Promise of Power MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Entwine

Key Takeaways

  1. Promise of Power enables massive card draw, potentially shifting game dynamics greatly in your favor.
  2. Entwine cost offers two advantages; draw cards and simultaneously summon a potentially game-winning demon.
  3. Despite its power, the steep mana cost and color specificity can limit the card’s use in diverse decks.

Text of card

Choose one You draw five cards and you lose 5 life; or put a black Demon creature token with flying into play with power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand as the token comes into play. Entwine (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Promise of Power grants you a significant boost by allowing you to draw five cards, which can be pivotal in gaining the upper hand and outpacing your opponent with a larger selection of plays at your disposal.

Resource Acceleration: With the entwine cost, Promise of Power not only supplies a wealth of new cards but also creates a demon creature token whose power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand, potentially speeding up your offensive strategy drastically.

Instant Speed: While not instant speed, the flexibility of Promise of Power lies in its sorcery speed which encourages strategic planning for a powerful turn, enabling you to use your resources wisely to change the course of the game during your phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the power of Promise of Power demands a toll – the card insists on you discarding a number of cards equal to the number of creatures you wish to summon. This trade-off can be harsh, especially when your hand is filled with vital options, and parting with them might hinder your plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s demand for a specific blend of mana—predominantly black—can prove restrictive. Players employing a multi-color deck may find the mana requirement challenging to meet, thus limiting the card’s versatility across varied deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the allure of the abilities offered by Promise of Power is undeniable, its mana cost is a formidable barrier. Five mana to unveil its potential places it at a higher threshold compared to other cards in your arsenal that could provide similar benefits with less strain on your mana pool.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Promise of Power is a dynamic force, capable of seamlessly integrating into various deck builds, its utility shining in control or black-focused strategies with its dual abilities. As a multi-faceted card, it provides card draw or creature creation, based on immediate needs.

Combo Potential: For enthusiasts keen on intricate play sequences, this card’s Demon token generation synergizes with strategies that capitalize on high-powered creatures or sacrifice mechanics. Its Entwine feature also allows for complex interactions, offering both a sizable creature and card advantage in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that rewards flexibility and significant single-turn impacts, Promise of Power holds its ground. It can sway the tide of battle in a player’s favor by offering a substantial swing in resources, whether by bolstering hand size or presenting a daunting creature on the board.


How to beat

The Promise of Power card brings a multi-dimensional strategy to the Magic the Gathering battlefield, allowing a player to draw five cards or create a Demon creature token with power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in their hand. This flexibility makes it a powerhouse in both creature-based and control decks.

To surpass the advantage it provides, it’s crucial for opponents to disrupt the user’s hand size, either by forcing discards or applying card-specific removals to keep the Demon’s strength at bay. Spot removals like Swords to Plowshares or a board sweep with Wrath of God can effectively neutralize the demon before it becomes a formidable threat.

Moreover, countering the spell entirely with a Blue spell like Counterspell or by using hand-disruption techniques can keep the user from gaining the upper hand. Discard-focused cards like Thoughtseize can preemptively remove Promise of Power from an opponent’s grip, dealing with the threat before it can be actualized on the field. By adopting these strategies, players can contain and overcome the potential tide-turning effects of Promise of Power.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the complex layers of MTG play is essential, and cards like Promise of Power are pivotal in crafting strategy. Delving into its pros and cons, we’ve dissected its potent draw capabilities and demon token generation, lining it up against contending cards. To truly harness its strength in your deck, consider the broader MTG landscape and how it intersects with the current meta. If Promise of Power intrigues you, extend your expertise by exploring its applications and synergies within various deck archetypes. Your MTG journey is only as deep as your knowledge—advance with us and discover how Promise of Power can command your next victory.


Cards like Promise of Power

Promise of Power is an intriguing option among card advantage tools in MTG. This interesting spell can be likened to other impactful cards like Moonlight Bargain. Both allow players to draw a significant number of cards, with Moonlight Bargain presenting a choice at instant speed, albeit at a potentially higher life cost. Unlike Moonlight Bargain, Promise of Power offers versatility, with an alternative mode that creates a Demon token whose power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your hand.

Comparatively, Read the Bones is another card that digs deep into the deck, providing scrying in addition to drawing cards for fewer mana. It doesn’t give the same level of flexibility or the potential creature generation that Promise of Power brings to the table. Painful Truths enters the fray as well, offering a scalable draw based on the number of colors of mana used to cast it, which allows for tailored use in multicolored decks.

Scrutinizing Promise of Power alongside its counterparts highlights its dual nature, being both a source of card advantage and a creator of board presence, setting it apart in decks that can leverage both aspects effectively.

Moonlight Bargain - MTG Card versions
Read the Bones - MTG Card versions
Painful Truths - MTG Card versions
Moonlight Bargain - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Read the Bones - Theros (THS)
Painful Truths - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)

Cards similar to Promise of Power by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Fugue - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - Mirage (MIR)
Soul Shred - Portal (POR)
Living Death - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Beacon of Unrest - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Final Punishment - Scourge (SCG)
Soul Feast - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Patriarch's Bidding - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Aether Snap - Commander 2014 (C14)
Dance of Shadows - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Brainspoil - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Sever Soul - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Head Games - Tenth Edition (10E)
Rise from the Grave - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
Incremental Blight - Archenemy (ARC)
Dakmor Plague - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Spread the Sickness - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Monomania - Magic 2012 (M12)
Diabolic Revelation - Magic 2013 (M13)
Crux of Fate - Commander 2017 (C17)
Fugue - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Promise of Power MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic, 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 Promise of Power and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Promise of Power Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 742003normalblackKev Walker
22009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 542003normalblackKev Walker
32014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1572015normalblackKev Walker
42014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 542015normalblackKev Walker
52020-09-26The ListPLST DDC-542003normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Promise of Power has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 The power/toughness of the token is set when this spell resolves.
2004-12-01 If you pay the entwine cost, you draw five cards, then lose five life, then put the Demon token onto the battlefield. The five cards you draw count toward the Demon’s power and toughness.
2004-12-01 The power and toughness of the Demon token are set when Promise of Power resolves. They’re unaffected if the number of cards in your hand changes later.

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