Finest Hour MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Exalted

Key Takeaways

  1. Two attack phases and untapped creatures amplify combat potential and offer superior board control.
  2. Strategic deck construction is necessary to accommodate the specific mana costs and maximize its impact.
  3. Presence in a collection enriches strategies, making it a tactical asset in various combat scenarios.

Text of card

Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, if it's the first combat phase of the turn, untap that creature. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Finest Hour provides a significant boon on the battlefield by giving not one, but two separate attack phases, increasing the opportunity for extra damage and triggering beneficial abilities twice within a single turn. This ability allows players to maximize the potential of their creatures and swing the game in their favor.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to untap all creatures that attacked during the first attack phase, Finest Hour can effectively double your resource utilization. This rejuvenation of your forces lets you utilize your creatures for additional purposes, whether it be for defending, activating abilities, or cementing your board presence with a second wave of attacks.

Instant Speed: While Finest Hour isn’t cast at instant speed, it does produce immediate effects that can catch an opponent off guard during combat. The ability to launch a surprise second attack phase during each of your turns can dramatically alter the course of the game, giving this enchantment a pseudo-instant impact on your strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Finest Hour in a deck often demands a strategic setup. Discarding cards to capitalize on its potent abilities could hamper hand flexibility, especially for players who need to maintain options for every turn.

Specific Mana Cost: Finest Hour’s casting cost is locked into three distinct colors, which can strain a deck’s mana base. This reliance on a strict color combination curtails the card’s universal playability across different deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to unleash Finest Hour is not inconsequential. Five mana, including three different colors, is a steep price, potentially delaying other critical plays. Amidst a myriad of cards with lower costs, Finest Hour might not always be the most mana-efficient option in your deck-building arsenal.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Finest Hour offers a dynamic edge in deck-building, suitable for aggressive strategies that seek to make the most out of combat phases. This card’s ability to give creatures not one but two shots at combat can turn the tides quickly in a game.

Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs well with creatures that have tap or attack triggers, exponentially increasing the value gained from such effects. A single creature can now provide double the impact, making it a linchpin in Exalted decks or those looking to capitalize on combat-related triggers twice a turn.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment that values combat tricks and turning the board to one’s advantage, Finest Hour shines by providing a significant boost during your turn. Its presence complicates opponents’ blocking decisions and can force through game-ending damage when they least expect it.


How to beat

Finest Hour is a standout card in MTG, particularly due to its capacity to supercharge a single attacker during combat, offering both an additional attack phase and a potency boost. Its strength lies in enabling creatures to swing in for a potentially game-ending blow not once, but twice each turn, all while getting stronger in the process.

To effectively counter this card, one strategy revolves around preventing the combat phase’s acceleration altogether. Employing instant speed removals such as Path to Exile or utilizing counterspells like Negate ensures that Finest Hour never takes effect. Additionally, creatures with Vigilance stand as formidable barriers, as they remain untapped after attacking, poised to block the empowered creature. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God, can also reset the battlefield, nullifying the advantage Finest Hour provides by clearing all creatures from the board before the additional attack phase can be executed.

When it comes to mitigating the impact of Finest Hour, the key is anticipation and readiness. Keeping up your mana for reactive plays and maintaining a strong defensive line are essential tactics. Ultimately, countering Finest Hour demands a blend of timely removal, strategic countering, and enduring board presence.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering your MTG gameplay is a thrilling venture, and Finest Hour represents a strategically robust addition to any deck aiming to dominate in combat. Its ability to offer two combat phases can be a turning point in your matches. To defend against or optimally utilize this card, awareness and timing are critical. Explore other cards with complementary mechanics to enhance your combat strategy and maintain flexible defense. Keep learning about synergies, counters, and when to deploy this powerful enchantment for maximum effect. Elevate your MTG experience and make each hour your finest by embracing these insights.


Cards like Finest Hour

Finest Hour stands out as a distinctive enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering, often compared to other game enhancers like Crescendo of War. Crescendo of War ramps up each of your combat phases with additional power, much like Finest Hour amplifies the attacking potential. However, Finest Hour also grants an additional attack phase, which sets it apart and above the gradual buildup that Crescendo offers.

Examining another peer, Triumph of the Hordes has its own twist on overwhelming opponents. It provides infect to your creatures, potentially ending games quickly. While it doesn’t provide an extra combat phase like Finest Hour, the added poison counters can be an alternative form of aggressive victory.

Lastly, Exalted Angel is a card that shares synergy with Finest Hour through the exalted mechanic, granting power to solitary attackers. Unlike Finest Hour’s ability to reshuffle combat phases and multiply the exalted effect, the Angel merely benefits from it directly. In terms of offering strategic tactical options and the capacity to turn the tide of the game, Finest Hour remains a force to be reckoned with in Magic: The Gathering.

Crescendo of War - MTG Card versions
Triumph of the Hordes - MTG Card versions
Exalted Angel - MTG Card versions
Crescendo of War - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Triumph of the Hordes - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Exalted Angel - Onslaught (ONS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Finest Hour MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Commander 2018, 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 Finest Hour and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Finest Hour Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Michael Komarck.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 1262003normalblackMichael Komarck
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1802015normalblackMichael Komarck

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Finest Hour has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-05-01 Finest Hour’s second ability has an “intervening ‘if’ clause.” The ability won’t trigger at all unless it’s the first combat phase of the turn.
2009-05-01 Unlike other similar cards, Finest Hour doesn’t create a main phase in between the two combat phases. The second combat phase will begin immediately after the current one ends.

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