Swift Justice MTG Card

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 26

Swift Justice - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
2014-09-05 - Number 62

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Swift Justice enhances creatures by offering first strike and lifelink, essential in combat engagement.
Instant speed use allows for surprise tactical responses and protection of crucial creatures.
Its low casting cost and instant nature make it highly efficient for white aligned decks.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike and lifelink.

"Having conviction is more important than being righteous." —Aurelia

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Swift Justice doesn’t directly provide card draw, it can be a pivotal play that preserves valuable creatures during combat, effectively keeping your hand full and board presence intact.

Resource Acceleration: Swift Justice may not produce mana or Treasure tokens, but it does potentially accelerate your game plan by giving your creature first strike, potentially removing a blocker or attacker from your opponent without losing your own.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Swift Justice lets you catch your opponent off-guard. It allows for dynamic play, reacting to combat scenarios to ensure a favorable outcome, such as protecting a key creature or tipping a tightly contested battle in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This instant card doesn’t necessitate discarding, but it’s one to consider when strategizing your hand. Holding onto combat tricks like Swift Justice instead of developing your board can sometimes backfire if the game drags on.

Specific Mana Cost: Swift Justice requires a hybrid white mana in its casting cost, making it less flexible for decks that aren’t aligned with white’s strategy or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing only one white mana, in an environment where games are decisively fast-paced, spending mana on a card that only provides a one-time effect could be less impactful than playing another creature or a permanent buff.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Swift Justice is a flexible addition to white aggro or midrange decks, offering both offensive and defensive benefits. This instant not only enhances one of your creatures but also can shift the tides during combat unpredictably.

Combo Potential: It pairs exceptionally well with cards that have lifelink or double strike, amplifying their impact and potentially turning the game in your favor with a significant life swing.

Meta-Relevance: With games often decided by combat and interactions between creatures, Swift Justice provides a cheap and efficient tool to protect key creatures and maintain board presence against the variety of threats present in the current meta.

How to beat Swift Justice

Swift Justice stands out as an efficient combat trick in the trading card game Magic: The Gathering, known for offering a creature both lifelink and first strike until the end of turn for a mere single white mana. This can turn a simple combat scenario upside-down by not only dealing damage first but also healing you in the process, which can be a nuisance for unprepared players.

To outmaneuver Swift Justice, it’s crucial to have instant speed removal or bounce spells at the ready, which can counteract the buff it provides. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Unsummon offer simple yet effective solutions that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy by eliminating the creature before it becomes a threat or returning it to their hand, thus negating the combat advantage Swift Justice would confer.

Of course, spells that prevent damage or grant hexproof can also be a shield against it. By understanding your opponent’s potential to drop Swift Justice, you are better poised to keep instant-speed responses in hand or play defensively to avoid falling victim to an unexpected lifelink and first strike combo during the heat of combat.

Cards like Swift Justice

Swift Justice is a unique instant in the world of MTG that offers a player the double advantage of granting a creature +1/+0 and lifelink and first strike until end of turn. When compared to other combat trick cards, Swift Justice stands out due to its low mana cost and immediate impact during battle. Take a spell like Brute Strength, for instance, which offers a bigger power boost and trample but lacks the valuable lifelink ability that can be crucial for sustaining a player’s lifepoints during tight skirmishes.

Temur Battle Rage is another card that grants a creature an attack advantage, giving double strike when certain conditions are met. Although potentially more powerful when those conditions are satisfied, it does not provide the consistent life gain Swift Justice offers. On the other hand, Righteousness is a spell that gives a massive boost to a blocking creature’s defense, yet its reactive nature when compared to the proactive Swift Justice seems less versatile in a dynamic game environment.

In essence, Swift Justice provides a strategic mix of offense and defense for an affordable cost, making it a solid option for players aiming to maintain momentum and add a surprising twist during combat phases.

Brute Strength - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Righteousness - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Swift Justice by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)

Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)

Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swift Justice MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning, 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 Swift Justice and other MTG cards: