Almost strictly worse than apostles blessing, and that went around like 11th pick in drafts... so why print this?
dQw4w9WgXcQ
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
@WallBeatdown
Because you can play this on their creature to counter any buffs they target it with, naturally...
Only time will tell if that'll actually be relevant though.
Elleran
★★☆☆☆ (2.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Emerge Unscathed is almost always better, unless of course, you use this to counter a buff that is targeted on the opponent's creature.
JaxsonBateman
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Not a bad card; the problem with it though is that it requires your opponent running certain cards to ensure you don't get card disadvantage (that is, using Stave Off in response to a Doom Blade or something). Even without Doom Blade it could be used as a combat trick to kill an attacker/blocker, but of course if they were to use something like Doom Blade in response then they've given themselves card advantage.
At the time of posting this the card's rated about 3.1, and that seems fairly accurate.
mutantman
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Unlike other recent versions of this effect like Apostle's Blessing, Brave the Elements, and Emerge Unscathed, this incarnation of the protection-granting white instant can target your opponent's creatures to remove buffs and so on. That's a cool function that I like having on the card, and definitely relevant in a limited format with a mild aura subtheme. I think it's a good choice for the card.
On the other hand, it seems at odds with the flavor and concept here. With this spell, the creature itself is acting to dispel whatever magic is being used against it; however, with the ability to target your opponent's creatures, this makes less sense. Are you mind-controlling them somehow to make them Stave Off their own allies' spells? That's strange, isn't it?
I think that assuming this is going to be able to target anybody's creatures, the flavor would be stronger if this were more like a magical shield like Shieldmate's Blessing or glowy-aura-type-thing like Indestructible Aura rather than an action; that way, it would be more intuitive that you'd be able to induce it on an opponent's creature.
@WallBeatdown, you've probably noticed that some effects like Giant Growth, Shock, Boomerang, Doom Blade, Act of Treason, Pacifism, Blaze, Naturalize, and so on are given new variations in every new block utilizing that set's new mechanics. New Phyrexia had Apostle's Blessing as a variant of this effect; M12 wanted a similar card, so the designers chose to give the Core Set a bare-bones, basic version of the effect. It would be odd to see a Phyrexian mana card in M12, wouldn't it?
Askthespartan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm surprised that we needed reminder text instead of flavor text. Then again, it is a core set.
SoulShatterer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It can save you in the late game since it can toss a wrench in otherwise game-winning combinations, but still somewhat worse than Brave the Elements, which is more offensive than defensive, so I'll let it slide.
Seems sorta underrated in my opinion, because playing against this can be a beast simply because of its versatility. Stops removal, can be used against mono decks for unblockability and a multitude of other combat tricks, and can remove enchantments or make you unable to target your own stuff. It's hard to see that many options in one card especially for just W. It basically counters any targeting spell except a creature spell, and more. I give it a 4.5.
Nayban
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.6/5.0)(5 votes)
One mana to keep a key card when I play Day of Judgment.. Not bad.
zkmaddison
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
This card saved my life in a draft tonight. My opponent had me down to one life and tapped Goblin Tunneler to make another 1/1 creature un-blockable, in-resposne I cast Stave Off and protect that creature from red .
It destroys the creature, not the same as dealing damage, and it doesn't target it, it doesn't work with Stave Off at all.
Damage, when you deal damage, as indicated by the phrase "deal 'X' damage" you place damage counters on a creature, if these counters would be greater than the toughness of the creature, the creature is destroyed, damage actually doesn't modify toughness (otherwise you could kill a Spearbreaker Behemoth with 2 Lightning Bolts). Creatures with protection negate those damage counters being placed on it.
Only cards that say "Enchant" or "Equip" since all of those cards require targeting before they enchant or equip, this part of protection is only for a creature that is enchanted/equipped and gains protection, or in the rare cases the aura or equipment changes colors.
Blocking can only be done by a creature, there are a few spells that make creatures become 'blocked', if the spell doesn't target, and doesn't make a token to block it (it just says its "blocked") then its still blocked, even if the creature had protection from the color of the spell, this is because protection from white only stops a white creature being declared as a blocker.
Targeting is very easy to find, does it say "Target"? No? THEN ITS NOT TARGETING!
Vedalken_Arbiter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I like how it's called Stave Off and he's holding a stave. There need to be more archaic English puns in MTG.
TheVizier
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Stave it off! 1, 2, 3! And now you can count to three!
Except those cases when you use it on an opponent's creature, and that happens more often than you'd think. So not "strictly worse" by any means.
koopashell
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Your opponent decided to buff up their creature with a bunch of similarly colored enchantments? No problem! Now that it has protection from that color, the enchantments are destroyed! 3.5/5
BobbertZhubert
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
People can't see the possibilites with this.
Stave Off
Instant Choose one - Counter target spell or ability that targets a creature of your or an opponent controls; or target creature you control cannot be blocked by creatures of the color of your choice until end of turn.
Comments (18)
Because you can play this on their creature to counter any buffs they target it with, naturally...
Only time will tell if that'll actually be relevant though.
At the time of posting this the card's rated about 3.1, and that seems fairly accurate.
On the other hand, it seems at odds with the flavor and concept here. With this spell, the creature itself is acting to dispel whatever magic is being used against it; however, with the ability to target your opponent's creatures, this makes less sense. Are you mind-controlling them somehow to make them Stave Off their own allies' spells? That's strange, isn't it?
I think that assuming this is going to be able to target anybody's creatures, the flavor would be stronger if this were more like a magical shield like Shieldmate's Blessing or glowy-aura-type-thing like Indestructible Aura rather than an action; that way, it would be more intuitive that you'd be able to induce it on an opponent's creature.
@WallBeatdown, you've probably noticed that some effects like Giant Growth, Shock, Boomerang, Doom Blade, Act of Treason, Pacifism, Blaze, Naturalize, and so on are given new variations in every new block utilizing that set's new mechanics. New Phyrexia had Apostle's Blessing as a variant of this effect; M12 wanted a similar card, so the designers chose to give the Core Set a bare-bones, basic version of the effect. It would be odd to see a Phyrexian mana card in M12, wouldn't it?
Stave Off doesn't interact with Day of Judgment.
I can't believe how many people make that mistake, it even says right below Stave Off that is doesn't work that way.
Does Day of Judgment deal Damage?
No
Does Day of Judgment Enchant or Equip?
No
Does Day of Judgment Block?
No
Does Day of Judgment Target?
No
It destroys the creature, not the same as dealing damage, and it doesn't target it, it doesn't work with Stave Off at all.
Damage, when you deal damage, as indicated by the phrase "deal 'X' damage" you place damage counters on a creature, if these counters would be greater than the toughness of the creature, the creature is destroyed, damage actually doesn't modify toughness (otherwise you could kill a Spearbreaker Behemoth with 2 Lightning Bolts). Creatures with protection negate those damage counters being placed on it.
Only cards that say "Enchant" or "Equip" since all of those cards require targeting before they enchant or equip, this part of protection is only for a creature that is enchanted/equipped and gains protection, or in the rare cases the aura or equipment changes colors.
Blocking can only be done by a creature, there are a few spells that make creatures become 'blocked', if the spell doesn't target, and doesn't make a token to block it (it just says its "blocked") then its still blocked, even if the creature had protection from the color of the spell, this is because protection from white only stops a white creature being declared as a blocker.
Targeting is very easy to find, does it say "Target"? No? THEN ITS NOT TARGETING!
Except those cases when you use it on an opponent's creature, and that happens more often than you'd think. So not "strictly worse" by any means.
Stave Off
Instant
Choose one - Counter target spell or ability that targets a creature of your or an opponent controls; or target creature you control cannot be blocked by creatures of the color of your choice until end of turn.
Pretty sick card.