Act of Aggression MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants board control and potential card advantage by temporarily stealing an opponent’s creature.
  2. Instant speed provides tactical flexibility, reacting swiftly to changes during the opponent’s turn.
  3. Mana cost and card restriction can limit hand management, needing deck adaptations.

Text of card

({PR} can be paid with either or 2 life.) Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Act of Aggression shines in its potential to disrupt the balance on the board by seizing control of an opponent’s key creature. This swift change in board presence can often result in a significant shift in card advantage without the need for a permanent exchange.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, this card offers a strategic form of resource acceleration. By temporarily acquiring a creature, you gain access to all its abilities and inherent mana advantages for that turn, effectively utilizing your opponent’s resources against them.

Instant Speed: The power of this card is magnified by its instant speed, permitting you to wait until the most opportune moment within your opponent’s turn to act. Whether it’s during the declare attackers phase or in response to an opponent’s spell, the ability to take immediate action gives you a tactical edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Act of Aggression has no direct discard requirement, but its specific mana costs can hamper your hand management, especially if you’re trying to maintain card advantage and board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a blend of both red and phyrexian mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in decks that aren’t tailored to accommodate such a mana structure or that prioritize mana efficiency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three red mana and two life points – or five mana total – to cast, Act of Aggression may be considered an investment. Alternate cards with lower casting costs could offer similar or improved control effects, leaving more mana available for other strategic plays within your turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Act of Aggression can be slotted into numerous archetypes due to its instant speed and ability to temporarily gain control of any creature on the battlefield. This adaptability makes it a formidable tool in a wide range of situations.

Combo Potential: This card opens up powerful combo opportunities, enabling surprise wins or game state changes by hijacking an opponent’s key creature, utilizing it for attack, defense, or sacrificing it to fuel your own strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, wielding a card like Act of Aggression can significantly disrupt your opponents’ plans and tilt the battlefield in your favor, making it an essential tactical choice.


How to beat

Act of Aggression is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to temporarily seize control of an opponent’s creature. This can be both a surprise tactic and a way to turn the tables, but there are strategies to mitigate its impact. Shields of Velis Vel, for instance, can confer protection to your creatures by giving them all creature types, potentially negating the effects of Act of Aggression’s control-changing abilities.

Instant-speed removal spells are another way to deal with Act of Aggression. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can effectively remove the targeted creature from the battlefield in response, nullifying the threat immediately. Additionally, countering Act of Aggression with spells like Mana Leak can prevent the potentially game-altering move before it even happens.

Forethought and keeping mana open for responses are key. By staying vigilant and prepared for these sudden shifts, you can safely navigate around the pitfalls of Act of Aggression, maintaining control of the battlefield and your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the insights into Act of Aggression’s strengths and weaknesses, seasoned MTG players appreciate the depth of strategy this card adds to the game. Its power to disrupt the opponent’s strategy with an unexpected creature control can shift the tide of a match. If you value versatility and tactical advantage, Act of Aggression is worthy of consideration for your card collection. Adapt your gameplay and explore the synergies and counterplays this card offers. Ready for an upgrade to your MTG repertoire? Discover more strategies and refine your deck with Act of Aggression by your side.


Cards like Act of Aggression

Act of Aggression stands out within the pantheon of creature control cards in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels to cards like Control Magic or Ray of Command due to its ability to seize control of an opponent’s creature. Where Act of Aggression excels is its versatility, being an instant, it allows players to catch their opponents off-guard during combat or end of turn. Unlike Control Magic’s ongoing control, Act of Aggression’s effect is temporary, but it doesn’t give your adversary the creature back until the end of the turn.

Another noteworthy comparison is with Grab the Reins. Both cards share the instant speed and the element of surprise, enabling pivotal shifts during battle. While Grab the Reins offers an added layer with its entwine ability for potential creature destruction, Act of Aggression remains more mana-efficient for the simple act of creature theft.

Considering the strategic uses of such spells, Act of Aggression fits snugly into a niche where swift and unexpected control of enemy creatures can turn the tide of a game. It balances cost against impact effectively, positioning it as a strong option for decks that aim to utilize opponents’ creatures momentarily for potential lethal swings or to disrupt synergies.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Grab the Reins - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Ray of Command - Ice Age (ICE)
Grab the Reins - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Act of Aggression by color, type and mana cost

Fissure - MTG Card versions
Melee - MTG Card versions
Omen of Fire - MTG Card versions
Cinder Cloud - MTG Card versions
Lava Storm - MTG Card versions
Brawl - MTG Card versions
Thermal Blast - MTG Card versions
Radiate - MTG Card versions
Invoke Calamity - MTG Card versions
Pinpoint Avalanche - MTG Card versions
Forge Armor - MTG Card versions
Savage Beating - MTG Card versions
Rain of Rust - MTG Card versions
Feedback Bolt - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions
Devouring Rage - MTG Card versions
Through the Breach - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Beam - MTG Card versions
Word of Seizing - MTG Card versions
Riddle of Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fissure - Masters Edition (ME1)
Melee - Ice Age (ICE)
Omen of Fire - Alliances (ALL)
Cinder Cloud - Mirage (MIR)
Lava Storm - Weatherlight (WTH)
Brawl - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Thermal Blast - Odyssey (ODY)
Radiate - Torment (TOR)
Invoke Calamity - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Pinpoint Avalanche - Onslaught (ONS)
Forge Armor - Mirrodin (MRD)
Savage Beating - Commander Masters (CMM)
Rain of Rust - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Feedback Bolt - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Beacon of Destruction - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Devouring Rage - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Through the Breach - Ultimate Box Topper (PUMA)
Cleansing Beam - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Word of Seizing - Commander Legends (CMR)
Riddle of Lightning - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Act of Aggression MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Commander 2015, 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 Act of Aggression and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Act of Aggression Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2015-11-13. Illustrated by Whit Brachna.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 782003normalblackWhit Brachna
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1412015normalblackWhit Brachna

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Act of Aggression has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-06-01 A card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its mana cost is each color that appears in that mana cost, regardless of how that cost may have been paid.
2011-06-01 Act of Aggression can target any creature an opponent controls, even one that's untapped.
2011-06-01 As you cast a spell or activate an activated ability with one or more Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, you choose how to pay for each Phyrexian mana symbol at the same time you would choose modes or choose a value for X.
2011-06-01 Gaining control of a creature doesn't cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it.
2011-06-01 If you're at 1 life or less, you can't pay 2 life.
2011-06-01 Phyrexian mana is not a new color. Players can't add Phyrexian mana to their mana pools.
2011-06-01 To calculate the mana value of a card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, count each Phyrexian mana symbol as 1.

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