Predatory Focus MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2006-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Guildpact
Set code	GPT
Number	92
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

The card amplifies damage potential bypassing blockers, pivotal for gaining card advantage through combat.
Instant speed playability grants significant combat surprise, tipping scales mid-battle or end-turn.
Can be resource-intensive with specific mana cost, potentially narrowing deck-building options.

Text of card

You may have creatures you control deal their combat damage to defending player this turn as though they weren't blocked.

Instinct blood-tinted his world until he could see only one thing clearly: his prey.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the hands of a savvy player, Predatory Focus can pave the way to gaining card advantage by allowing unblocked creatures to deal damage, potentially leading to drawing cards or triggering beneficial effects.

Resource Acceleration: Even though Predatory Focus by itself does not directly produce resources, it can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by dealing damage to your opponent and activating abilities of creatures or other cards that add mana to your resource pool.

Instant Speed: Being able to cast Predatory Focus at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, letting you surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn, maximizing the potential damage output and maintaining momentum in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Predatory Focus necessitates discarding a card to activate its full potentialwhich could put you at a disadvantage when your hand is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost demands a precise combination of green mana, which might limit its inclusion only to decks that heavily rely on green mana sources. This requirement can hinder deck-building flexibility for multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that sits on the higher end of the spectrum for its effects, there are alternatives in the game that may provide similar benefits for less, thus making Predatory Focus less economical in fast-paced matches.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Predatory Focus offers a unique approach to direct damage, bypassing traditional defensive lines and enabling attacks to connect regardless of creature size or effects on the field.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that emphasize on creature-based aggression, pairing exceptionally well with abilities that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where blocking creatures are a common obstacle, Predatory Focus can serve as a key component in overcoming board stalls and securing victories.

How to beat

Predatory Focus is a unique card in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering. This green sorcery allows creatures you control to deal combat damage to a player as though they weren’t blocked. This ability can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when facing an opponent with a wide board of creatures. The key to overcoming Predatory Focus lies in strategic planning and control.

To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to manage the battlefield by limiting the number of creatures your opponent can accumulate. Utilize removal spells to clear their creatures before Predatory Focus can be a factor. Cards that alter combat rules or remove attacking creatures from combat are ideal, as they invalidate Predatory Focus’s effect. Additionally, effects that restrict the number or type of creatures that can attack each turn can also be an asset in keeping this card’s impact minimal.

Remember that Predatory Focus is non-interactive on the stack, so countering it before it resolves is also a solid approach. Counter spells are a direct line of defense against it. Tailor your deck with these strategies in mind, and turning the tables on Predatory Focus becomes a manageable challenge.

Cards like Predatory Focus

Predatory Focus is a unique addition to the green cards that enable direct damage to an opponent in Magic: The Gathering. Its comparison begins with cards such as Overrun, which also grants creatures you control the ability to trample over defenses, but doesn’t possess Predatory Focus’s ability to allow creatures to deal damage to an opponent without being blocked. This distinctive edge can be a game-changer in situations where an opponent has a formidable wall of creatures.

Looking at cards like Triumph of the Hordes, we note a similar strategy of attacking without obstruction, but with an added layer of infect. This can quickly close out a game if an opponent is unprepared, but it requires careful deck building to maximize its potential. Although Triumph of the Hordes can be a swift avenue to victory, Predatory Focus is more straightforward and doesn’t rely on synergies to be effective.

Ultimately, Predatory Focus stands strong within its niche, offering a straightforward and powerful option for players aiming to bypass blockers and directly damage opponents. It’s an invaluable card, especially when facing decks that heavily rely on creature defenses.

Triumph of the Hordes - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Predatory Focus by color, type and mana cost

Overwhelming Stampede - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predatory Focus MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact, 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 Predatory Focus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Predatory Focus has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-04-01	Will even apply to creatures that entered the battlefield after it resolved (which obviously must have Haste in order to attack).
2008-04-01	If a creature is attacking a planeswalker, assigning its damage as though it weren’t blocked means the damage is assigned to the planeswalker, not to the defending player.
2008-04-01	When Predatory Focus resolves, you choose whether to use its effect or not. If you choose to use it, all your creatures will deal their combat damage to the planeswalker or defending player this turn whether or not they become blocked. You can’t have any of them deal combat damage to creatures that block them. If you choose not to use its effect, nothing happens.