Isildur's Fateful Strike MTG Card


Combines removal power and flexible timing to dominate games when applied shrewdly. Its specific costs and discard effects embed strategic depth in deck-building. Its inclusion in collections broadens deck versatility and combo opportunities.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Instant

Text of card

(You may cast a legendary instant only if you control a legendary creature or planeswalker.) Destroy target creature. If its controller has more than four cards in hand, they exile cards from their hand equal to the difference.

Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, and Sauron himself was overthrown.


Cards like Isildur's Fateful Strike

Isildur’s Fateful Strike is a unique card within the strategy circles of MTG, known for its impact on the battlefield. Comparable to other removal spells like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat, Isildur’s Fateful Strike offers a different approach to eliminating creatures. Instead of targeting nonblack or nonartifact creatures like the aforementioned spells, it requires the player to sacrifice a creature as part of its cost. This self-sacrifice can be leveraged for strategic advantage in decks that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard.

When weighing it against Cast Down, which allows for the destruction of a nonlegendary creature at instant speed, Isildur’s Fateful Strike requires more from the player but potentially offers greater rewards. It’s also worth comparing to Hero’s Downfall that hits both creatures and planeswalkers, providing a broader range of targets at the same mana cost. However, the added dimension of necessitating a creature sacrifice could synergize with graveyard-focused strategies.

Considering these aspects, Isildur’s Fateful Strike might not only be about removing threats but can also serve as a pivotal role in MTG strategies that capitalize on self-sacrifice and graveyard interaction, marking its place as a versatile card within such decks.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Isildur's Fateful Strike by color, type and mana cost

Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
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When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
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Snuff Out - MTG Card versions
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Grisly Spectacle - MTG Card versions
Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions
Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions
Snuff Out - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Launch Party - MTG Card versions
Grisly Spectacle - MTG Card versions
Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Isildur’s Fateful Strike provides the strategic edge of instantly removing a key threat on the board. This can disrupt your opponent’s game plan, leading to a significant shift in momentum and potentially turning the tide of a match in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Through its potential to take out an important creature, this card can act as indirect resource acceleration. Freeing the battleground from formidable adversaries clears the way for your own creatures to attack and can save mana that might have been spent on more costly removal spells.

Instant Speed: The versatility of acting at instant speed is invaluable. It allows you to respond to your opponent’s plays with precision and optimizes your mana usage each turn. The ability to strike during your opponent’s turn adds an element of surprise and tactical depth, keeping you one step ahead in the duel.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Isildur’s Fateful Strike poses a risk to your hand by forcing a discard, potentially causing you to lose a vital card when your hand size is precious.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a strict white and black color combination, this card demands a dedicated mana base, limiting its inclusion to decks that can consistently produce both colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana including two specific colors may be a steep price, especially when other options might offer similar or greater impact with a lower or more flexible cost.


Reasons to Include Isildur’s Fateful Strike in Your Collection

Versatility: Isildur’s Fateful Strike is a card that can slide into several deck archetypes with ease. Its ability to affect the board state with a well-timed disruption makes it a handy tool no matter what kind of deck you’re piloting. Whether running control to keep your enemies at bay, or playing aggressively to deal that crucial damage, this card can adapt to your strategy.

Combo Potential: This card really shines when it’s part of a combo. Can you imagine pulling off the perfect sequence to decimate your opponent’s creatures and clear the way for your victory? Isildur’s Fateful Strike’s specific effect can be the linchpin in a combo chain that leaves your adversaries in awe, struggling to recover.

Meta-Relevance: Keeping pace with the shifting tides of the game’s meta is critical, and including Isildur’s Fateful Strike in your collection can give you an edge. As the landscape of competitive play evolves, having a card in your arsenal that can deal with an array of threats is invaluable. It could be the difference-maker in your game-winning strategy.


How to beat

Isildur’s Fateful Strike presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This potent spell can change the course of a game by allowing a player to deal substantial damage, modeled after the legendary confrontation involving Isildur from the lore of Middle-earth. The key to overcoming this card lies in recognizing that its strength is rooted in the surprise factor and the potential for a sudden shift in board control.

To effectively navigate against Isildur’s Fateful Strike, it’s crucial to anticipate this momentous play and maintain a strategy that minimizes the card’s impact. This can include playing creatures with hexproof to prevent them from being targeted, keeping counter spells at the ready to thwart the strike, or having an indestructible entity that can withstand the onslaught. Additionally, deploying a diversity of threats ensures that the damage from the card doesn’t wipe out your entire board presence.

Understanding the timing and preparing for the right moment to act are essential. A well-timed disruption can mitigate the effect of Isildur’s Fateful Strike and keep you firmly in the game, showcasing the importance of strategic foresight and adaptability in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Isildur's Fateful Strike MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Isildur's Fateful Strike and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Isildur's Fateful Strike Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by John Di Giovanni.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3562015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 7672015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni
32023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 912015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 5422015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth PromosPLTR 91s2015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Isildur's Fateful Strike has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 Isildur's Fateful Strike is the first legendary instant. It is subject to the same casting restrictions as existing legendary sorceries, as listed in the following rulings.
2023-06-16 Other than the casting restriction, the legendary supertype on an instant carries no additional rules. You may cast any number of legendary instants in a turn, and your deck may contain any number of legendary cards (but no more than four of any with the same name).
2023-06-16 You can't cast a legendary instant unless you control a legendary creature or a legendary planeswalker. Once you begin to cast a legendary instant, losing control of your legendary creatures and planeswalkers won't affect that spell.