Angelic Favor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Number	1
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Paolo Parente

Key Takeaways

Enables instant deployment of flying creature tokens for dynamic combat scenarios.
Confers the ability to maximize resources, casting without spending mana.
Offers versatile play options across various deck types and formats.

Text of card

If you control a plains, you may tap an untapped creature you control instead of paying Angelic Favor's mana cost. Play Angelic Favor only during combat. Put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying into play. Remove it from the game at end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Angelic Favor has the unique ability to provide a creature token with flying, often giving the player an upper hand in both defense and offense without losing a card from their hand thanks to its alternative casting cost.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, Angelic Favor can accelerate your game plan by putting a significant creature token into play without spending mana, effectively freeing up resources for other strategic plays on the same turn.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Angelic Favor enables strategic flexibility, allowing players to wait for the perfect moment during combat or the opponent’s turn to surprise their adversary with an unexpected blocker or attacker, potentially turning the tide of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Angelic Favor necessitates discarding a card alongside its other playing costs. This can deplete your hand, making it challenging if you’re already running low on cards or relying on key hand resources for later strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both white mana and additional generic mana, Angelic Favor’s mana cost can be restrictive. This specificity can make it less flexible and potentially difficult to cast in multi-color decks that aren’t primarily white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost that includes one white and three generic mana, Angelic Favor might be considered steep for an effect that grants a fleeting advantage. In deck-building, players often favor cards with lower or more impactful mana investments over a single combat phase benefit.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Angelic Favor slots easily into various decks, enriching strategies that require instant-speed blockers or a surprise offensive play. It’s not just a reactive card, but an enabler for both defense and offense, making it a flexible choice across multiple formats.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with decks that capitalize on creature presence or spells with alternate casting costs. Whether it’s fueling sacrifice mechanics or empowering life gain tactics, its potential to create integral interactions is substantial.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to operate as both a combat trick and a creature generator, Angelic Favor can adapt to shifting metas, providing players with an edge against unsuspecting opponents. Its presence is particularly noted in environments where instant-speed responses are crucial to survival or securing victory.

How to Beat Angelic Favor

Angelic Favor is a unique Instant card with an alternative casting cost, allowing you to tap an untapped creature you control instead of paying its mana cost. When played, it lets you put a 4/4 Angel creature token with flying into play—temporarily boosting your defense or enhancing your attack. Nevertheless, overcoming Angelic Favor is not insurmountable.

Spot removal cards are effective against the Angel token, nullifying the surprise blocker or attacker. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch the token efficiently. Sacrifice effects are also useful; edict effects like Diabolic Edict force the opponent to sacrifice a creature, often neutralizing the impact of Angelic Favor. Counterspells are another avenue, countering Angelic Favor itself, thus preventing the token from ever entering the battlefield. Lastly, board wipes effectively deal with any creatures, including tokens, making strategies like Angelic Favor less viable in the long run.

In essence, while Angelic Favor can be a game-changer in the right situation, several strategies can suppress its effectiveness, maintaining the balance of the match.

Cards like Angelic Favor

Angelic Favor, an instant, allows players to put a white Angel creature token with flying into play by temporarily tapping a creature as an additional cost rather than paying its mana cost. This impromptu blocker can be a game-changer during an opponent’s assault. It’s worth looking at others within the realm of instant-speed creature token generation to understand its value. Cards like Raise the Alarm come to mind, offering immediate presence on the battlefield with two creature tokens for a mere two mana.

On another note, Secure the Wastes stands as a stout counterpart, bearing the flexibility to create any number of Warrior tokens in line with the mana invested at instant speed. While these tokens may not carry the evasion or size that Angelic Favor’s celestial avatars possess, their sheer numbers can be more influential during late-game scenarios. Lastly, Decree of Justice serves a dual role; it can summon soldier tokens and cycle to draw a card, providing versatility but at a higher cost.

Angelic Favor reflects a unique position with its alternative cost and the impact of a substantial flying token. Its utility in surprise defense or an offensive strategy often cements its standing among instant token generators in the game.

Cards similar to Angelic Favor by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angelic Favor MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Angelic Favor and other MTG cards: