Crowd FavoritesHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Activated Abilities

Crowd Favorites features two distinct activated abilities, both costing three generic and one white mana. The first ability allows you to tap any target creature, which is excellent for removing blockers or stopping an attacker before it swings. The second ability increases Crowd Favorites' toughness by five until the end of the turn, turning it into a massive wall that can survive almost any non-lethal combat encounter.

Resolution Step-by-Step

To use Crowd Favorites effectively, you must understand the stack. When you pay the mana for the tap ability, it goes on the stack and requires a target; if the target is legal upon resolution, that creature is tapped. The toughness boost does not require a target and simply increases the creature's stats. You can activate either ability as many times as you can pay for them in a single turn.

Strategic Timing

A common mistake is waiting too long to tap a creature. To prevent a creature from attacking, you must activate the tap ability during the Beginning of Combat step at the latest. Once a creature is declared as an attacker, tapping it will not remove it from combat. Similarly, the toughness boost is best used after blockers are declared but before combat damage is dealt.

Interaction examples

Neutralizing a Giant

Sun Titan

If your opponent controls Sun Titan, you can pay four mana to activate the first ability of Crowd Favorites. By targeting Sun Titan during your opponent's Beginning of Combat step, you tap the Giant, preventing it from attacking and triggering its 'whenever this creature enters or attacks' ability.

Surviving the Unstoppable

Avacyn, Angel of Hope

If you are forced to block Avacyn, Angel of Hope with Crowd Favorites, the Angel's 8 power would normally destroy your Soldier. By activating the second ability of Crowd Favorites, its toughness becomes 9. This allows your creature to survive the combat damage from the indestructible Angel.