Borrowed Grace MTG Card


Borrowed Grace can instantly turn a tight game around by powering up your creatures en masse. Flexibility at instant speed allows surprising shifts in combat dynamics, challenging opponents. Though powerful, the specific mana cost and card’s non-permanence require strategic play.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Escalate

Text of card

Escalate (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.) Choose one or both — • Creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn. • Creatures you control get +0/+2 until end of turn.


Cards like Borrowed Grace

In the dynamic world of Magic: The Gathering, Borrowed Grace stands as a versatile card known for its dual-mode boost. This unique feature brings to mind other cards like Rally the Peasants, which also offers an increase in power and toughness with a flashback ability, giving it a second life from the graveyard. Rally the Peasants can turn the tides of combat, similar to Borrowed Grace’s potential impact on the battlefield.

Comparatively, Make a Stand also offers a boost in stats, but goes a step further by granting indestructible until end of turn, adding a layer of protection to the creatures you control. However, this protection comes at the cost of one more mana than Borrowed Grace, which may affect how soon you can swing the momentum in your favor during a match.

While examining cards with similar effects, Charge stands out for its simplicity and lower mana cost. Although it buffs only for the turn it’s played with no additional modes, it can be the surprise play that secures a win. Borrowed Grace interestingly blends flexibility and power spread, positioning it as a card that can decisively strengthen your creatures when timing and mana efficiency are critical.

Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Charge - MTG Card versions
Rally the Peasants - MTG Card versions
Make a Stand - MTG Card versions
Charge - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Borrowed Grace by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Morale - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Morale - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Borrowed Grace is a versatile card that can give you the upper hand by enhancing your entire team. When played strategically, it can turn a close match into a decisive victory, especially when you’re aiming for a wide board state.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, the potential for a swift victory with its buff can reduce the need for further resources as you close out the game more rapidly.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed provides flexibility to surprise your opponents during combat. This can lead to favorable trades or unexpected wins, putting your adversaries on the back foot and shifting the tide of battle in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Interacting with Borrowed Grace requires a careful strategy as it doesn’t mandate a card to be discarded. However, the absence of this can lead to less control over your hand and game flow, potentially leaving you without essential options later.

Specific Mana Cost: Borrowed Grace asks for a particular blend of mana, one white and two of any type. This can be a mild obstacle for players running multiple colors in their decks who may not always have the right mana available when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the temporary boost it offers, Borrowed Grace comes with a mana cost that might be considered steep. When alternatives could potentially provide longer-lasting effects or greater board presence, its cost-effectiveness comes into question for deck builders.


Reasons to Include Borrowed Grace in Your Collection

Versatility: Borrowed Grace is playable in a range of decks that aim to capitalize on creature strategies. Whether you’re boosting a small team to swing for lethal or protecting your creatures from unfavorable trades, its modal nature allows for flexible gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that focus on creature synergy. The instant speed of Borrowed Grace means you can unexpectedly tip combat in your favor or even combo with cards that track the number of creatures you control, to amass an overwhelming advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based aggro or go-wide strategies are prevalent, Borrowed Grace can provide the crucial advantage needed to outpace opponents. Its ability to either increase your creatures’ strength or resilience fits into the current aggressive metagame where board presence often leads to victory.


How to beat

Borrowed Grace is a versatile instant card that can quickly turn the tide of a match in Magic: The Gathering. This white instant provides a dual buff option, either granting +2/+0 to your creatures to bolster their power or +0/+2 to reinforce their toughness, making them more resilient against combat damage. This can be a game-changer during a battle, as it can surprise an opponent during combat, potentially swinging the match in the caster’s favor.

When facing Borrowed Grace, your strategy should be one of anticipation and mitigation. It’s crucial to play around this card by keeping track of available mana and the opponent’s untapped lands, as this could signal the potential casting of such combat tricks. Having counterspells ready or instant-speed removal can nullify the advantage provided by Borrowed Grace, maintaining the balance of power. Additionally, it’s wise not to over-commit during attacks or blocks, bearing in mind that Borrowed Grace can be played after attackers and blockers are declared, potentially thwarting well-laid plans.

Being prepared for the sudden shift in creature stats will not only help maintain control of the battlefield but also position you to outmaneuver your opponent despite their use of combat tricks like Borrowed Grace.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Borrowed Grace MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Mystery Booster, 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 Borrowed Grace and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Borrowed Grace Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 142015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 402015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32020-09-26The ListPLST EMN-142015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 152015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Borrowed Grace has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-07-13 Additional costs don’t affect a spell’s mana value.
2016-07-13 Effects that reduce the cost of spells reduce the total cost, including any escalate costs added.
2016-07-13 If an effect allows you to cast a spell that has escalate without paying its mana cost, you pay escalate costs for that spell if you choose more than one mode.
2016-07-13 If one target of an escalate spell becomes illegal, the other targets will still be affected. If all of the targets become illegal, the spell won’t resolve.
2016-07-13 If two of the chosen modes of an escalate spell target a creature, you may choose the same creature for each mode’s target, or choose different creatures. The same is true if the chosen modes target a player (or opponent).
2016-07-13 You can’t choose any one mode multiple times.
2016-07-13 You choose all of your modes at once. You can’t wait to perform one mode’s actions and then decide to choose more modes.