Evangelize MTG Card


Evangelize - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Buyback
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Number16
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRandy Elliott

Key Takeaways

  1. Evangelize grants control of creatures, potentially turning enemy threats into valuable assets.
  2. Demands tactical play due to its discard requirement and specific white mana cost.
  3. Combines well with sacrifice or flicker strategies, making it a versatile addition.

Text of card

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you play this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.) Gain control of target creature of an opponent's choice that he or she controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Evangelize presents an opportunity to seize control of the game by converting an opponent’s creature into your asset. This not only diminishes their board presence but also enhances yours, tipping the scales in your favor and effectively providing a two-for-one advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of traditional mana acceleration, securing an additional creature can result in an indirect form of resource acceleration. This is especially true if the acquired creature has abilities that produce or untap mana, thus potentially increasing your resource pool.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Evangelize at instant speed cannot be overstated. This versatility allows you to keep mana available for other threats or responses and play Evangelize at the most opportune moment, such as in response to an opponent declaring attackers or after they’ve committed to their own spells and abilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Evangelize card necessitates discarding another card, which could potentially set you back, especially if your hand is already running thin. This cost requires careful hand management and strategy, as it could lead to a disadvantageous position if you’re forced to discard a pivotal card.

Specific Mana Cost: Evangelize’s mana cost is not only specific but also somewhat demanding with its requirement of white mana. This particular cost can restrict deck building as it necessitates a white mana base, potentially excluding it from a vast array of decks that don’t operate within the white mana spectrum or multicolored decks that can’t reliably produce white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end of the spectrum, Evangelize might be considered inefficient compared to other cards with similar effects. Players may find that by the time they have sufficient mana to cast Evangelize, the tempo of the game could have shifted significantly, detracting from the card’s potential impact.


Reasons to Include Evangelize Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Evangelize’s ability to take control of an opponent’s creature gives it a place in various decks, offering both a defensive and an offensive edge irrespective of your strategy.

Combo Potential: In decks that focus on gaining control of opponents’ creatures, Evangelize can seamlessly integrate, aligning with sacrifice or flicker mechanics to exploit its effect.

Meta-Relevance: Given a creature-centric meta, Evangelize could be a game-changer, turning an adversary’s threat into your asset and potentially swinging the game in your favor.


How to Beat

Evangelize is an intriguing spell that stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its potential to change the tide of a game. This white sorcery allows players to take control of an opponent’s creature unless they pay a tribute, which can often lead to a survival dilemma for the creature’s original owner. However, players can turn the tables on Evangelize by strategizing effectively.

One approach to counteract Evangelize’s influence is to prioritize creatures with “hexproof” or “shroud” abilities, thus making them untargetable by such spells. Including instant-speed creature abilities or spells that grant temporary hexproof can also help safeguard your creatures in a pinch. Employing low-cost creatures or those with ‘enter the battlefield’ effects can minimize the potential setback, as losing them might have a lesser impact on your overall strategy.

To sum it up, while Evangelize has the potential to disrupt your battlefield presence in Magic: The Gathering, by adapting your deck to include protective measures and considering creature selection carefully, you can weaken the spell’s effectiveness and maintain control over your creatures. This ensures that the power to evangelize stays where it belongs – in your hands.


Cards like Evangelize

The Evangelize MTG card holds a unique position within the realm of control spells. When we evaluate its capability against similar cards, we must consider the likes of Acquire which, like Evangelize, allows you to gain control of something that belongs to your opponent. However, Acquire focuses on artifacts specifically, while Evangelize’s reach extends to creatures, giving it a broader range of targets.

Another counterpart in this discussion is Preacher. This card shares Evangelize’s theme of taking control of creatures. Despite this similarity, the method is notably different. Preacher requires no upfront investment beyond its casting cost, but its control effect lasts only as long as you’re able to maintain it each turn. Evangelize, with its ‘Convoke’ mechanic, potentially reduces its cost by utilizing the creatures you already have in play, thereby offering a valuable fluidity in resource management. Furthermore, unlike Evangelize, Preacher doesn’t grant permanent control, which can be a game-changer.

Assessing the utility and effectiveness of these spells shows that Evangelize provides a strategic tool for players who seek to turn the tide by making key creatures their own, giving it a significant role in MTG gameplay.

Acquire - MTG Card versions
Preacher - MTG Card versions
Acquire - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Preacher - The Dark (DRK)

Cards similar to Evangelize by color, type and mana cost

Global Ruin - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
March of Souls - MTG Card versions
Purify - MTG Card versions
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need - MTG Card versions
Slash the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Saltblast - MTG Card versions
Three Dreams - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Burial - MTG Card versions
Iona's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Increasing Devotion - MTG Card versions
Defy Death - MTG Card versions
Angelic Edict - MTG Card versions
End Hostilities - MTG Card versions
Fell the Mighty - MTG Card versions
Winds of Rath - MTG Card versions
Planar Outburst - MTG Card versions
Righteous Confluence - MTG Card versions
Wave of Reckoning - MTG Card versions
Fortunate Few - MTG Card versions
Global Ruin - Invasion (INV)
Rout - Commander 2021 (C21)
March of Souls - Planeshift (PLS)
Purify - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Slash the Ranks - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Saltblast - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Three Dreams - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Hallowed Burial - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
Iona's Judgment - Commander Legends (CMR)
Increasing Devotion - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander (ONC)
Defy Death - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Angelic Edict - Jumpstart (JMP)
End Hostilities - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Fell the Mighty - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Winds of Rath - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Planar Outburst - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
Righteous Confluence - Legendary Cube Prize Pack (PZ1)
Wave of Reckoning - Commander 2016 (C16)
Fortunate Few - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Evangelize MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Evangelize and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Evangelize has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-09-25 The target of the spell is a creature the chosen opponent controls. As Evangelize resolves, if the target isn’t a creature controlled by the chosen opponent, Evangelize won’t resolve. If Evangelize’s target is changed (via Shunt, for example), the new target must be a creature controlled by the chosen opponent.
2006-09-25 When you put the spell on the stack, you choose an opponent, then that opponent chooses the target. This is not a choice made on resolution.

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