Fortitude MTG Card


Fortitude - Urza's Saga
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameUrza's Saga
Set codeUSG
Number253
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDaren Bader

Key Takeaways

  1. Fortitude maintains board presence and negates removal, key for sustained game control.
  2. Instant speed casting of Fortitude allows for flexible and surprising defensive plays.
  3. The requirement to discard may impact resource management, weighing strategic use.

Text of card

When Fortitude is put into a graveyard from play, return Fortitude to owner's hand. Sacrifice a forest: Regenerate enchanted creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Providing an additional layer of defense, Fortitude ensures your creature remains a consistent presence on the battlefield. This recurring safeguard affords you the upper hand, effectively negating your opponent’s attempts to reduce your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: As a unique form of resource conservation, Fortitude allows you to retain the creatures you’ve invested mana in. This efficiency ensures that your resources are maximized, enabling more strategic plays and maintaining pressure on your opponent without the need for additional mana expenditure.

Instant Speed: Fortitude can be cast at instant speed, offering flexibility and strategic surprise. Employing it in response to a threat not only protects your creature but can also disrupt your opponent’s plans, causing them to waste resources or reconsider their approach.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fortitude demands a card to be discarded at casting, potentially leaving you at a resource deficit when your hand is already running low.

Specific Mana Cost: Fortitude’s casting cost necessitates both green and generic mana, which may not align with the color scheme of all deck types, thereby restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of three mana including two green, it sits at a higher spectrum of costs for the type of recurring protection it offers, especially when other cards may provide similar benefits for less.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fortitude offers a multifaceted tool for decks that rely on creature permanence. It allows you to safeguard key creatures from elimination, thus ensuring they remain a constant threat on the board.

Combo Potential: Beyond its primary function, Fortitude synergizes well with mechanics that benefit from cards moving into the graveyard. With each sacrifice, it not only returns to your hand but potentially sets up your graveyard for further strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where removal spells are prevalent, Fortitude acts as a potent line of defense. It can protect your creatures from spot removals and wraths, maintaining your board presence and giving you an edge over opponents who rely heavily on such tactics.


How to beat

Fortitude is a unique aura card in Magic: The Gathering that has the potential to frustrate opponents with its ability to save a creature from being destroyed. When attached to a creature, Fortitude grants not just a toughness boost but also a tantalizing option: it can be sacrificed to regenerate the enchanted creature, which can especially turn the tides in creature-heavy matchups. To strategically handle Fortitude, consider using spells that bypass the regeneration capability. Think along the lines of exile or bounce effects which remove creatures from the battlefield without destroying them, therefore nullifying Fortitude’s defensive power.

Targeted removal such as Path to Exile or Unsummon can effectively counteract Fortitude’s strengths. Cards that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures also work around Fortitude’s ability, as it only protects against destruction. Edict effects, like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil’s sacrifice ability, are particularly potent as they leave the opponent with no creature to regenerate. In essence, by employing these strategies, you can mitigate the impact of Fortitude and maintain control of the battlefield.

Considering the various tactics to surpass this protective aura, the key to victory lies in having the right countermeasures ready in your deck. With thoughtful planning and a keen awareness of your opponent’s strategies, you can emerge triumphant against players relying on Fortitude to safeguard their creatures.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG players, we know the value of a well-defended creature on the battlefield. Fortitude offers consistent creature protection, allowing you to maintain a formidable board presence. This enchantment is a game-changer in resource management, giving you an edge with its instant speed intervention. Balancing its mana costs and discard requirements is essential. If you’re keen on maximizing your strategic plays and adapting to the evolving meta, consider integrating Fortitude into your arsenal. Its synergy with graveyard mechanics and defense against removal spells could be the linchpin of victory. Dive into our detailed insights and enhance your gameplay with Fortitude’s strategic potential.


Cards like Fortitude

Fortitude is an intriguing aura in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that offers both protection and resiliency for creatures. Its most direct comparison is likely with the card Rancor, which similarly returns to your hand when the creature it enchants is sent to the graveyard. Whereas Rancor provides a boost in power and trample, Fortitude gives the creature it’s attached to the ability to be sacrificed for its owner to regenerate a land.

Another card that echoes Fortitude’s protective aspect is Alexi’s Cloak, protecting a creature from being targeted when it enters the battlefield with flash. However, Fortitude’s unique sacrifice ability sets it apart, adding a layer of strategic depth and resource management. Lastly, we look at Canopy Cover, which grants not only hexproof but also flying, offering both defense and evasion but without the recurring aspect that makes Fortitude a persistent threat.

Overall, Fortitude holds a niche position, with a sacrifice-land-to-regenerate spin providing a unique defensive tactic for creature-based strategies, ensuring that it remains a practical choice for players looking to safeguard their key creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Rancor - MTG Card versions
Alexi's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Canopy Cover - MTG Card versions
Rancor - MTG Card versions
Alexi's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Canopy Cover - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Fortitude by color, type and mana cost

Aspect of Wolf - MTG Card versions
Regeneration - MTG Card versions
Lifeforce - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Touch - MTG Card versions
Night Soil - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Library - MTG Card versions
Primal Rage - MTG Card versions
Survival of the Fittest - MTG Card versions
Crosswinds - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Grove - MTG Card versions
Treetop Bracers - MTG Card versions
Root Cage - MTG Card versions
Elfhame Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Compost - MTG Card versions
Thoughtleech - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Harmony - MTG Card versions
Shigeki, Jukai Visionary - MTG Card versions
Fertile Ground - MTG Card versions
Mark of Sakiko - MTG Card versions
Quiet Disrepair - MTG Card versions
Aspect of Wolf - MTG Card versions
Regeneration - MTG Card versions
Lifeforce - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Touch - MTG Card versions
Night Soil - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Library - MTG Card versions
Primal Rage - MTG Card versions
Survival of the Fittest - MTG Card versions
Crosswinds - MTG Card versions
Tranquil Grove - MTG Card versions
Treetop Bracers - MTG Card versions
Root Cage - MTG Card versions
Elfhame Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Compost - MTG Card versions
Thoughtleech - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Harmony - MTG Card versions
Shigeki, Jukai Visionary - MTG Card versions
Fertile Ground - MTG Card versions
Mark of Sakiko - MTG Card versions
Quiet Disrepair - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fortitude has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal