I like how it's called Stave Off and he's holding a stave. There need to be more archaic English puns in MTG.
Posted By:
Vedalken_Arbiter
(9/19/2011 9:51:17 AM)
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 Shield... (see all)
Posted By:
mutantman
(7/13/2011 12:41:23 AM)
Secret tech for white against Deceiver Exarch/Splinter Twin combo
Posted By:
SCJ
(8/4/2011 12:41:11 AM)
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.
Posted By:
JaxsonBateman
(7/10/2011 8:55:33 AM)
@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.
Posted By:
dQw4w9WgXcQ
(7/7/2011 6:54:53 PM)
Stave it off! 1, 2, 3! And now you can count to three!
Posted By:
TheVizier
(11/14/2011 6:03:56 PM)
Kills Phantasmal Image, seems alright.
Posted By:
TheGoodDoctor20
(12/18/2011 1:03:06 AM)
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 .
Posted By:
zkmaddison
(9/2/2011 8:57:37 PM)
Pretty much obsoleted by Faith's Shield.
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.
Posted By:
TrueKitsonga
(2/4/2012 9:24:52 AM)
@ Nayban
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.
On... (see all)
Posted By:
ICEFANG13
(9/13/2011 12:25:08 PM)