Blunt the Assault MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Scars of Mirrodin
Set code	SOM
Number	113
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Stewart

Key Takeaways

Blunt the Assault ensures card advantage and swing in momentum during a game.
The card provides flexibility with its instant cast, perfect for unexpected defenses.
Despite its strengths, it has downsides, such as specific mana and high casting cost.

Text of card

You gain 1 life for each creature on the battlefield. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"Much can be gained from the appearance of vulnerability." —Ezuri, renegade leader

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blunt the Assault shines when it comes to turning the tide of battle in your favor. By drawing a card upon casting, this spell not only helps in neutralizing enemy attacks but also keeps your hand filled with options, ensuring that you stay ahead in the resource game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly creating resources, Blunt the Assault offers a significant tempo swing by potentially nullifying the damage from a whole combat phase. This may give a player the much-needed breathing room to stabilize and deploy further threats or answers without the added pressure of a dwindling life total.

Instant Speed: The true flexibility of Blunt the Assault lies in its instant speed. This allows savvy players to adapt to the unfolding game, using this card as a powerful surprise against an unsuspecting opponent. Whether it’s to foil a major attack or simply to buy time, the instant nature of Blunt the Assault ensures that it’s a card that reacts to the game as it plays out, keeping your adversaries on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Even though Blunt the Assault provides strategic defense, it does not exempt you from the possibility of reducing your hand. Having to discard valuable cards can be detrimental when strategizing your next moves or if you’re trying to maintain a full grip to react to opponents’ threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both green and white mana can pose a limitation. Decks that cannot reliably generate both types of mana might find it cumbersome to include Blunt the Assault, potentially making it a less versatile choice compared to cards with more flexible mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires four mana, players must consider whether the benefit of potentially preventing a significant amount of damage is worth the investment. Other options in the game might offer similar or better defensive capabilities for fewer resources, allowing players to maintain a more efficient and fluid gameplay pace.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blunt the Assault is a unique instant card that serves a dual purpose in many types of decks. It can stave off damage during a crucial turn and simultaneously replenish your hand, proving its worth in both aggressive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies emphasizing life gain or those that aim to benefit from casting a large number of spells in a single turn. It can be a linchpin in combo decks that look for ways to mitigate damage while setting up a game-winning move.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where aggressive decks are prevalent, Blunt the Assault offers a surprising swing in momentum, making it a highly relevant sideboard choice. Its ability to disrupt the pace of the game makes it a great inclusion in any collection for players looking to counter common aggressive strategies in the meta.

How to beat

Blunt the Assault finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing spell capable of turning the tides of battle. It’s a card that shines in scenarios where you’re facing a horde of attacking creatures, as it staves off damage and potentially provides you with a life buffer. The key to undermining Blunt the Assault lies in timing and disruption. Choosing to attack strategically when the opponent may lack the mana to cast it is crucial, or employing counter spells to neutralize it before it takes effect.

Adept deck builders might lean towards cards like Duress to preemptively remove Blunt the Assault from an opponent’s hand, ensuring your attacks go unhindered. Alternatively, holding back on a full attack and baiting out the card can leave an opponent’s mana tapped out, opening a window for you to seize control. It’s about reading the game and making educated plays to sidestep the formidable life-gain and damage prevention Blunt the Assault offers.

Ultimately, the successful navigation around this card demands a mix of patience, strategic assaults and opportune disruption to ensure your path to victory remains clear.

Cards like Blunt the Assault

Blunt the Assault is a unique card in MTG, known for its potential to disrupt combat math and swing the momentum in a game. In comparison, cards like Dawn Charm and Riot Control provide similar defensive benefits. Dawn Charm can prevent all combat damage for a turn much like Blunt the Assault, but it’s more versatile with additional modes to protect from specific threats or regenerate creatures. On the flip side, it doesn’t provide the life gain based on the number of attacking creatures.

Turning to Riot Control, one observes that it shares the life gain aspect with Blunt the Assault, granting you life for each attacking creature. Nonetheless, it lacks the capacity to prevent damage to creatures, focusing solely on protecting the player. This indicates that while both cards are useful in stalling aggressive strategies, Blunt the Assault stands out with its ability to safeguard the whole battlefield—creatures included—in critical turns.

Ultimately, Blunt the Assault is a compelling option for decks that aim to survive the onslaught and overturn the game in later turns. Its distinctive combination of life gain and damage prevention places it as a strategic staple for any player looking to fortify their defenses in the MTG arena.

Cards similar to Blunt the Assault by color, type and mana cost

Garenbrig Carver // Shield's Might - MTG Card versions

Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blunt the Assault MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Blunt the Assault and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blunt the Assault has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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