Imposing Visage MTG Card

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 193

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 241

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Key Takeaways

Offers tactical advantage by making creatures difficult to block, increasing damage potential in MTG plays.
Instant speed of Imposing Visage allows surprise maneuvers, increasing both offensive and defensive options.
Requires strategy with its discard condition and specific mana costs, adding depth to MTG gameplay.

Text of card

Target creature cannot be blocked by only one creature.

"I can't believe they expect me to fight with this rabble. A Goblin in a big mask sends 'em running for cover." —Avram Garrisson, Leader of the Knights of Stromgald

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Imposing Visage gives you the upper hand by making a targeted creature harder to block for a turn. This tactical advantage can lead to more damage dealt and potentially hasten your victory while maintaining card presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly generate additional resources, playing it at a strategic moment can speed up the rate at which you diminish your opponent’s life total, effectively “accelerating” your path to winning the game.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Imposing Visage lies in its flexibility thanks to its instant speed. You can catch your opponent off guard during the combat phase, making it a versatile tool in both offense and defense. It also allows you to smartly manage your mana and keep your options open as you react to the evolving game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Imposing Visage requires you to discard another card to activate its full potential. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially in games where keeping a full hand is crucial to maintaining options and board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands specific mana colors which can prove restrictive. Players not running a deck tailored to those mana types could find it difficult to cast Imposing Visage at the optimal time, thus detracting from its overall versatility in a wide array of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its relatively high mana cost, Imposing Visage may not always provide the tempo advantage compared to other cards in its mana range. Players could potentially find more efficient alternatives that deliver similar or improved effects with lower or more flexible mana requirements.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Imposing Visage offers flexibility in deck building, easily fitting into strategies that leverage creature buffs and aggressive plays. Its instant speed allows you to surprise opponents during combat, making it a handy inclusion in various red-focused decks.

Combo Potential: This card works well with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage to players, such as those with the renown mechanic or with abilities that trigger when creatures deal damage. The power boost can help with achieving those conditions more consistently.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where smaller utility creatures are prevalent, Imposing Visage gives your creatures the edge they need to overpower these threats, keeping you competitive on the battlefield and maintaining board presence.

How to beat

Imposing Visage has emerged as a card to watch out for in the creature enhancement lineup in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a spell that instantly turns the tides by making a creature more formidable in combat, as it grants not only a power boost but often the upper hand in creature duels. While it boosts one’s own creature’s capabilities on the battlefield, overcoming this card can be equally strategic. The right removal spell at the right time is crucial. Instant speed removal like Murder or Disenchant can effectively counteract the Visage’s effect before the creature gets a chance to swing in for massive damage.

Moreover, counter spells that negate creature spells or enchantments can leave the opponent’s plans in disarray, draining their momentum. Counterspell and Negate, for instance, can be powerful tools to keep in your deck. Additionally, playing creatures with reach or those that can block multiple creatures can reduce the threat posed by the enchanted attacker. Having a well-constructed deck that anticipates boosts like Imposing Visage and includes versatile answers can turn what seems like an overwhelming threat into a manageable situation.

Ultimately, timely disruption combined with strategic plays can be the key to outmaneuvering the effect of Imposing Visage, maintaining control of the game and leading you to victory.

Cards like Imposing Visage

Imposing Visage is a notable card for players looking to give a menacing presence to their creatures on the battlefield. It draws parallels with other enchantment cards like Cartouche of Strength which not only gives a slight boost to a creature’s power but also allows for a fight mechanic with an opponent’s creature. Whilst Cartouche of Strength offers a clear path to removing enemy creatures, Imposing Visage focuses purely on enhancing offensive capabilities.

Another related card in this sphere is Hammerhand, which gives a creature not only an increase in power but also haste, allowing for immediate impact. Hammerhand, however, offers a one-time effect and lacks the consistent threat posed by Imposing Visage. Furthermore, we have Fists of the Demigod – a card that bestows a multifaceted buff contingent on color alignment, which can be more restrictive than the broad applicability of Imposing Visage.

Upon evaluation, Imposing Visage holds its ground with an enduring effect that applies pressure each turn. This consistency in boosting creature threat level gives it a steady position when considering enhancement options for your creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Cartouche of Strength - MTG Card versions

Fists of the Demigod - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Imposing Visage by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Imposing Visage MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Imposing Visage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Imposing Visage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 1997-03-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.