Hour of Reckoning MTG Card


Hour of Reckoning can change the tide of the game by preserving your tokens while clearing the board. Convoke allows efficient mana use, making it impactful even when mana is scarce. Adapt your deck to counter its potential drawbacks and maximize its sweeping advantage.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Convoke

Text of card

Convoke (Each creature you tap while playing this spell reduces its cost by or by one mana of that creature's color.) Destroy all nontoken creatures.

"Ravnica, like a hedge, must be pruned, leaving only leaves of verdant uniformity." —Niszka, Selesnya evangel


Cards like Hour of Reckoning

Hour of Reckoning makes its mark in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful wrath effect, tailored specifically for token strategies. Like the more widely known board wipe, Wrath of God, Hour of Reckoning’s main purpose is to clear an overcrowded battlefield. While both cards ensure sweeping removal, Hour of Reckoning comes with a unique twist—it spares your token creatures, allowing you to maintain board presence even after resetting the field.

Comparisons can also be drawn with Austere Command, another versatile wipe that offers players the ability to choose which types of creatures to destroy. Though not restricted to tokens, its flexibility can be crucial in late-game scenarios. However, Hour of Reckoning’s lower mana cost and specific token safeguard put it ahead in strategy-specific decks that capitalize on creature tokens for victory.

Furthermore, Phyrexian Rebirth shares a comparable domain, wiping out creatures while providing you with a token whose power and toughness equal the number of creatures destroyed. The convergence of removal and token generation allows for a swift shift in power dynamics on the battlefield. Hour of Reckoning distinguishes itself with its potentially lower casting cost and the strategic advantage of protecting your token army.

Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Rebirth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hour of Reckoning by color, type and mana cost

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Sublime Exhalation - MTG Card versions
Look at Me, I'm the DCI - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Tribute - MTG Card versions
Realm-Cloaked Giant // Cast Off - MTG Card versions
Brilliant Restoration - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Approach of the Second Sun - MTG Card versions
Dimensional Breach - MTG Card versions
Roar of Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Enduring Ideal - MTG Card versions
Sunscour - MTG Card versions
Mass Calcify - MTG Card versions
Devout Invocation - MTG Card versions
Deploy to the Front - MTG Card versions
Profound Journey - MTG Card versions
Providence - MTG Card versions
Sublime Exhalation - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hour of Reckoning provides a significant swing in card advantage by allowing you to destroy all nontoken creatures. This can drastically reduce your opponents’ threats on the board while preserving your token army, putting you ahead in terms of resources.

Resource Acceleration: Through its convoke mechanic, Hour of Reckoning accelerates your resource utilization by enabling you to tap your creatures to help pay for the spell’s cost. This can lead to a more efficient use of your mana and allows for a potentially game-changing board wipe even when you’re low on available mana.

Instant Speed: While Hour of Reckoning is a sorcery, its impact is comparable to what you’d expect from an instant-speed board-clearing effect. It sets the stage for you to make decisive moves during your turn without needing to wait for the perfect moment, giving you the upper hand against opponents who rely heavily on creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hour of Reckoning doesn’t necessitate discarding as a cost, but it’s important to maintain awareness of your hand size when casting big spells, as you might find yourself lower on resources than expected post-resolution.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell requires a commitment to white mana, which may restrict its inclusion in multicolored decks not heavily focused on white. As a result, its utility becomes limited to specific deck archetypes centered around white creatures and tokens.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost involving three white mana plus four of any color, Hour of Reckoning can be a hefty investment, especially considering that in fast-paced games, deploying this spell might not be as efficient as playing several lower-cost alternatives that can affect the board sooner.


Reasons to Include Hour of Reckoning in Your Collection

Versatility: Hour of Reckoning is a powerful sweeper that can clear the board while keeping your token creatures safe. This card shines in decks that prioritize token strategies, allowing you to maintain a board presence while setting opponents back.

Combo Potential: As a tool for clearing opponents’ creatures, this card enables interesting gameplay with decks that capitalize on having a large number of tokens. It works well to secure a position for a lethal attack and can be a lynchpin in strategies that thrive post-wipe.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with creature-based strategies, Hour of Reckoning has a high impact. It scales well depending on the state of the game, making it an essential addition to collections with a focus on meta-gaming and adaptability in varied play environments.


How to beat

Hour of Reckoning presents itself as a formidable board wipe in MTG, specifically targeting creatures without ‘destroy’ effects, which can circumvent indestructible defenses. To get ahead of this card, it’s key to lean into strategies that minimize reliance on creature-heavy boards. Running spells that generate token creatures post-wipe or implementing graveyard recovery capabilities ensures that your board presence is swiftly reestablished.

Increasing the density of non-creature spells in your deck, such as enchantments that create creatures or planeswalkers known for their creature-generating abilities, will dilute the impact of an Hour of Reckoning cast by your opponent. Additionally, consider incorporating counterspells or abilities to protect your assets from this particular sweeper if your deck allows for such dynamics.

Conclusively, overcoming Hour of Reckoning revolves around crafting a deck that resiliently bounces back or reduces the total damage inflicted by such a spell. It may be a challenge, but with the right blend of strategic foresight and tactical execution, this powerful card can be rendered less threatening.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deep into the strategy and adaptability that Hour of Reckoning brings to MTG can transform your gameplay experience. This card is a strategic cornerstone for players wielding token-based decks and those inclined towards tailored board wipes. Understanding its nuanced role in varying meta environments is just the start. If you’re eager to optimize your white-centered or token strategies and outmaneuver opponents with a tailored board presence, let us be your guide. Discover more insights and strategies tailored to maximize your decks’ potential and outplay your opponents with finesse. Enhance your collection and tactical prowess with us today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hour of Reckoning MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Commander 2011, 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 Hour of Reckoning and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hour of Reckoning Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 212003NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 152003NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
32018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 1042015NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
42019-08-23Commander 2019C19 652015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
52020-09-26The ListPLST RAV-212003NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
62021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 872015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
72022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 1872015NormalBlackGames Workshop
82022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 187★2015NormalBlackGames Workshop
92022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1942015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
102023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 752015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
112023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1902015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
122024-03-08FalloutPIP 9782015NormalBlackJason Kang
132024-03-08FalloutPIP 1612015NormalBlackJason Kang
142024-03-08FalloutPIP 6892015NormalBlackJason Kang
152024-03-08FalloutPIP 4502015NormalBlackJason Kang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hour of Reckoning has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-03-19 If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke.
2021-03-19 When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.
2021-03-19 You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.