves, Intervene won’t resolve since it no longer targets a spell that targets a creature.
2004-10-04	Intervene can only target a spell that is currently targeting a creature.
2004-10-04	It means “targeting at least one creature” not “exactly one creature”.