Rise to the Challenge MTG Card


Rise to the Challenge - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Number107
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAnthony Palumbo

Key Takeaways

  1. Rise to the Challenge offers card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed adaptability, crucial for outplaying opponents.
  2. Drawbacks include a discard requirement, specific mana cost, and a high cast compared to its in-game impact.
  3. Its versatility, combo potential, and meta relevance make Rise to the Challenge a valuable addition to your MTG collection.

Text of card

Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.

Plidius wagered that Arissa couldn't kill a chimera with her javelins alone. She proved him wrong in a way everyone could see for days to come.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rise to the Challenge grants the option to potentially pull a vital creature card straight into your hand. This level of selection can be pivotal in outmaneuvering your opponent, swinging the tide by curating your draw.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing the placement of additional lands onto the battlefield, this card can swiftly bolster your resource pool. An amplified mana curve sets the stage for unleashing more significant spells or deploying game-changing creatures ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of playing Rise to the Challenge at instant speed provides a crucial adaptability. It gives you the upper hand, letting you respond to threats or optimize the timing of your plays, ensuring you can rise to any challenge your opponent presents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in combat within the magical realms of MTG often hinges on resource management. Rise to the Challenge demands a sacrifice, requiring you to discard a card to unleash its potential. This cost puts you at the risk of depleting your hand, particularly detrimental if you’re caught in the late game with few cards at your disposal.

Specific Mana Cost: Mana diversity constructs the backbone of a formidable deck, yet Rise to the Challenge binds you to a specific mana color. Its red mana requirement might confine it to a deck that complements this hue, thus restricting its versatility across the myriad of deck types that seasoned players wield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Strategy is key in the world of MTG. Cards that consume a large portion of your mana pool can be a setback, especially if their impact does not turn the tides of battle in your favor. Rise to the Challenge comes with a mana cost that some may consider steep relative to the benefits it offers, potentially making it a less attractive choice when lighter, more impactful spells are available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rise to the Challenge fits seamlessly into a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to buff creatures not only acts as a combat trick to surprise opponents but can also be used defensively, making it a multifaceted tool for any player.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in strategies that capitalize on increased power or utilize heroic triggers. Additionally, it can be a cost-effective means to empower creatures with abilities that activate when they deal damage.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that emphasizes creature-based combat, Rise to the Challenge can swing battles in your favor. Its utility in both aggressive and control decks makes it a card worth holding on to as the meta shifts.


How to beat

Rise to the Challenge is a striking card that tests players’ tactical acumen in Magic: The Gathering. This card prompts a trial of strength and strategy, offering a boost to a creature’s power and toughness during combat. When facing this card, keep in mind the importance of instant speed removal spells. Having removal options like Doom Blade, Path to Exile, or Abrade allows a player to react swiftly, nullifying the card’s effect by eliminating the targeted creature before it benefits from the stat increase.

Additionally, countering this card outright with spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be efficient. This preserves your board state and denies your opponent the combat advantage they seek. It’s also beneficial to manage your opponent’s creatures before they become too large to handle. If you limit the number of creatures they have, the impact of Rise to the Challenge diminishes significantly. Keep these tactics in mind, and you’ll capably circumvent the hurdles this card presents.

Understanding when and how to disrupt your opponent’s plays is critical in staying ahead. By having the right counters at the ready, you can ensure that Rise to the Challenge doesn’t tip the scales against you.


Cards like Rise to the Challenge

Rise to the Challenge is an intriguing option among combat trick cards in MTG that cater to players looking to gain a sudden edge in battle. Taking a look at its relatives, Titan’s Strength stands out with its ability to give a creature a quick boost in power while also providing the advantage of scrying, enhancing the player’s next draw. Despite this, Titan’s Strength gives no toughness increase, unlike Rise to the Challenge.

Brute Strength is another card that echoes the power-boosting effect with its additional trample ability, aiding creatures in dealing excess damage to opponents. It briefly boosts a creature’s power at a lower cost, but it does not grant first strike, which can be a crucial tactical advantage in combat that Rise to the Challenge offers. Similarly, Invigorated Rampage provides a significant boost but it distributes power across multiple creatures and lacks the first strike mechanic that can be pivotal in battle.

Ultimately, Rise to the Challenge holds its ground with its unique blend of power enhancement and combat control through first strike, thus establishing its presence in MTG as a competitive choice for players seeking to outmaneuver their opponents during combat phases.

Titan's Strength - MTG Card versions
Brute Strength - MTG Card versions
Invigorated Rampage - MTG Card versions
Titan's Strength - Theros (THS)
Brute Strength - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Invigorated Rampage - Aether Revolt (AER)

Cards similar to Rise to the Challenge by color, type and mana cost

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Blazing Shoal - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Sudden Shock - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions
Shatter - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Blasting - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Incinerate - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Guerrilla Tactics - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Aleatory - Mirage (MIR)
Orcish Catapult - Astral Cards (PAST)
Blood Frenzy - Tempest (TMP)
Fling - Magic 2012 (M12)
Falter - Urza's Saga (USG)
Shattering Pulse - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Flowstone Strike - Nemesis (NEM)
Shrapnel Blast - Mirrodin (MRD)
Glacial Ray - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Starstorm - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
First Volley - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Blazing Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Surging Flame - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)
Psychotic Fury - Dissension (DIS)
Sudden Shock - Time Spiral (TSP)
Fists of the Anvil - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rise to the Challenge MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Rise to the Challenge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rise to the Challenge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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