Tenacity MTG Card


Tenacity - Shadows over Innistrad
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2016-04-08
Set symbol
Set nameShadows over Innistrad
Set codeSOI
Number42
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

  1. Tenacity provides life gain and power enhancement at instant speed, influencing combat significantly.
  2. The card has downsides, like a specific mana cost and the potential card disadvantage.
  3. Despite its cons, Tenacity’s combat effects make it a valuable asset in the right decks.

Text of card

Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain lifelink until end of turn. Untap those creatures.

Thalia established the Order of Saint Traft in an effort to bring together cathars who would stand against the corruption of the Lunarch Council.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tenacity shines in offering card advantage by allowing a lifelink boost to your creatures. Gaining life equal to their power can quickly turn the tables and provide you with a significant edge.

Resource Acceleration: The card provides an indirect form of resource acceleration by bolstering your life total, which in turn gives you more room to maneuver and utilize your life as a resource without compromising your board position.

Instant Speed: Tenacity’s instant speed functionality grants you the flexibility to respond to threats or capitalize on unblocked attackers during combat. This unexpected timing can catch opponents off-guard and alter combat outcomes drastically in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Tenacity demands discarding a card from your hand, which might put you at a disadvantage if your options are already dwindled.

Specific Mana Cost: Tenacity’s mana cost not only involves generic mana but also a white mana commitment, potentially restricting its use to decks that are heavy on white or that can support a white mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana value often regarded as steep for its immediate impact, other options might provide similar effects for less investment, optimizing your mana efficiency during the game.


Reasons to Include Tenacity in Your Collection

Versatility: Tenacity is known for its flexible approach to bolstering your creatures during combat, offering a lifesaving boost with both lifelink and a power bump. This makes it a solid choice for decks aimed at turning the tide of a tight match.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to swing games by gaining significant life and overpowering opponents during crucial combat phases, Tenacity can synergize superbly with strategies that thrive on combat tricks or lifegain triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive strategies may dominate, Tenacity provides a perfect answer by keeping your key creatures on the board and maintaining your life total, making it a relevant addition to collections with an eye on the current competitive scene.


How to beat

Tenacity is a card that often catches players off-guard in Magic: The Gathering. It provides an unexpected burst of life and power during combat which can turn the tides of a duel dramatically. To effectively counteract Tenacity, having access to instant-speed removal or damage spells is key. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile can remove a creature before the life gain and power boost take effect.

Alternatively, having counterspells such as Negate ready can stop Tenacity before it becomes a problem. Utilizing these strategies can prevent your opponent from gaining the upper hand in combat and maintaining control over the game’s pace. Also, being mindful of open mana and potential combat tricks can influence decisions of whether to attack or hold back, minimizing the impact Tenacity can have on the game.

Understanding the match-up and recognizing when your opponent might be holding a trick like Tenacity can be as crucial as the spells you play. Always try to have an answer ready, and carefully consider your combat strategies during crucial moments in the game.


Cards like Tenacity

Tenacity is a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, offering players a multifaceted approach to combat scenarios. This card stands out by granting your creatures a significant boost in power and toughness, as well as lifelink—a trait that can dramatically swing life totals. When considering the likes of Inspired Charge, which also gives creatures a +2/+1 advantage, Tenacity’s lifelink addition clearly provides a strategic edge, particularly in games where life gain is pivotal.

Comparatively, Strength of Arms is another card that bears a resemblance in effect, granting one creature +2/+2. While it may be more cost-effective, it lacks the lifelink and does not affect the entire battlefield. Rally the Forces presents yet another alternative, adding to the power of your attacking team and granting first strike. However, Tenacity’s ability to be cast during any combat on your turn affords a level of surprise and protection that is unmatched by Rally’s exclusively attacking phase restriction.

Assessing Tenacity amidst similar cards highlights its versatility and potential to turn the tides during crucial moments. Its combination of team strengthening and life gain not only lends support but can also shift momentum in a player’s favor during tight matches in Magic: The Gathering.

Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Strength of Arms - MTG Card versions
Rally the Forces - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - Magic 2011 (M11)
Strength of Arms - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Rally the Forces - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Tenacity by color, type and mana cost

Rapid Fire - MTG Card versions
Congregate - MTG Card versions
Scour - MTG Card versions
Reverent Mantra - MTG Card versions
Sivvi's Ruse - MTG Card versions
Mirror Strike - MTG Card versions
Surprise Deployment - MTG Card versions
Ray of Distortion - MTG Card versions
Chastise - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Will - MTG Card versions
Semester's End - MTG Card versions
Recuperate - MTG Card versions
Solidarity - MTG Card versions
Altar's Light - MTG Card versions
Abuna's Chant - MTG Card versions
Retaliate - MTG Card versions
Aether Shockwave - MTG Card versions
Return to Dust - MTG Card versions
Divine Verdict - MTG Card versions
Join the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Rapid Fire - Legends (LEG)
Congregate - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Scour - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Reverent Mantra - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Sivvi's Ruse - Nemesis (NEM)
Mirror Strike - Prophecy (PCY)
Surprise Deployment - Planeshift (PLS)
Ray of Distortion - Odyssey (ODY)
Chastise - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Akroma's Will - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Semester's End - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Recuperate - Scourge (SCG)
Solidarity - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Altar's Light - Mirrodin (MRD)
Abuna's Chant - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Retaliate - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Aether Shockwave - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Return to Dust - Doctor Who (WHO)
Divine Verdict - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Join the Ranks - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tenacity MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Tenacity and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tenacity has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-04-08 The set of creatures affected by Tenacity is determined as the spell resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +1/+1 or gain lifelink.
2016-04-08 multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.

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