Forfend MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Morningtide
Set code	MOR
Number	10
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

Forfend delivers both instant speed surprise and tactical flexibility, ideal for disrupting opponents.
Necessitating a discard and specific mana can limit Forfend’s utility in diverse MTG decks.
Its ability to protect multiple targets makes it a formidable card, despite its mana requirements.

Text of card

Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures this turn.

"Suddenly there stood a fortress protecting the clachan, its walls hewn of valor and mortared with honor." —*Clachan Tales*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Forfend offers the strategic benefit of potentially negating multiple threats, allowing you to maintain board control while potentially leaving your opponent at a card disadvantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Forfend itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its efficient cost-to-effect ratio makes it a valuable addition to decks that prioritize tempo and could support quicker deployment of other resource acceleration mechanics.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Forfend provides flexibility in gameplay, enabling you to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, thus maximizing the element of surprise and tactical advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Forfend compels players to discard another card, which can be a strategic setback, especially when hand resources are already stretched thin. This discard aspect may sometimes force a choice between retaining a pivotal card or activating Forfend’s protective measures.

Specific Mana Cost: Forfend’s mana cost is not only color-specific, necessitating white mana, but also requires a total of four mana. This can potentially hinder the card’s inclusion in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency, limiting Forfend’s versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its utility, Forfend’s mana cost is on the higher end, which may deter some players. Alternative cards that offer protection or counterspell functionality often come at a lower cost, providing more efficiency and allowing players to reserve mana for other pivotal turns or strategies within the game.

Reasons to Include Forfend in Your Collection

Versatility: Forfend provides a level of adaptability that’s hard to match. It can serve as an early game protection for your key creatures, or it can save your late-game threats from targeted removals. This card can seamlessly fit into a variety of decks, from control heavy ones to those looking to protect critical combo pieces.

Combo Potential: Beyond simply shielding your creatures, Forfend can become part of an intricate combo machine. It enables you to interact without spending your turn, freeing up your mana to execute complex strategies. Also, it can help maintain the combo pieces that make your deck tick without missing a beat.

Meta-Relevance: With the game’s landscape regularly shifting, adaptability can make or break a deck. Forfend rises to the occasion in metas dominated by spot removals or when keeping specific creatures on the board is paramount. This card’s relevance grows in environments where protecting your threats or key pieces is crucial for victory.

How to beat

Forfend is one of those MTG cards that can catch opponents off guard, creating a buffer against single-target removals or burn spells aimed at your creatures. A critical point about Forfend is its ability to counter spells that target a single creature or player. This specificity means that while it’s excellent for protecting key creatures in your strategy, its use is limited against board wipes or spells that don’t target.

So, how does one navigate around Forfend’s protective umbrella? The key is to employ non-targeted removals like board wipes or, alternatively, effects that can bypass it entirely like those that cause a player to sacrifice a creature. By diverting to these strategies, you effectively sidestep Forfend’s shield. Additionally, holding back on casting spells until the player with Forfend is tapped out can ensure your removals and burn spells hit their mark without interference.

Ultimately, being aware of Forfend and adjusting your playstyle to include non-targeted effects or waiting for the opportune moment to cast your spells can mitigate the protection it provides, keeping you one step ahead of the competition in MTG.

Cards like Forfend

Forfend is an intriguing utility option in Magic: The Gathering, bearing resemblance to cards known for their preventative abilities. It shares some common ground with cards like Counterspell, which negates another spell entirely. However, Forfend provides a more nuanced approach, typically allowing a spell to resolve but negating its effects on your creatures or yourself.

Another card in the same conversation is Rebuff the Wicked, which serves a similar purpose by protecting a single permanent. Where Forfend excels is in its potential to shield multiple targets, broadening its defensive capacity. Then there’s Gods Willing, offering protection for one creature along with scry to shape future draws, but it falls short in defending the player or multiple creatures like Forfend does.

Forfend’s strategic versatility positions it well among its counterparts, offering players a multi-purpose tool that can pivot a game by defending against various threats. This unique flexibility makes Forfend a valued piece in decks that prioritize resilience and protection.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forfend MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Forfend and other MTG cards: