Pursuit of Flight MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Number	102
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Card advantage through Pursuit of Flight’s threat elevation forces opponents to use removal spells on enchanted creatures.
Paying mana to give flying at instant speed offers combat flexibility, enhancing strategic depth in games.
While advantageous, potential clunkiness and specific mana requirements can limit Pursuit of Flight’s deck versatility.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has ": This creature gains flying until end of turn."

"Watch the voltage. We don't need another charred, crashing viashino." —Bori Andon, Izzet blastseeker

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pursuit of Flight gives a unique twist to card advantage. While it doesn’t draw cards directly, it empowers a singular creature, converting it into a potential threat that must be answered. This can indirectly translate to card advantage as it can force an opponent to use their removal spells on the enchanted creature.

Resource Acceleration: Though Pursuit of Flight is not a resource acceleration card in the traditional sense of providing extra mana, it does accelerate the pace of the game by increasing the speed and power of a creature. This can put opponents on a faster clock, thereby pressuring their resources and decision-making.

Instant Speed: Although Pursuit of Flight itself is an enchantment that needs to be played at sorcery speed, the option it provides to pay mana and give a creature flying until end of turn can be activated at instant speed. This gives you flexibility in combat, allowing you to surprise your opponents by making a creature a flyer when they least expect it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pursuit of Flight requires holding onto it until the right moment, potentially causing a clunky hand if immediate board presence is necessary.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes blue mana, it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks or those with a heavier focus on other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effect, giving a creature flying and a possible power boost, the mana investment may overshadow other more impactful spells you could cast with such resources.

Reasons to Include Pursuit of Flight in Your Collection

Versatility: Pursuit of Flight is a flexible enchantment that can be a game-changer for both aggressive and tempo-based blue and red decks. Its ability to give a creature a flying ability can turn any ground skirmisher into an aerial threat.

Combo Potential: Its second ability to give +2/+2 to a creature for one red mana showcases its combo potential. Imagine pairing it with creatures that benefit from either powering up quickly or changing combat dynamics unexpectedly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans heavily on ground forces, Pursuit of Flight can offer a definitive advantage by allowing your creatures to soar over blockers. Especially useful in limited formats where evasion can be the key to victory.

How to beat Pursuit of Flight

Pursuit of Flight is a unique enchantment that grants the power of flight to your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This blue and red aura allows you to pay two mana to give a creature flying until the end of turn. This ability, while potent, can become a double-edged sword if anticipated and countered correctly.

To invalidate this enhancement’s benefits, removal spells that target enchantments prove to be particularly effective. Naturalize or Disenchant, for instance, can swiftly dispose of Pursuit of Flight, rendering the opponent’s mana investment and strategic setup moot. Additionally, creatures with reach or cards that can grant reach temporarily serve as effective deterrents, blocking the newly airborne threats without much fuss.

Ultimately, understanding the significance of timing in disrupting your opponent’s strategies is key to overcoming Pursuit of Flight. Employing instant speed interaction to remove the enchantment, or to block or kill the enchanted creature mid-combat can drastically shift the momentum in your favor, keeping you one step ahead in the aerial arms race of the game.

Cards like Pursuit of Flight

Pursuit of Flight is an intriguing enchantment in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of aerial agility and power to creatures. This card draws parallels to other enchantments like Ghostform, granting unblockability. Yet, Pursuit of Flight provides the additional benefit of potentially increasing a creature’s power, with its “+2/+2 and flying” advantage given to red creatures for activated mana.

Comparable in functionality, we have Leap, which for a single blue mana gives a creature flying until end of turn and allows a player to draw a card. While Leap doesn’t permanently empower creatures like Pursuit of Flight, the card advantage it presents can be pivotal. Another card, Dragon Wings, gives a recurring flying effect whenever a creature with a certain power threshold enters the battlefield under your control, although it doesn’t offer the power boost that Pursuit of Flight does.

Each of these enchantments shines differently based on strategic approach. If your deck thrives on temporary evasive tactics with a card-draw perk, Leap may be preferable. However, Pursuit of Flight stands out for decks that capitalize on sustained power increases and long-term evasion. The tactical depth these enhancements bring to gameplay illustrates the diversity and potential within the enchantment category of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Pursuit of Flight by color, type and mana cost

Invasion of the Giants - MTG Card versions

Firemind's Research - Guilds of Ravnica Promos (PGRN)

Improbable Alliance - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Mischievous Chimera - Theros Beyond Death (THB)

A-Sorcerer Class - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)

Sorcerer Class - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pursuit of Flight MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Pursuit of Flight and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pursuit of Flight has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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