Rescue MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 44
2018-04-27 - Number 63
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Rescue’s instant speed allows for dynamic gameplay, providing a competitive edge by reacting swiftly to threats.
- Its versatility and combo potential make it a staple in decks capitalizing on repeated enter-the-battlefield effects.
- Counterspells and strategic pressure can effectively diminish Rescue’s impact, aiding in overcoming this adaptable card.
Text of card
Return target permanent you control to its owner's hand.
"Urza, I've discovered more promising students than you and my husband have, combined. And I haven't lost a single one." —Rayne, Academy Chancellor
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you play Rescue, you have the opportunity to return a key permanent to your hand, effectively saving it from removal or enabling reuse of enter-the-battlefield effects. This can lead to an advantageous recurrence of effects that bolster your position significantly.
Resource Acceleration: The low casting cost of Rescue means it doesn’t set you back much in terms of mana. This allows for a nimble response to shifting game states and preserves resources for other strategic plays within the same turn.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Rescue at instant speed offers a strategic edge by disrupting opponents’ plans during their turn or in response to an unexpected threat. This flexibility ensures that you can react promptly to protect valuable assets or capitalize on new openings with minimal delay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Deploying Rescue requires a player to discard another card, which can deplete a hand that’s already stretched thin. This trade-off is notably costly when card economy is crucial during tight matches.
Specific Mana Cost: Rescue demands an exact combination of mana types for casting, necessitating both white and blue sources. This restriction can challenge deck versatility, especially if a player’s mana base is not properly optimized or is running a multicolor deck with strained mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Rescue offers a potentially game-altering effect, its activation cost is high when measured against other options in the format. This can detrimentally affect tempo for players, as it might displace mana resources that could be allocated to more pressing threats or board presence.
Reasons to Include Rescue in Your Collection
Versatility: Rescue excels in its flexibility, seamlessly integrating into a variety of archetypes. From bouncing your own permanents for value to disrupting opponent strategies by returning their threats, it’s a multifaceted tool for any deck.
Combo Potential: In decks crafted around enter-the-battlefield effects or those looking to reuse powerful abilities, Rescue serves as a low-cost enabler, resetting your own board state for maximum advantage.
Meta-Relevance: With constantly shifting meta games that can favor tempo plays, having an instant-speed answer like Rescue can pivot the game in your favor, making it a smart addition for staying competitive.
How to beat
Rescue is a versatile utility spell in the world of MTG that allows players to return a permanent they own to their hand. To outplay an opponent using Rescue, it’s integral to understand timing and the stack. Disrupting their strategy involves keen observation to ensure that the Rescue does not generate significant advantage by saving their key permanent or disrupting your tempo.
One approach is to apply pressure and force your opponent to use their mana inefficiently, making the Rescue less impactful. Counterspells are highly-effective tools against Rescue, especially if used to counter a spell that your opponent intended to save with Rescue. Another strategy is to bait the Rescue on a less critical permanent before committing your more valuable cards to the board.
Lastly, understanding the meta and deck construction can aid in anticipating Rescue. This enables well-timed decisions, making it possible to turn the tide in your favor. By applying these tactics, you can undermine the effectiveness of Rescue and maintain control of the game, paving the way to victory.
Cards like Rescue
Rescue stands out in the realm of utility spells within Magic: The Gathering for its simplicity and adaptability. It shares similarities with cards like Unsummon, which also allows players to return target creatures to their owner’s hand. However, Rescue offers greater versatility by enabling the retrieval of any nonland permanent, not just creatures. This opens up a world of strategic possibilities, from saving one’s own enchantments to thwarting an opponent’s imminent combos.
Another card in a similar bracket is Boomerang. This classic spell goes a tad further by allowing any permanent to be bounced back to its owner’s hand. While Boomerang can target lands, thus potentially setting back an opponent’s mana development, Rescue is more cost-effective with a single blue mana requirement. Echoing Truth also deserves a mention, as it can potentially clear multiple copies of the same permanent from the battlefield. However, it comes with a slightly higher mana cost and does not offer the precision that Rescue provides.
Ultimately, Rescue earns its place as an efficient and flexible option for players seeking control and protection of their permanents. Its unique scope makes it a valuable tool in any blue mage’s arsenal.
Cards similar to Rescue by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rescue MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Dominaria, 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 Rescue and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Rescue Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2018-04-27. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 44 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 2 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 63 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joe Slucher |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rescue has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
